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Nicholas Benton Alexander III (June 27, 1911 – July 5, 1969) was an American motion picture actor, who started out as a
child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage, television, or in film, movies. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associa ...
in 1916. He is best remembered for his role as Officer Frank Smith in the ''Dragnet'' franchise.


Early life and career

A native of
Goldfield, Nevada Goldfield is an unincorporated town and census-designated place and the county seat of Esmeralda County, Nevada. It is the locus of the Goldfield CDP which had a resident population of 268 at the 2010 census, down from 440 in 2000. Gold ...
, Alexander was the son of Nicholas Benton Alexander Jr. and Elizabeth Hinkley. After a number of silent films, he retired from screen work, but came back for the
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
classic, '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1930), in which Alexander received good notices as an adult actor as "Kemmerich", the tragic amputation victim. Earnings from the film allowed him to attend
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
; however, three years later, in the midst of the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
, he was forced to leave school for lack of funds. He found a new career as a successful radio announcer in the late 1940s, including a stint on '' The Martin and Lewis Show''. Alexander also acted on radio, playing Philip West in the 1939–40 soap opera ''Brenthouse'' on the
Blue Network The Blue Network (previously known as the NBC Blue Network) was the on-air name of a now defunct American Commercial broadcasting, radio network, which broadcast from 1927 through 1945. Beginning as one of the two radio networks owned by the ...
. From October 1950 to January 1951, Alexander hosted ''Party Time at Club Roma'', a nightly late-night television show on
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
described as "part ''
Truth or Consequences ''Truth or Consequences'' is an American game show originally hosted on NBC radio by Ralph Edwards (1940–57) and later on television by Edwards (1950–54), Jack Bailey (1954–56), Bob Barker (1956–75), Steve Dunne (1957–58), Bob Hi ...
''-type stunt show and part talent contest". In 1952,
Jack Webb John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, Television director, director, and screenwriter, most famous for his role as Joe Friday in the Dragnet (franchise), ''Dragnet'' franchise ...
, actor-producer-director of '' Dragnet'', needed a replacement for
Barton Yarborough William Barton Yarborough (October 2, 1900 – December 19, 1951) was an American actor who worked extensively in radio drama, primarily on the NBC Radio Network. He is famous for his roles in the Carlton E. Morse productions ''I Love a Mys ...
, who had played Detective Romero opposite Webb's Sgt. Joe Friday. Webb selected Alexander, but had to wait until he was available. A few actors filled in as Friday's partners until Alexander appeared in the newly created role of Officer Frank Smith, first in the radio series, then reprised the role in film and on television. The popular series ran until 1959. When Webb revived it in 1966, he wanted Alexander to rejoin him, but Alexander had just signed to play the role of Sgt. Dan Briggs on the weekly ABC series '' Felony Squad''.


Other

Alexander owned and operated the Ben Alexander Ford car dealership in the Highland Park neighborhood of northeast Los Angeles, from around 1953 until his death in 1969, along with the Ben Alexander Ford car dealership in San Francisco, which was formed in 1959. In the mid-1950s, Ben Alexander's Dream House Motel was located in Hollywood, near the corner of Yucca Street and Cahuenga Boulevard. In 1960, Alexander was a semi-regular panelist on
Ernie Kovacs Ernest Edward Kovacs (January 23, 1919 – January 13, 1962) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. Kovacs's visually experimental and often spontaneous comedic style influenced numerous television comedy programs for years after his dea ...
' offbeat game show '' Take a Good Look'', which he affectionately dubbed "as unrigged and unrehearsed and un-produced a show as ever hit the air.'" On April 19, 1960, and for roughly four years thereafter, he produced and hosted ''The Ben Alexander Show'', a talent show airing on Oakland's
KTVU KTVU (channel 2) is a television station licensed to Oakland, California, United States, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned and operated by the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network through its Fox Television Stations division along ...
TV. What made this program especially noteworthy—and profitable for its creator/host—was the fact that Alexander was also the sponsor, via his auto dealership. '' Broadcast Magazine'' highlighted this seeming anomaly in its August 29 issue, exactly four months after the show's debut.
When a successful actor is also a successful businessman, that's unusual. When, as a businessman, he sponsors himself as a tv performer, that's rare. And when, the day after the opening broadcast, his business does three times its normal volume, that's news."TV Amateur Show Sells Cars; 'Dragnet' actor sponsors himself on TV"
''Broadcasting''. August 29, 1960. p. 44. Retrieved July 17, 2024.


