William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, who typically played rough, blue-collar characters. He is best remembered in movies for the title role in The Babe Ruth Story. He also memorably portrayed the clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker Chester A. Riley in radio and television's The Life of Riley. He received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Wake Island (1942).
January 14, 1906, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Died
December 14, 1964, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Height
5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Writer
Children
Stephanie Bendix, Lorraine Bendix
TV Shows
Overland Trail
Star Sign
Capricorn
#
Quote
1
Films take tremendous pressure off--you can always reshoot a scene. But on the stage you can work with a part, build it from performance to performance.
2
I've had a long, varied, pleasant, eventful career. I don't hate anybody and I don't have any bitter thoughts. I started out without any advantages, but I've been lucky and successful and I've had fun.
3
Save a buck or two and keep on acting--that's all there is to it.
#
Fact
1
Father: Oscar Bendix; Mother: Hilda Carnell.
2
Was a staunch conservative Republican.
3
Was a Boy Scout.
4
In the summer of 1961 the residents of Aurora East, OH, voted to name the town park after their favorite television performer--William Bendix. He made a personal appearance to dedicate "William Bendix Park".
5
He was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1638 Vine St. and for Television at 6251 Hollywood Blvd.
6
Portraying Chester Riley on the popular "The Life of Riley" radio program from 1944-52, Bendix was initially prevented from recreating his role for TV due to contractual restrictions. Jackie Gleason played the role when the program first aired, but Bendix subsequently took over the part after the show failed to get decent ratings. Gleason's role as Riley lasted one season (The Life of Riley (1949)). Bendix, who starred in the rarely aired big-screen version The Life of Riley (1949), would finally assume the TV role on NBC's The Life of Riley (1953) four years later. The show became a huge success and ran another five seasons. In a similar turn, Bendix replaced Gleason in the Broadway musical "Take Me Along" in 1960.
7
Attracted the attention of producer Cheryl Walker in the late 1930s and appeared in six of her productions at the Theatre Guild.
8
Once a member of the Henry Street Players on New York's Lower East side.
9
As a child he played the son of actress Lillian Walker in a silent film in 1911 (age 5).
10
Claims Babe Ruth had an affinity for hot dogs and young Bendix often was called upon to fetch them for him.
11
Graduated from Public School 5 in the Bronx and attended Townsend Harris High School for a brief spell.
12
His father was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and a musician who performed in local New York bands. Another relative, Max Bendix, was a violinist who once conducted the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
13
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].
14
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 41-42. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
15
Screen, stage, radio, and television actor.
16
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).
17
Interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California, USA.
$950,000
