Ben Affleck jokes about his ‘very unhappy looking’ face while promoting Air movie on ABC talk show

Ben Affleck joked that it’s a common misconception about him that he doesn’t look happy while appearing on Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC.

‘I have a very unhappy looking, resting face,’ said the 50-year-old Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker who became a meme for his forlorn face at the Grammys with wife Jennifer Lopez, 53.

Ben to prove his point showed both his content and amused face and both made him look bored.

‘That’s how God made me,’ Ben said. ‘You don’t have to punish me for it.’

Jimmy, 55, sparked the conversation when he told Ben that he seemed awkward at his own Christmas party.

Common misconception: Ben Affleck joked that it’s a common misconception about him that he doesn’t look happy while appearing on Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC

‘It did seem like you weren’t quite as psyched about the party as everybody else,’ Jimmy said.

‘That’s a common misconception about me,’ Ben quipped.

Jimmy said it was because of his face and recalled that when he walked into Christmas the party the first thing Ben told him was how much the tree cost.

‘I’m turning into like that old guy,’ Ben said.

Jimmy said that both Ben and his wife Jennifer greeted him and chatted for a few minutes before the door opened and Jay Leno and his wife Mavis walked in. Jimmy said it was a little uncomfortable

‘I said something along the lines of like, you have had something like a death blood feud?’ Ben said.

‘We stood there in shock and then you left,’ Jimmy said.

Ben said it was a good payback for his late night comics.

Same look: The 50-year-old actor to prove his point showed both his content and amused face and both made him look bored

Same look: The 50-year-old actor to prove his point showed both his content and amused face and both made him look bored

Meme factory: Ben inspired memes when he looked bored in February while attending the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles

Meme factory: Ben inspired memes when he looked bored in February while attending the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles

Jimmy then congratulated him on his new movie Air. Jimmy asked him if Nike co-founder Phil Knight liked the way that Ben played him in the film.

‘Well, look, he’s an interesting guy,’ Ben said. ‘As you may know, being the boss, when you work someplace, there’s a tendency in the workplace you kind of want to make fun of the boss. That’s just part of it. And you kind of, I’ve been the subject of an occasional meme, as a boss, I know how it goes.’

Ben said he was very confident right up until the point where he was asked to go up to Oregon and show Nike and Phil the movie.

‘I went into the theater and all of a sudden I felt like the guy who had been sent in to negotiate with ISIS,’ Ben said.

Ben, who attended the premiere with Jennifer, said the movie honors and respects the importance of Nike, but he also tries to make Phil a little funny.

‘He didn’t seem that funny when he was in the room,’ Ben said. ‘And I thought, maybe the thing to do is just run. You know what I mean? Like, but I went out there and actually he was, I have to say, remarkably gracious.’

Ben said Phil seemed really moved by it. Ben said the movie was not a documentary. Jimmy described the movie as a ‘love letter to the eighties.’ Jimmy said there were so many great performances and named most of the cast except for Matt Damon, 52.

‘You’re leaving someone out,’ Ben said. ‘Matt Damon’s the lead in the movie.’

Interesting guy: 'Well, look, he's an interesting guy,' Ben said of Phil Knight. 'As you may know, being the boss, when you work someplace, there's a tendency in the workplace you kind of want to make fun of the boss. That's just part of it. And you kind of, I've been the subject of an occasional meme, as a boss, I know how it goes'

Interesting guy: ‘Well, look, he’s an interesting guy,’ Ben said of Phil Knight. ‘As you may know, being the boss, when you work someplace, there’s a tendency in the workplace you kind of want to make fun of the boss. That’s just part of it. And you kind of, I’ve been the subject of an occasional meme, as a boss, I know how it goes’

‘No. I said all the best. I said all the great people from the film,’ Jimmy said. ‘ I didn’t meet all the people.’

Ben said that Matt was a friend of his and it would mean a lot to him if he would just ask him one question about the movie. Jimmy reluctantly agreed and Ben called him.

‘This will be your wedding gift,’ Jimmy said.

Matt was very excited when he was called and kept saying, ‘I’m on the show.’

‘Not really on the show,’ Jimmy said.

‘Very much on the show,’ Matt said.

Jimmy asked him how he approached playing a real person, Sonny Vaccaro, compared to playing a fictional character.

Matt started answering the question but his screen kept freezing and Jimmy said his wi-fi was going out. Jimmy then put funny filters on Matt.

Rare appearance: Matt Damon was very excited when he was called and kept saying, 'I'm on the show'

Rare appearance: Matt Damon was very excited when he was called and kept saying, ‘I’m on the show’

Connectivity issues: Matt started answering the question but his screen kept freezing and Jimmy said his wi-fi was going out

Connectivity issues: Matt started answering the question but his screen kept freezing and Jimmy said his wi-fi was going out

Funny filters: Jimmy then applied funny filters to Matt's face

Funny filters: Jimmy then applied funny filters to Matt’s face

‘I knew you were gonna pull something dumb you are such a child,’ Matt said.

‘I’m so sorry we lost the connection, but, uh, well, you know what, we won’t try to get him back,’ Jimmy said.

Jimmy then played a clip from Ben and Matt’s new movie Air. Jimmy applauded him for building suspense and not showing the shoe until later in the movie. Ben said he also didn’t plan on showing the Michael Jordan because he was too famous. Ben said they did include clips of the real Michael Jordan playing.

Jimmy said he heard Jordan suggested that Viola Davis play his mom Dolores. Ben said he was actually ‘totally intimidated’ by Jordan when he sat down with him with the script.

‘I got the script, and if you don’t want me to do it, I just won’t do it,’ Ben said. ‘From a respect point of view and also a self-preservation. ‘

Ben said he told him that ultimately it was kind of a fable and that they would be changing things to make it into a dramatic story. He said he asked Jordan what are the things that are fundamentally important and he said that George Raffling and Howard White and his parents needed to be in the movie.

‘Then I made the classic error of saying, who do you think might be, and he said ”it has to be Viola Davis”,’ Ben said.

Ben said he and Matt then had to write a part that was worthy of Viola and later told her that Jordan wanted her to play his mom. Ben then described the significance of Jordan having his mother help him navigate tough decisions early on.

He said the movie was an homage to the moms throughout history who look out for their children and how important and pivotal that role is.

Jimmy ended by giving Ben a present of a painting of them made by a viewer.

Air will be released in theaters on April 5 by Amazon Studios. 

Totally intimidated: Ben said he was actually 'totally intimidated' by Jordan when he sat down with him with the script

Totally intimidated: Ben said he was actually ‘totally intimidated’ by Jordan when he sat down with him with the script

Viewer art: Jimmy ended by giving Ben a present of a painting of them made by a viewer

Viewer art: Jimmy ended by giving Ben a present of a painting of them made by a viewer

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