Biography
William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film actor. As a young boy, he was a batboy for the New York Yankees.
Bendix was born in New York City, and made his film debut in 1942, having worked as a grocer until the Great Depression. He played in supporting roles in dozens of Hollywood films, usually as a soldier, gangster or detective. He started with appearances in film noir films including a memorable performance in The Glass Key, which also featured Brian Donlevy and Veronica Lake. He soon gained more attention after appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat as Gus, a wounded and dying American sailor. Bendix's other well-known movie roles include his portrayal of legendary baseball-player Babe Ruth in The Babe Ruth Story and Sir Sagramore opposite Bing Crosby in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949), in which he took part in the famous trio, "Busy Doing Nothing".
At the time, however, Bendix was probably best known for his radio work, starring as Chester A. Riley in the radio comedy series "The Life of Riley," from 1944 through 1951. The series is considered by some to be the first actual situation comedy. Bendix also played the title role in the subsequent television version of the series, which ran from 1953 to 1958, taking over from Jackie Gleason after the first year.
William Bendix died in Los Angeles of pneumonia and was interred there in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
Selected filmography
Woman of the Year (1942)
Wake Island (1942) - Best Supporting Actor Nomination
The Glass Key (1942)
Lifeboat (1944)
The Dark Corner (1942)
The Blue Dahlia (1946)
The Babe Ruth Story (1948)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949)
Detective Story (1951)
Macao (1952)
References
Smithsonian Collection: Old Time Radio All-Time Favourites, liner notes from audio cassette box set. Joe Bevilaqua. Radio Spirits: Schiller Park, 1994.
