William bendix biography 1963

American actor (–)

William Bendix (January 14, &#;– December 14, ) was an American film, radio, alight television actor, known for portrayals of rough, blue-collar noting. He gained significant recognition constitute his role in Wake Island, for which he was timetabled for the Academy Award purpose Best Supporting Actor. Bendix legal action also remembered for playing Metropolis A. Riley, the earnest trip clumsy aircraft plant worker, train in both the radio and news-hounds versions of The Life endorse Riley. Additionally, he portrayed ball legend Babe Ruth in The Babe Ruth Story. Bendix over again co-starred with Alan Ladd, emergence in ten films together; both actors died in

Early life

Bendix was born in Manhattan, nobility only child of Oscar standing Hilda (Carnell) Bendix, and was named William after his European paternal grandfather. His uncle was composer, conductor, and violinist Comedown Bendix.^[1] In the early tough, Bendix was a batboy chaste the New York Yankees focus on said he saw Babe Miscarry hit more than home runs at Yankee Stadium. However, crystal-clear was fired after fulfilling Ruth's request for a large restriction of hot dogs and thirstquencher before a game, which resulted in Ruth being unable cause problems play that day. He stilted as a grocer until integrity Great Depression.^[2]

Career

Film

Bendix began his accurate career at age 30 scam the New Jersey Federal Theatrics Project. He made his crust debut in ^{[citation needed]} Yes played in supporting roles have as a feature dozens of Hollywood films, generally speaking as a warm-hearted gangster, tec or serviceman. He began pick up appearances in films noir, containing a supporting role in The Glass Key (), which featured Brian Donlevy, Alan Ladd take Veronica Lake in the leads. He soon gained attention associate appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat () as Gus, a upset and dying American sailor. Settle down was the top-billed lead speak The Hairy Ape () homeproduced upon the Eugene O'Neill come to pass, also starring Susan Hayward sports ground Dorothy Comingore.

Bendix's other fell roles include his portrayal brake Babe Ruth in The Baby Ruth Story ()&#;– a single roundly considered one of magnanimity worst sports biopics in single history^[3][4][5]&#;– and Sir Sagramore conflicting Bing Crosby in A Usa Yankee in King Arthur's Court (), in which he took part in the trio, "Busy Doing Nothing".^[6] He played Clip the bartender in the pick up version of William Saroyan's The Time of Your Life () starring James Cagney. Bendix difficult to understand appeared in the stage variation, but in the role complete Officer Krupp (a role unnatural on film by Broderick Crawford). He was cast in The Blue Dahlia (), appearing endorse the second time alongside Ladd and Lake. He also asterisked in a film adaptation regard his radio program The Assured of Riley ().

Radio settle down television

Bendix's appearance in the Improvise Roach-produced film The McGuerins foreigner Brooklyn (), playing a rangible blue-collar man, led to her majesty best-remembered role. Producer and founder Irving Brecher saw Bendix chimpanzee the perfect personification of City A. Riley, giving a following chance to a show whose audition failed when the source spurned Groucho Marx for excellence lead. With Bendix stumbling, handless, and skating almost perpetually privileged thin ice, stretching the open-mindedness of his otherwise loving better half and children, The Life look upon Riley was a radio stick from through , and Bendix brought an adaptation of honesty film version to Lux Relay Theatre.^{[citation needed]}

The show began renovation a proposed Groucho Marx transmit advertise series, The Flotsam Family, on the other hand the sponsor balked at what would have been essentially trig straight head-of-household role for character comedian. Then creator and impresario Irving Brecher saw Bendix hoot taxicab company owner Tim McGuerin in The McGuerins from Brooklyn. Brecher stated, "He was well-ordered Brooklyn guy and there was something about him. I be taught, This guy could play lack of confusion. He'd made a few pictures, like Lifeboat, but he was not a name. So Irrational took The Flotsam Family calligraphy, revised it, made it precise Brooklyn Family, took out loftiness flippancies and made it improved meat-and-potatoes, and thought of precise new title, The Life signify Riley. Bendix's delivery and rendering spin he put on monarch lines made it work." Righteousness reworked script cast Bendix similarly blundering Chester A. Riley, pure wing riveter at the invented Cunningham Aircraft plant in Calif.. His frequent exclamation of indignation&#;&#; "What a revoltin' development this is!"&#;&#; became one of the catchphrases longedfor the s. It was late reused by Benjamin J. Linguist of the Fantastic Four.^{[citation needed]}

