In ACTING FICTION you will find some "small roles in big films" - like f.e. DE ZAAK MENTEN bij Tim Oliehoek, but mainly "big roles in small films" - like f.e. THE SANDS OF SUMMERS PAST, THE MAID and SHORTS. In ACTING CORPORATE you will find COMMERCIALS - like my favorite one for UNOX - and some CORPORATE productions. In ART you will find pictures and links to the results of my cooperation with great photographers like Annabel Oosteweeghel and the late Daniel Chorup as well as some experimental artists. In MUSICVIDEOS you will find the results of my cooperation with musicians.

My name is Benjamin Gijzel, I am a senior actor & model, living in Amsterdam and the Düsseldorf area, interested in working with ambitious filmers and photographers anywhere. Please do send me an email if you want to work with me or just to know more.

What you see is what you get: * a passionate professional * with character & charisma * reliable & receptive * serious & sensitive * tough & tender

Height 1.80 m Weight 76 kg Bust 105 Waist 92 Hips 98 Head 59 Size 48 Shoes 43

Born and raised in the Netherlands, so Dutch is my native tongue. However I speak fluently German and Polish, English on a professional and French on conversation level. This is because I have always been curious and interested in foreign languages and living abroad. I lived for 4 years in Poland in the 70's and since 2000 I live part time in Germany.

I graduated in regional economics & townplanning in 1974 from the Erasmus University Rotterdam and switched to directing for the theatre in 1979, studying at the State Theatre Academy in Warsaw. Living in Poland for 4 years in the 70's had a great impact on my education and work. That's why I admire Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996) with whom I had the chance to work with at several occasions.

I am passionate about my experience of more than 25 years as a professional role-player for training and assessing communicative and managerial skills. It was very rewarding to feel my added value helping people to perform better in their jobs. This is where I learned to listen well and improvise in a consistent and convincing manner. Then in 2015 these skills turned out to be very helpful when I discovered the freedom and pleasure of acting in front of the camera giving that little extra bit of my personality. Since then I had the chance to play big roles in small productions and small things in big ones. In 2018 I reached the semi finals of FILMSTER GEZOCHT, a casting show of SBS6.

In the past I directed various productions with both professionals and amateurs (1985-1995) and taugth acting (1995-2004)

Living the simple outdoor live, enjoying spectacular nature, traveling through foreign countries - preferably on my motorbike - to great cities and historical old towns in Europe. Watching films and drama productions that show some truth about ourselves and the way we live. Challenges to write that way and being a sparring partner for developing serious ideas and projects.

In the Netherlands: Unox, De Bijenkorf, ABN/AMRO, Focusera, Monuta, LUMC, De Politie, Taskforce, Just Verzekeringen, Liberty Global. In Germany: Schwaebisch Hall, Seniorenhaeuser Gelsenkirchen. In UK: ATAG. In Greece: Vassilopoulos. In Colombia: Fallabella.

Here you may find the credits related to different kind of productions I was involved in, with footage, pics and demoreels.