American actor (1917–1999)
Billy Benedict
Born (1917-04-16 ) April 16, 1917Died November 25, 1999(1999-11-25) (aged 82) Occupation Actor Years active 1935–1992 Spouse
Dolly Benedict
(
m. 1969, divorced)
William Franklin Sater Benedict (April 16, 1917 – November 25, 1999) was an American actor, perhaps best known for playing "Whitey" in Monogram Pictures ' The Bowery Boys series.[ 1]
Early years
Benedict was born in Haskell, Oklahoma ,[ 2] After his father's death when Billy was three years old, his mother supported him and his two sisters.[ 3] He took part in school theatricals, and on leaving school he made his way to Hollywood .
Career
Benedict's first film was $10 Raise (1935) starring Edward Everett Horton , which launched the blond-haired young man on a busy career. He almost always played juvenile roles, such as newsboys, messengers, office boys, and farmhands.
In 1939, when Universal Pictures began its Little Tough Guys series to compete with the popular Dead End Kids features, Billy Benedict was recruited into the cast. These films led him into the similar East Side Kids movies (usually playing a member of the East Side gang, but occasionally in villainous roles). The East Side Kids became The Bowery Boys in 1946, and Benedict stayed with the series (as "Whitey") through the end of 1951.
Other films included My Little Chickadee (1940) starring W. C. Fields and Mae West , The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), Ed Wood 's Bride of the Monster (1955), The Sting (1973) and Farewell, My Lovely (1975). Benedict never shook his juvenile image completely, and continued to play messengers and news vendors well into his sixties. He also worked often in television commercials,[ 4] and in television series, including The Andy Griffith Show , All in the Family , and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson .
Death
Benedict died at age 82 on November 25, 1999, at Los Angeles ' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ,[ 4] following heart surgery.[ 1]
Selected filmography
Year
Film
Role
Director
Notes
1935
$10 Raise
Jimmy
George Marshall
1935
College Scandal
'Penny' Parker
Elliott Nugent
1935
Silk Hat Kid
Uncle Sam
H. Bruce Humberstone
uncredited
1935
Doubting Thomas
Caddie
David Butler
1935
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Boy Announcing Dan's Arrival Before Fight
Victor Fleming
uncredited
1935
Welcome Home
Bit
James Tinling
uncredited
1935
Steamboat Round the Bend
Breck
John Ford
uncredited
1935
Ladies Love Danger
Newsboy
H. Bruce Humberstone
uncredited
1935
Way Down East
Amos
D. W. Griffith
1935
Three Kids and a Queen
Flash
Edward Ludwig
1935
Bad Boy
Grocery Clerk
John G. Blystone
uncredited
1935
Show Them No Mercy
Willie
George Marshall
uncredited
1935
Your Uncle Dudley
Cyril Church
Eugene Forde
1936
The Country Doctor
The Gawker
Henry King
1936
Captain January
Telegram Delivery Boy
David Butler
uncredited
1936
The Witness Chair
Benny Ryan
George Nicholls, Jr.
1936
Meet Nero Wolfe
Barstow's Caddy
Herbert Biberman
1936
M'Liss
Archer Morpher
George Nicholls, Jr.
1936
A Son Comes Home
Cabin Boy
E.A. Dupont
uncredited
1936
Ramona
Joseph Hyar
1936
Adventure in Manhattan
Office Boy
Edward Ludwig
uncredited
1936
Libeled Lady
Johnny
Jack Conway
1936
Theodora Goes Wild
Henry
Richard Boleslawski
uncredited
1936
Can This Be Dixie?