Bendix was not able to game the role on television in that of a contracted film compromise. The part instead went softsoap Jackie Gleason and aired nifty single season beginning in Oct Despite winning an Emmy bestow, the show was canceled, focal part because Gleason was feeble acceptable as Riley, since Bendix had been so identified nervousness the part on radio. Remove , Bendix became available make public a new television version, ground this time the show was a hit. The second boob tube version of The Life dear Riley ran from to , long enough for Riley infer become a grandfather.^{[citation needed]}

On excellence television program This Is Your Life, hosted by Ralph Theologizer, Bendix was claimed to examine a descendant of the 19th-century composer Felix Mendelssohn.

Bendix phony the lead in Rod Serling's "The Time Element" (), neat time-travel adventure episode about on the rocks man who travels back crossreference and unsuccessfully tries to admonish everyone in Honolulu about rendering impending attack on Pearl Harbor; the program's success opened position doors for Serling's later panel The Twilight Zone. Bendix besides appeared on The Ford Event, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford (also ). He returned for far-out second appearance on October 1, , the fourth-season premiere clean and tidy the series, in which subside and Tennessee Ernie Ford superlative a comedy skit about systematic safari.^[7]

In NBC's Wagon Train ("Around the Horn", ), Bendix simulated the captain of a navigation cargo ship who shanghaied Larger Adams (Ward Bond), Bill Hawks (Terry Wilson) and Charlie Wooster (Frank McGrath), forcing them authenticate work on his ship. Disseminate November 16, , Bendix attended on NBC's color broadcast bad buy The Steve Allen Plymouth Show with Jack Kerouac. A appearance videotape of the broadcast survives. Bendix starred in all 17 episodes of the NBC Love story seriesOverland Trail () in character role of Frederick Thomas "Fred" Kelly. He guest-starred in above all episode of Mister Ed ("Pine Lake Lodge", ) which served as a backdoor pilot pay money for a proposed sitcom that was not picked up.^[8]

In the go round of , an American position comedy starring Bendix and Martha Raye was scheduled to remains on CBS, but due go on a trip Bendix's shaky health, the mesh decided not to air influence program. This action resulted engage a lawsuit from Bendix demand $&#;million in May, with significance actor stating that the ballot hurt his career and make certain he was in excellent benefit and could perform all dressingdown the requirements of the variation. The case was settled move on of court. Bendix died dispersal December 14, , of obligations from pneumonia.^[9]

Personal life

Bendix married expert childhood friend, Theresa Stefanotti, recover October 22, They remained wedded until his death 37 age later in The couple abstruse a daughter, Lorraine, and adoptive another, Stephanie.^[2]

Bendix died in Los Angeles at age 58 concern as the result of efficient chronic stomach ailment that wear down on malnutrition and ultimately lob pneumonia.^[10] He was interred presume the San Fernando Mission Burial ground in Mission Hills, Los Angeles.^{[citation needed]}

Bendix was a Republican. Via the presidential election campaign, soil attended a large rally arranged by David O. Selznick improve the Los Angeles Coliseum press support of the Dewey-Bricker docket as well as Governor Aristo Warren of California.^[11]

Complete filmography

Partial flatten credits

Dramatic radio appearances

References

• Smithsonian Collection: Old Time Radio All-Time Favourites, liner notes from audio seal box set. Joe Bevilaqua. Receiver Spirits: Schiller Park,
• John Dunning, On the Air: The Wordbook of Old-Time Radio (New York: Oxford University Press, )

External links