Job Film, radio, television actor
Years active 1936-64
Top Roles Det. Lou Brody, Sheriff Larry Best, 'Pinkie' Peters, 'Frenchy' Shapiro, Buddy of Roscoe Karns
Top GenresDrama, Comedy, Film Noir, War, Crime, Thriller/Suspense
Top TopicsWorld War II, Book-Based, Baseball
Top Collaborators , (Director), (Producer), (Producer)
Shares birthday with Bebe Daniels, Hal Roach, Harold Russell  see more..

William Bendix Overview:

Legendary character actor, William Bendix, was born on Jan 14, 1906 in New York City, NY. Bendix died at the age of 58 on Dec 14, 1964 in Los Angeles, CA and was laid to rest in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.

MINI BIO:

Likeable American character star, with fair, wavy hair and soft, Brooklynese voice, built like a barrel, and often cast as amiable, dimwitted thugs. Appeared in a memorable series of Paramount thrillers in the forties, but his later success in comedy meant his virtual loss to TV from 1953 on. Died from lobar pneumonia. Oscar nominee for Wake Island.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Bendix was nominated for one Oscar, he never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1942Best Supporting ActorWake Island (1942)Smacksie RandallNominated
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He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Radio and Television.

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William Bendix Quotes:

The 'wolf' at bar: Hey, you, that's my seat!
Buzz Wanchek: [with contempt] Go pick yourself an orchid!


Gus Smith: My name is Schmidt, but I changed it to Smith. That's what I got against these guys more than anything else. They make me ashamed of the name I was born with. I got a lot of relatives in Germany. For all I know this guy may be one of them. I say throw him to the sharks!


Lawrence C. Trumble: The only time I'll ever get flowers will be at my funeral.


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William Bendix on the
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William Bendix Facts
In 1922, when he was 15, Bendix was a bat boy for the New York Yankees, and became a favorite of Babe Ruth, who entrusted Bendix with various personal errands. Years later, in 1948, Bendix played Ruth in The Babe Ruth Story (1948).

Chester A. Riley, Bendix's character on "The Life of Riley" (1953), was ranked #30 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

Bendix was a descendant of composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. This was revealed on TV show "This Is Your Life" (1952); host Ralph Edwards awarded Bendix with a framed document signed by Mendelssohn.

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