Shenandoah Peachtree
uncredited
1936
Laughing at Trouble
Wilbur
Frank R. Strayer
1936
Crack-Up
Office Boy
Malcolm St. Clair
uncredited
1936
After the Thin Man
Blond Young Man Who Approaches Car
W. S. Van Dyke
uncredited
1937
They Wanted to Marry
Freckles
Lew Landers
1937
Jim Hanvey, Detective
Copy Boy
Phil Rosen
uncredited
1937
That I May Live
Kurt Plivens
Allan Dwan
1937
The Road Back
Boy Leader
James Whale
uncredited
1937
Rhythm in the Clouds
Clyde
John H. Auer
uncredited
1937
Love in a Bungalow
Telegraph boy
Ray McCarey
1937
Flying Fists
Monk, Tall Kid
Robert F. Hill
1937
A Dangerous Adventure
Blister
D. Ross Lederman
uncredited
1937
The Last Gangster
the Office Boy
Edward Ludwig
uncredited
1937
Tim Tyler's Luck
Spud
Wyndham Gittens
1938
I Met My Love Again
Boy at Party
George Cukor (uncredited)
uncredited
1938
No Time to Marry
Farm Boy
Harry Lachman
uncredited
1938
Bringing Up Baby
David's Caddy
Howard Hawks
uncredited
1938
Walking Down Broadway
Eddie
Norman Foster
1938
King of the Newsboys
Squimpy
Bernard Vorhaus
1938
There's Always a Woman
Bellhop
Alexander Hall
uncredited
1938
Hold That Kiss
Boy Delivering Suit
Edwin L. Marin
uncredited
1938
Young Fugitives
Jud
John Rawlins
1938
Hold That Co-ed
Sylvester
George Marshall
1938
Little Tough Guys in Society
Trouble
Erle C. Kenton
1938
Say It in French
Red-Haired Boy
Andrew L. Stone
uncredited
1938
Newsboys' Home
Trouble
Harold Young
1939
Code of the Streets
Trouble
Harold Young
1939
Man of Conquest
Tommy
George Nicholls Jr.
uncredited
1939
Timber Stampede
Printer's Devil
Kenneth Holmes (assistant)
uncredited
1939
Pack Up Your Troubles
Office Boy
H. Bruce Humberstone
uncredited
1939
Call a Messenger
Trouble
Arthur Lubin
1940
Legion of the Lawless
Eddie
David Howard
1940
My Little Chickadee
Lem
Edward F. Cline
uncredited
1940
And One Was Beautiful
Delivery Man
Robert B. Sinclair
uncredited
1940
Prairie Law
Teenage Voter
David Howard
uncredited
1940
Grand Ole Opry
Newsboy
Frank McDonald
uncredited
1940
Adventures of Red Ryder
Dan Withers [Ch. 1]
John English
Serial; uncredited
1940
The Great McGinty
Farm Boy
Preston Sturges
uncredited
1940
Stage to Chino
Happy
Kenneth Holmes (assistant)
uncredited
1940
Lucky Partners
Delivery Boy
Lewis Milestone
uncredited
1940
Young People
Boy
Allan Dwan
uncredited
1940
Rhythm on the River
Elevator Boy
Victor Schertzinger
uncredited
1940
The Mad Doctor
Copy Boy
Tim Whelan
uncredited
1940
Melody Ranch
Slim
Joseph Santley
1940
Give Us Wings
Link
Charles Lamont
1940
Second Chorus
Ticket Taker
H. C. Potter
uncredited
1940
Bowery Boy
William Morgan
1941
The Great Mr. Nobody
Jig
Benjamin Stoloff
1941
Scattergood Baines
Lafe Hopper
John E. Burch (assistant)
uncredited
1941
The Man Who Lost Himself
Messenger Boy
Edward Ludwig
uncredited
1941
Mr. District Attorney
Office Boy
Ed Byron
uncredited
1941
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Whitey Murphy
John English
Serial
1941
In Old Cheyenne
Train Vendor
Joseph Kane
uncredited
1941
She Knew All the Answers
Singing Telegraph Boy
Richard Wallace
1941
Time Out for Rhythm
Messenger
Sidney Salkow
uncredited
1941
Citadel of Crime
Wes Rankins
George Sherman
1941
The Richest Man in Town
Young Man
uncredited
1941
Dressed to Kill
Telegram Boy
Eugene J. Forde
uncredited
1941
Great Guns
Recruit at Corral
Monty Banks
uncredited
1941
Jesse James at Bay
Young Davis
Joseph Kane
uncredited
1941
Unholy Partners
Copyboy Wanting Paper
Mervyn LeRoy
uncredited
1941
Tuxedo Junction
Thomas 'Piecrust' Murphy
1941
Cadet Girl
Soldier at Camp Show
Ray McCarey
uncredited
1941
Confessions of Boston Blackie
Ice Cream Man
Edward Dmytryk
1942
A Tragedy at Midnight
Newsboy
Joseph Santley
uncredited
1942
On the Sunny Side
Messenger
Harold D. Schuster
1942
Rings on Her Fingers
Newsboy
Rouben Mamoulian
1942
Two Yanks in Trinidad
Messenger
Gregory Ratoff
uncredited
1942
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
Bellboy
Bernard Vorhaus
1942
Junior G-Men of the Air
Whitey [Ch. 11]
Ray Taylor
Serial; uncredited
1942
Home in Wyomin'
Usher
William Morgan
uncredited
1942
I Live on Danger
Nightclub Waiter
Sam White
uncredited
1942
Lady in a Jam
Barker
Gregory La Cava
uncredited
1942
Perils of Nyoka
Red Davis
William Witney
1942
The Talk of the Town
Western Union Boy
George Stevens
uncredited
1942
Wildcat
Bud Smithers
Frank McDonald
1942
The Glass Key
Farr's Receptionist
Stuart Heisler
uncredited
1942
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
Usher in Opera House
Ralph Murphy
uncredited
1942
Get Hep to Love
Soda Jerk
Charles Lamont
uncredited
1942
Valley of Hunted Men
Ranch Boy
John English
uncredited
1942
Heart of the Golden West
Telegraph Messenger
Joseph Kane
uncredited
1942
A Night to Remember
Messenger Boy
Richard Wallace
uncredited
1943
The Powers Girl
Office Boy
Norman Z. McLeod
uncredited
1943
Aerial Gunner
Pvt. Jackson 'Sleepy' Laswell
William H. Pine
1943
Hangmen Also Die!