Death

On July 5, 1969, Alexander was found dead as the result of a massive heart attack in his
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
home when his wife and children returned from a camping trip. He was cremated. For his contributions to the entertainment industry, Ben Alexander was awarded three stars on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...
for television, radio, and movies.


Filmography

* '' Each Pearl a Tear'' (1916) * ''
The Little American ''The Little American'' is a 1917 American silent romantic war drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The film stars Mary Pickford (who also served as producer) as an American woman who is in love with both a German soldier and a French ...
'' (1917) - Bobby Moore * '' What Money Can't Buy'' (1918) - Child * '' Hearts of the World'' (1918) - The Boy's Littlest Brother * '' The Lady of the Dugout'' (1918) - The Lady's Son * ''The Heart of Rachael'' (1918) - Jim * ''The One Woman'' (1918) - Boy * ''
Little Orphant Annie "Little Orphant Annie" is an 1885 poem written by James Whitcomb Riley and published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company. First titled "The Elf Child", the name was changed by Riley to "Little Orphant Allie" at its third printing; however, a typesetting ...
'' (1918) - Orphan * ''
The Turn in the Road The Turn in the Road is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor. His first feature film, the production was financed by the Brentwood Film Corporation and the title and the scenario based on a Christian Science religious tract ...
'' (1919) - Bob * '' The White Heather'' (1919) - Donald Cameron * '' Josselyn's Wife'' (1919) - Tommy Josselyn * ''The Hushed Hour'' (1919) - Gondy * '' The Mayor of Filbert'' (1919) - Carroll * '' Tangled Threads'' (1919) - 'Sonny Boy' Wayne * '' The Better Wife'' (1919) - Little Dick * '' The Triflers'' (1920) - Rupert Holbrook * ''
The Family Honor ''The Family Honor'' is a 1920 American silent drama-romance film directed by King Vidor and starring Florence Vidor.The Notorious Mrs. Sands'' (1920) - Child * '' Through Eyes of Men'' (1920) - Little Billy * '' Blue Streak McCoy'' (1920) * '' The Heart Line'' (1921) - The Child * '' In the Name of the Law'' (1922) - Harry O'Hara - age 9, prologue * '' Penrod and Sam'' (1923) - Penrod Schofield * ''The Yankee Spirit'' (1923, Short) * '' Jealous Husbands'' (1923) - Bobbie (later called Spud) * '' Boy of Mine'' (1923) - Bill Latimer * ''Barnum Junior'' (1924, Short) * ''Junior Partner'' (1924, Short) * '' A Self-Made Failure'' (1924) - Sonny * ''Dirty Hand'' (1924, Short) * '' Flaming Love'' (1925) - Benny Keene * '' Pampered Youth'' (1925) - George Minafer, as a child * ''Wildcat Willie'' (1925, Short) * '' The Shining Adventure'' (1925) - Benny * '' The Highbinders'' (1926) - Roy Marshall * ''Scotty of the Scouts'' (1926) - Scotty Smith * ''Fighting for Fame'' (1927) - Danny Ryan * ''Two to One'' (1927) * ''
The Divine Lady ''The Divine Lady'' is a 1928 American pre-Code synchronized sound historical drama film. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-disc Vitaphone process. It ...
'' (1929) - Young Lieutenant (uncredited) * ''The Lunkhead'' (1929, Short) - Ben - Billy's Chum * '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1930) - Franz Kemmerich * '' Many a Slip'' (1931) - Ted Coster * '' It's a Wise Child'' (1931) - Bill Stanton * ''
Are These Our Children? ''Are These Our Children?'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Howard Estabrook. The film stars Eric Linden, Ben Alexander, Beryl Mercer, Mary Kornman, Arline Judge, and Rochelle Hudson. The f ...
'' (1931) - Nicholas 'Nick' Crosby * '' Suicide Fleet'' (1931) - Kid * ''A Wise Child'' (1931) * ''Mystery Ship'' (1931) * ''
High Pressure In science and engineering the study of high pressure examines its effects on materials and the design and construction of devices, such as a diamond anvil cell, which can create high pressure. ''High pressure'' usually means pressures of thousan ...
