Benjamin "Ben" Linus is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Emerson on the ABC television series Lost. After being contracted for three guest appearances in the second series, where Emerson features as a captured Other known as "Henry Gale", his fantastic performance lead to his role being expanded to the leader of the Others, becoming a regular cast member from the third season. During the third season, he is the de facto antagonist, but in the fourth season becomes more of an anti-hero due to his battle with businessman Charles Widmore (Alan Dale). Ben's perfected ability to lie and manipulate has lead to much speculation of his true motives. Emerson's portrayal of Ben has garnered many positive reviews and lead to him being nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama Series in both 2007 and 2008. Ben is the leader of a group of island natives called the Others. He organizes the capture of some of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashes on the island on September 22 2004. He convinces Jack (Matthew Fox), a doctor from the plane crash, to operate on him, then allows another survivor, John Locke (Terry O'Quinn), to join the Others. When a freighter is discovered not far from the Island, he, Locke, and some of the other crash survivors hide in the Others' village called the Barracks, believing the people on the freighter to be dangerous. Locke eventually replaces Ben as the leader, forcing Ben to leave the Island. (via Wikipedia)