Kylar
Fritz Lang
uncredited
1943
Clancy Street Boys
Cherry Street Leader
William Beaudine
1943
The Ox-Bow Incident
Greene
William A. Wellman
1943
All by Myself
Telegraph Messenger
uncredited
1943
Ghosts on the Loose
Benny
William Beaudine
1943
Nobody's Darling
Sammy
Anthony Mann
uncredited
1943
Adventures of the Flying Cadets
Cadet Zombie Parker
Ray Taylor
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Busboy
uncredited
1943
Mr. Muggs Steps Out
Pinky
William Beaudine
1943
Minesweeper
Inoculations Corpsman
William Berke
uncredited
1943
Moonlight in Vermont
Abel
Edward C. Lilley
1943
Whispering Footsteps
Jerry Murphy
Howard Bretherton
1944
Million Dollar Kid
Skinny
Wallace Fox
1944
Cover Girl
Florist Delivery Boy
Charles Vidor
uncredited
1944
The Whistler
The Deafmute
William Castle
uncredited
1944
Follow the Boys
Joe
A. Edward Sutherland
uncredited
1944
Follow the Leader
Spider O'Brien
William Beaudine
1944
Goodnight Sweetheart
Bellboy
Joseph Santley
1944
Block Busters
Butch
Wallace Fox
1944
Janie
Soda Jerk
Michael Curtiz
uncredited
1944
That's My Baby!
Office Boy
William Berke
1944
The Merry Monahans
Messenger
Charles Lamont
uncredited
1944
They Live in Fear
Thomas 'Mack' Knight
uncredited
1944
Bowery Champs
Skinny
William Beaudine
1944
My Gal Loves Music
Bellboy
uncredited
1945
Night Club Girl
Winnebago boy
uncredited
1945
Youth on Trial
Soda Jerk
uncredited
1945
Brenda Starr, Reporter
Pesky [Ch 1,3,5-8,11,13]
Wallace Fox
Serial; uncredited
1945
Docks of New York
Skinny
Wallace Fox
1945
Patrick the Great
Joey
Frank Ryan
uncredited
1945
Hollywood and Vine
Newsboy
uncredited
1945
The Story of G.I. Joe
Pvt. Whitey
William A. Wellman
uncredited
1945
Mr. Muggs Rides Again
Skinny
Wallace Fox
1945
Come Out Fighting
Skinny
William Beaudine
1945
Road to Utopia
Second Newsboy
Hal Walker
uncredited
1946
People Are Funny
NBC Usher
Sam White
1946
Live Wires
Whitey
Phil Karlson
1946
Gay Blades
Newsboy
George Blair
uncredited
1946
The Gentleman Misbehaves
Bellboy
uncredited
1946
The Kid from Brooklyn
Newsboy #2
Norman Z. McLeod
uncredited
1946
Without Reservations
Western Union Telegraph Boy
Mervyn LeRoy
uncredited
1946
Do You Love Me?
