You probably recognize Ben Mehl from the third season of Netflix’s You. He played Dante, the blind librarian who somehow managed to be the most grounded person in a town full of suburban nightmares and literal murderers. Honestly, it’s rare to see a character with a disability written as just a guy—a husband, a friend, a coworker—without the story constantly hitting you over the head with "inspirational" tropes. But Mehl brought a specific kind of warmth to that role that made people start Googling his name immediately.
The thing is, his filmography isn't just a list of random credits. It’s a pretty fascinating look at an actor who spent years grinding in the New York theater scene before landing on one of the biggest streaming hits in the world.
The Big Break: Dante in Netflix’s "You"
When You Season 3 dropped, the internet was obsessed with Joe Goldberg's new life in Madre Linda. Amidst the chaos, Ben Mehl’s Dante Ferguson was a breath of fresh air. Dante wasn't just there for plot convenience; he was a veteran who lost his sight and built a life as a librarian.
What’s cool is how Mehl got the part. Showrunner Sera Gamble actually based the character on her own godfather. She wanted someone who could capture that specific independence. For Mehl, this was huge because he actually lives with Stargardt’s disease, a rare form of macular degeneration.
He didn't have to "fake" the visual impairment, though he did work with mobility specialists to nail the cane technique since he still has some peripheral vision. He’s mentioned in interviews that this was the first time he didn't have to hide his low vision on set. It makes his performance feel lived-in. You’ve got that scene where he’s just hanging out with Joe, and it feels completely natural because Mehl knows exactly how to navigate space while focusing on the conversation rather than the "look" of being blind.
Hallmark and the Holiday Circuit
If you aren't a fan of psychological thrillers, you might have caught him in a totally different vibe. In 2023, he starred in the Hallmark movie My Christmas Guide. He plays Trevor, a man who loses his sight and adopts a guide dog named Max.
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It’s a Hallmark movie, so yeah, there’s a romantic interest (played by Amber Marshall), but the film actually got some praise for how it handled the transition to blindness. Since Mehl actually understands the reality of losing vision—he was diagnosed back in college—he brought a level of sincerity to Trevor that you don't always get in "Movie of the Week" style features. It wasn't just about the dog; it was about the identity shift.
That One Episode of "The Good Wife"
Before the big Netflix check, Mehl was doing the classic New York actor thing: guest spots on prestige dramas. He showed up in The Good Wife, which is basically a rite of passage for any serious stage actor living in Manhattan.
It wasn't a massive, multi-episode arc, but it’s one of those "Oh, wait, that's him!" moments if you're rewatching the series on Paramount+. He’s also popped up in Supernatural Investigator, a show that leans into more niche, genre territory.
The Independent Film Scene
Mehl has a few indie credits that show off a bit more of his range outside of the "kind librarian" or "holiday lead" archetypes.
- Viral Beauty (2017): He plays Rick Bravos. This movie is a bit of a satire on social media and internet fame. It’s definitely worth a watch if you want to see him doing something more contemporary and slightly cynical.
- The Fly Room (2014): This one is actually pretty trippy. It’s a psychological drama set in the 1920s about the birth of genetics. Mehl plays a character named Alfred. It’s a very "arty" film, focusing on the relationship between a daughter and her father in a lab full of fruit flies.
- Off Duty: A shorter project, but again, part of that 2017-2018 era where he was really starting to find his footing on camera.
Why Theater Is His Secret Weapon
If you look at Ben Mehl movies and tv shows and think the list looks a little short, it’s because he spent a massive chunk of his career on stage. He’s a heavyweight in the New York theater world. We’re talking The Public Theater, Red Bull Theater, and Berkeley Rep.
He’s done the classics—Pericles, The Comedy of Errors, School for Scandal. He even played a "charming, seductive Italian man" in a play that he says really challenged his self-image. Most people don't realize he holds an MFA from the NYU Graduate Acting Program, which is notoriously hard to get into. That training is why he can hold his own against actors like Penn Badgley or Victoria Pedretti without breaking a sweat.
The Reality of Being a "Low Vision" Actor
One of the most interesting things about Mehl’s career trajectory is how he’s changed the conversation about representation. For a long time, he was scared his diagnosis would end his career. He used to memorize the entire set layout so he wouldn't trip and "out" himself as having vision issues.
Now, he’s one of the few actors actually getting cast in roles specifically written for people with vision loss. He’s not just an actor; he’s also a teacher. He’s taught at HB Studio and the New York Film Academy. It’s honestly impressive—he’s teaching "Physical Characterization" and "Combat" to other actors while managing his own progressive vision loss.
What’s Next for Ben Mehl?
While we haven't seen a massive slate of new announcements for 2026 yet, Mehl’s presence in the industry is solid. He’s moved from being "that guy from that one show" to a reliable lead for projects that want authenticity.
If you want to dive deeper into his work, start with You Season 3 to see his range, then check out My Christmas Guide if you want something cozy. If you’re really into the craft of acting, look up some of his interviews about his time at NYU; he’s got a really interesting perspective on how "blind spots" (literally and figuratively) can actually make a performance more human.
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What to do next:
Keep an eye on his Instagram (@benmehl) for updates on new projects. If you're an aspiring actor with a disability, his interviews on podcasts like Society Talks or the HB Insight Series are basically a masterclass in adaptation. Don't just watch his scenes—pay attention to how he uses his voice and breath to command the screen, even when he isn't making direct eye contact with the camera.