Ben Mulroney could have been a lawyer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in history, from Duke University and subsequently got a Bachelor of Laws degree from Université Laval. Instead, he chose the media and instead of being known as "former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's son," he gained an identity of his own.
For more than a decade, Ben has been "the star" of CTV, notably as co-host of the entertainment show etalk. Perhaps his greatest moments came as host of Canadian Idol during the show's successful six year run, between 2003 and 2008. Above is a clip of him introducing and then congratulating a contestant. This where I got to know Ben, via the auditions in Montreal and then the actual live tapings in Toronto. My family and I headed down each summer and had a blast. It is a pity CTV cancelled this. During his Idol run, Ben was also a spokesman for UNICEF and on two occasions I got him to visit local schools.
Through etalk, red carpet events and special programming, Ben still enjoys a very high profile. He recently co-hosted Live with Kelly Ripa, fuelling rumours he might move to New York and replace the retired Regis Philbin.
When his dad was prime minister, Ben lived in Westmount. That is where his bride, Jessica Brownstein, is from. He proposed to her at Nick's Restaurant on Greene Avenue. Last week, noted real estate agent Anita Benabou Rozenblat spotted the happy couple at the Tavern on the Square (as in Westmount Square). When Anita approached, he graciously exchanged pleasantries with him and posed for a photo (right).