William ‘Billy’ Benedict was an American actor who is best known for his roles in “The Bowery Boys” series, “Bringing Up Baby,” and “The Great McGinty.”
Personal and Family Life
Billy Benedict was born on April 16, 1917, in Haskell, Oklahoma. He was active in his high school drama department and, during the Great Depression, moved to California to pursue his dreams in the entertainment industry. He married Dolly in 1969 while working on the musical “Hello, Dolly.”
Career Overview
Benedict began his acting career in the mid-1930s with his film debut in “Fox’s $10 Raise.” He became known for his work in serials and features alongside the East Side Kids and Bowery Boys. Throughout his more than fifty-year career, he had a broad range of roles in various films but never had the opportunity to showcase his dancing skills on screen, which he often mentioned in interviews.
Death and Legacy
Billy Benedict passed away on November 25, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from heart surgery. His contributions to the film and television industry, especially his work with the Bowery Boys, remain a part of his legacy.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Bringing Up Baby | 1938-02-18 | David’s Caddy (uncredited) |
| The Whistler | 1944-03-30 | The Deafmute (Uncredited) |
| The Talk of the Town | 1942-08-20 | Western Union Boy (uncredited) |
| Million Dollar Kid | 1944-02-28 | Skinny |
| People Are Funny | 1946-01-11 | NBC Usher |
| Ghost Chasers | 1951-04-29 | Whitey |
| Here’s Lucy | 1968-09-23 | Deliveryman |
| I Dream of Jeannie | 1965-09-18 | Cleaning Man |
| Little House on the Prairie | 1974-09-11 | N/A |
| The Brady Bunch | 1969-09-26 | N/A |