You probably know Andrew Garfield as the guy who made everyone cry in Spider-Man or Tick, Tick... Boom!. He’s the face of Hollywood sensitive-guy energy. But honestly, if you walked into a Garfield family dinner, Andrew might not even be the most impressive person at the table. That’s because of Ben Garfield, Andrew's older brother.
While one brother spends his days in front of green screens and accepting Golden Globes, the other has been on the front lines of the UK’s healthcare system. It’s a classic "showbiz vs. real world" dynamic, but without the weird sibling rivalry you usually see in tabloids. They actually seem to like each other. A lot.
Who Exactly Is Ben Garfield?
Basically, Ben Garfield is a doctor. And not just any doctor—he’s a lung specialist. His official title is Dr. Benjamin Garfield, and he is a Consultant in Respiratory and Intensive Care Medicine. He works at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, which is one of the top heart and lung centers in the world.
If you think being a movie star is high-pressure, try being a pulmonary specialist during a global respiratory pandemic. While Andrew was filming The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Ben was literally saving people’s lives.
- Age: Ben is about three years older than Andrew.
- Education: He studied at Nottingham Medical School and later earned a PhD from Imperial College London.
- Specialty: He’s an expert in pulmonary hypertension and critical care.
He isn't just a doctor who shows up for a shift; he’s a researcher too. He has published papers on things like skeletal muscle weakness in lung patients and the use of ECMO (that’s a machine that takes over for your heart and lungs when they’re failing). It’s heavy, brilliant stuff.
That One Time on Stephen Colbert
The world finally got a good look at Ben Garfield in late 2021. Andrew was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote Tick, Tick... Boom!. It was a heavy interview. They were talking about the loss of their mother, Lynn, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2019.
Colbert, being Colbert, spotted Ben and their father, Richard, sitting in the audience. He couldn't help himself. He poked a bit of fun at the brothers’ looks. He pointed out that Andrew has this legendary, thick "mop" of hair, while Ben is, well, bald.
Andrew’s response was gold. He joked that he got their mother’s "thick-haired" genes while Ben got their father’s. But then he got serious. He told Colbert: "My brother is a doctor, and I’m merely an actor... for the last two years, this man has been saving people’s lives." You could see the genuine pride. It wasn't "PR speak." It was just a younger brother looking up to his big bro.
Growing Up in the Garfield House
The brothers grew up in Epsom, Surrey, in the UK. Their parents, Richard and Lynn, ran a small interior design business. Their dad was American (from California), and their mom was British.
They weren't "Hollywood royalty" kids. They were middle-class Jewish kids from the suburbs. Ben was the one who went the academic route. Andrew was the one who initially wanted to be a gymnast before finding acting.
Imagine that house. You’ve got one kid studying organic chemistry and the other practicing his "death of a salesman" monologue. Honestly, it sounds like a lot of pressure for the parents, but they clearly supported both paths equally.
Is There Another Ben Garfield?
Actually, yes, and this is where Google gets confused. There is a Ben Garfield who is a filmmaker based in London. He makes documentaries and has won awards for things like The Ugandan Quidditch Movement.
But that is not Andrew’s brother.
Andrew’s brother is strictly in the medical field. It’s an easy mistake to make because they’re both London-based and both talented. But if you’re looking for the guy who shares Andrew’s DNA, look for the doctor with the PhD from Imperial College.
The Bond After Losing Their Mother
The passing of Lynn Garfield in 2019 changed everything for the brothers. Andrew has been very vocal about his grief, often saying that "the grief is all the unexpressed love."
Ben and Andrew reportedly became even closer during this time. When your mother passes away, the sibling bond often becomes the primary link to your childhood. For the Garfields, that meant navigating the public eye (for Andrew) and the intense stress of the hospital (for Ben) while both were mourning.
They don't do red carpets together often. Ben isn't interested in being "the celebrity's brother." He’s got his own career, his own reputation in the medical community, and his own life. But when he does show up—like at the Colbert show—it’s clear they are each other’s biggest fans.
Why This Matters for Fans
Understanding Ben Garfield gives you a better perspective on who Andrew is. Andrew often talks about how he feels "guilty" sometimes for being an actor when there are people doing "real" work. That’s probably because he’s spent his whole life watching his brother do exactly that.
It grounds him. It’s hard to get an ego about your "artistic process" when your brother just finished a 12-hour shift in the ICU.
What You Can Learn from the Garfield Brothers
- Success looks different for everyone. One brother is famous; the other is essential. Both are at the top of their game.
- Sibling support is a superpower. Instead of competing, they champion each other's very different worlds.
- Humility is a choice. Despite his fame, Andrew clearly views his brother’s work as the "higher calling."
If you’re interested in following Ben’s actual work, you won’t find him on Instagram posting selfies. You’ll find him in medical journals or on the Imperial College London staff directory. He is a reminder that while the spotlight is bright, the most important work often happens in the quiet, sterile halls of a hospital.
Next time you watch a Garfield movie, remember that the "hero" on screen has a real-life hero in his family who wears a white coat instead of a spandex suit.
Key Takeaways for Your Own Life:
- Value the "boring" high-achievers in your life as much as the flashy ones.
- Don't believe every "Ben Garfield" you see on IMDb; check the credentials.
- Support your family's passions, even if you don't understand the "science" or the "art" behind them.