Ben Linus

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Flashbacks show Benjamin Linus born in the woods outside Portland, Oregon, to Roger and Emily Linus; his mother died after giving birth. He moved to the Island with his father when Roger was offered a job working for the Dharma Initiative. On the Island, Ben began seeing visions of his mother while Roger started drinking heavily and physically and verbally abusing him. Ben developed a hatred for the Dharma Initiative and ran away, where he met Richard Alpert, one of the natives known as the "Hostiles," who told him to be patient before granting his request to join their group. In 1977 (or possibly 1992), Ben assisted the Hostiles in using poisonous gas to kill the Dharma Initiative, including his father. In 1988, Charles Widmore sent Ben to kill French scientist Danielle Rousseau; when Ben learned she had a child, he kidnapped the baby, Alex Rousseau, and warned her mother never to look for them if they wanted to live. Ben later banished Widmore from the Island and assumed leadership, claiming he was the only one who could interact with their real leader, Jacob. Two days before Oceanic Flight 815 crashed, Ben discovered a spinal tumor. After the crash, he pretended to be Henry Gale, a man from Minnesota. He was eventually freed by Michael Dawson after helping Jack, Kate, and Sawyer escape to a smaller island. In season three, he allowed Jack to perform surgery on his tumor in exchange for the release of Kate and Sawyer. Ben manipulated John Locke into killing Anthony Cooper to prove his loyalty before taking him to meet Jacob; when Ben discovered Locke could hear Jacob, he shot him and left him for dead. Ben's loyalty to the Island led to the death of Alex Rousseau in season four after she was taken hostage by mercenaries led by Martin Keamy. Ben denied any attachment to her to save himself, but later used the smoke monster to attack the mercenaries. He then traveled with Locke and Hurley to Jacob's cabin before turning a frozen wheel at the Orchid station, which teleported him to the Sahara Desert (Tunisia) ten months ahead of when he left. In the flashforwards, Ben recruited Sayid Jarrah as an assassin to kill targets on Widmore's list, including Widmore himself. He later returned to the Island timeline, tracked down Locke after he tried to bring survivors back, killed him, and staged it as a suicide. Ben then visited Jack at the funeral home to help him return to the Island.

In Their Own Story

Benjamin Linus was born in the woods outside Portland, Oregon, to Roger and Emily Linus. After his mother died, he moved with his father to the Island for Dharma Initiative work. There, he suffered abuse from his father until running away to join Richard Alpert's Hostiles. He eventually assisted in wiping out the Dharma Initiative with poison gas, killing his father in 1977 (or possibly 1992). In 1988, he killed Danielle Rousseau's mission by kidnapping her baby, Alex, and exiled Charles Widmore to become the new leader of the Others. After Oceanic Flight 815 crashed, Ben posed as Henry Gale. He was captured but later freed Michael Dawson's son in exchange for his own release. He allowed Jack Shephard to remove a spinal tumor from his back while holding Kate and Sawyer captive. He manipulated John Locke into killing Anthony Cooper before shooting Locke when he realized Locke could hear Jacob. In season four, Ben watched helplessly as Alex was executed by mercenaries led by Martin Keamy after he denied knowing her. He summoned the smoke monster to kill the attackers, then turned a wheel at the Orchid station, teleporting himself to Tunisia ten months into the future. There, he recruited Sayid Jarrah to assassinate Charles Widmore's associates. Eventually returning to the Island's timeline, Ben killed Locke and staged it as a suicide before helping Jack return to the Island.

Reader's Guide

Benjamin Linus starts as the main antagonist in seasons two and three, posing as Henry Gale to mislead Oceanic Flight 815 survivors. He is the leader of the Others, having risen to power after exiling Charles Widmore by claiming exclusive communication with Jacob. His backstory reveals a childhood on the Island marked by abuse from his father and visions of his dead mother. He joined the Hostiles as a child and later orchestrated the genocide of the Dharma Initiative, including his own father. In 1988, he adopted Alex Rousseau after killing her mother's mission. Ben's leadership is defined by manipulation and moral ambiguity. He trades surgery for freedom, uses hostages to control others, and sacrifices his daughter's life to survive a mercenary attack. His actions often stem from loyalty to the Island rather than personal gain. After teleporting to Tunisia in 2007 (ten months after leaving), he recruits Sayid as an assassin against Widmore's circle. In the final timeline events, he kills John Locke and helps Jack Shephard return to the Island, continuing his complex role as both protector and manipulator.

Did You Know?

• Sterling Beaumon first portrayed a young Ben in the Season 3 episode "The Man Behind the Curtain."
• Michael Emerson was originally cast for only three guest appearances in Season 2 before becoming a regular cast member.
• Ben Linus was ranked #1 on Rolling Stone's list of "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time" in 2016.
• Emerson won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2009 after four consecutive nominations from 2007 to 2010.