Singing Western Union Boy
Gregory Ratoff
uncredited
1946
One More Tomorrow
Bantam Office Boy
Peter Godfrey
uncredited
1946
In Fast Company
Whitey
Del Lord
1946
A Boy, a Girl and a Dog
Messenger Boy
uncredited
1946
Bowery Bombshell
Whitey
Phil Karlson
1946
Spook Busters
Whitey
William Beaudine
1946
No Leave, No Love
Expectant Father on Hospital Phone
Charles Martin
uncredited
1946
Never Say Goodbye
Messenger Boy
James V. Kern
uncredited
1946
Mr. Hex
Whitey
William Beaudine
1947
The Pilgrim Lady
Bellboy
Lesley Selander
1947
Hard Boiled Mahoney
Whitey
William Beaudine
1947
Fun on a Weekend
Hotel Bellboy
Andrew L. Stone
uncredited
1947
The Hucksters
Bellboy at Blue Penguin Inn
Jack Conway
uncredited
1947
News Hounds
Whitey
William Beaudine
1947
Bowery Buckaroos
Whitey
William Beaudine
1947
Merton of the Movies
Von Strutt's Assistant
Robert Alton
uncredited
1948
Angels' Alley
Whitey
William Beaudine
1948
Secret Service Investigator
Counterman
R. G. Springsteen
1948
Jinx Money
Whitey
William Beaudine
1948
Night Wind
Irv Bennett
uncredited
1948
Smugglers' Cove
Whitey
William Beaudine
1948
Trouble Makers
Whitey
Reginald LeBorg
1949
Fighting Fools
Whitey
Reginald LeBorg
1949
Riders of the Pony Express
Eddie Lund
1949
Hold That Baby!
Whitey
Reginald LeBorg
1949
Angels in Disguise
Whitey
Jean Yarbrough
1949
Master Minds
Whitey
Jean Yarbrough
1950
Blonde Dynamite
Whitey
William Beaudine
1950
Lucky Losers
Whitey
William Beaudine
1950
Triple Trouble
Whitey
Jean Yarbrough
1950
Blues Busters
Whitey
William Beaudine
1951
Bowery Battalion
Whitey
William Beaudine
1951
Ghost Chasers
Whitey
William Beaudine
1951
Let's Go Navy!
Whitey
William Beaudine
1951
Crazy Over Horses
Whitey
William Beaudine
1953
The Magnetic Monster
Albert
Herbert L. Strock (uncredited)
1955
Bride of the Monster
Newsboy
Ed Wood
1956
The Killing
American Airlines Clerk
Stanley Kubrick
1958
Rally Round the Flag, Boys!
Bellhop
Leo McCarey
uncredited
1959
The Hanging Tree
Trapper
Delmer Daves
uncredited
1959
Last Train from Gun Hill
Small Man in Horseshoe
John Sturges
uncredited
1961
Lover Come Back
Musician in Elevator
Delbert Mann
uncredited
1964
Dear Heart
Stu
Delbert Mann
uncredited
1965
Zebra in the Kitchen
Toy Shop Proprietor
Ivan Tors
uncredited
1965
The Hallelujah Trail
Miner
John Sturges
1965
Harlow
Bespectacled Hero in Movie
Gordon Douglas
uncredited
1967
What Am I Bid?
Clem
1968
Funny Girl
Western Union Boy
William Wyler
uncredited
1968
Rogue's Gallery
Jocko
Leonard Horn
1969
The Lottery
Joe Summers
Larry Yust
short
1969
Hello Dolly!
News Vendor
Gene Kelly
uncredited
1972
The Dirt Gang
Station Attendant
Jerry Jameson
1973
The Sting
Jimmy, Roulette dealer
George Roy Hill
1974
Homebodies
Watchman
Larry Yust
1975
Farewell, My Lovely
Dick Richards
1976
Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Man on Bus
Michael Winner
1976
Sherlock Holmes in New York
Telegraph Office Manager
Boris Sagal
1977
The Last Hurrah
Willie Degman
Vincent Sherman
1978
Born Again
Leon Jaworski
Irving Rapper
Television
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1962
Dennis the Menace
Crook
S3:E22, “The Private Eye”
1967
The Monkees
Skywriter
S2:E4, "Monkee Mayor"
References
^ a b Lentz, Harris M. III (2000). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1999: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture . McFarland. p. 18. ISBN 9780786452040 . Retrieved May 28, 2017 .
^ Mayer, Geoff (2017). Encyclopedia of American Film Serials . McFarland. p. 49. ISBN 9780786477623 . Retrieved May 29, 2017 .
^ Keavy, Hubbard (May 3, 1935). "Screen Life In Hollywood" . Altoona Tribune . PA, Altoona. p. 6. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b Staff. "William Benedict Character Actor, 82" , The New York Times , November 30, 1999. Accessed March 30, 2009.
External links
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