'' (1932) - Geoffrey Weston * '' The Wet Parade'' (1932) - Evelyn's Friend (uncredited) * '' Tom Brown of Culver'' (1932) - Cpl. John Clarke * '' The Vanishing Frontier'' (1932) - Lucien Winfield * ''Alias the Professor'' (1933, Short) * '' Mister Mugg'' (1933, Short) * ''Roadhouse Queen'' (1933, Short) - Junior Knox * ''Daddy Knows Best'' (1933, Short) - Billy Todd * '' What Price Innocence?'' (1933) - Tommy Harrow * '' This Day and Age'' (1933) - Morry Dover * ''
Stage Mother In the performing arts, a stage mother is the mother of a child actor. The term ''stage mother'' sometimes has a negative connotation, suggesting that the individual is prone to obnoxiously demanding special treatment for her child, or suggesting ...
'' (1933) - Francis Nolan * '' Once to Every Woman'' (1934) - Joe * '' The Most Precious Thing in Life'' (1934) - Gideon 'Gubby' Gerhart * '' The Life of Vergie Winters'' (1934) - Barry Preston * '' Flirtation'' (1934) - Dudley * ''
Grand Old Girl ''Grand Old Girl'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by John Robertson from a screenplay by Milton Krims, John Twist, Arthur T. Horman, adapted from a story by Wanda Tuchock. The film stars May Robson, Mary Carlisle, Fred MacMurray, ...
'' (1935) - Tom Miller * '' Born to Gamble'' (1935) - Paul Mathews * '' Reckless Roads'' (1935) - Wade Adams * '' Annapolis Farewell'' (1935) - Adams * '' Splendor'' (1935) - Western Union Messenger (uncredited) * '' The Fire Trap'' (1935) - Bob Fender * ''
Hearts in Bondage ''Hearts in Bondage'' is a 1936 American black-and-white war drama film directed by Lew Ayres for Republic Pictures. Set during the American Civil War, the film depicts the Union Navy's deliberate sinking of , the Confederate States Navy's sa ...
'' (1936) - Eggleston * ''
Red Lights Ahead ''Red Lights Ahead'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Roland D. Reed and starring Andy Clyde, Lucile Gleason and Roger Imhof. It was the last film released by the Poverty Row studio Chesterfield Pictures before it became part of Republi ...
'' (1936) - George Wallace * ''
Shall We Dance Shall We Dance may refer to: Films * ''Shall We Dance'' (1937 film), a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical * ''Shall We Dance?'' (1996 film), a Japanese film about ballroom dancing * ''Shall We Dance?'' (2004 film), an American remake of the ...
'' (1937) - Evans - a Bandleader (uncredited) * '' The Legion of Missing Men'' (1937) - Don Carter * '' The Outer Gate'' (1937) - Bob Terry * ''
Western Gold ''Western Gold'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Earle Snell and Forrest Barnes. The film stars Smith Ballew, Heather Angel, LeRoy Mason, Howard Hickman, Ben Alexander, Frank McGlynn, Sr. and ...
'' (1937) - Bart * '' The Life of the Party'' (1937) - Orchestra Leader (uncredited) * ''
The Spy Ring ''The Spy Ring'' is a 1938 American adventure film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and written by George Waggner. The film stars William Hall, Jane Wyman, Esther Ralston, Robert Warwick, Leon Ames and Ben Alexander. The film was released on Januar ...
'' (1938) - Capt. Don Mayhew * ''Russian Dressing'' (1938, Short) - Band Leader Bill Farraday * '' Mr. Doodle Kicks Off'' (1938) - Larry Weldon * '' Convict's Code'' (1939) - Jeff Palmer * '' Buries Alive'' (1939) - Riley * ''
The Leather Pushers ''The Leather Pushers'' is a 1922 American film serial starring Reginald Denny (actor), Reginald Denny (and Billy Sullivan (actor), Billy Sullivan in the fourth series), and based on boxing stories by H. C. Witwer originally published in ''Collie ...
'' (1940) - Dan Brown, Announcer * '' Criminals Within'' (1941) - Sgt. Paul, the Traitor * '' Dragnet'' (1954) - Officer Frank Smith * '' Man in the Shadow'' (1957) - Ab Begley


Television

* ''Party Time at Club Roma'' (1950—1951) - Host * '' Dragnet'' (regular, 1952–1959) - Officer Frank Smith * '' The Joseph Cotten Show'', also known as ''On Trial'' (1 episode, 1957) * '' The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford'' (January 24, 1957) * '' Take A Good Look'' (Semi-regular 1959–1960) - Himself / Panelist * '' About Faces'' (1960–1961) - Himself - Host * ''
Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
'' (1 episode, 1966) - Detective Beside Trash Can * '' Felony Squad'' (Unknown episodes, 1966–1969) - Desk Sgt. Dan Briggs * ''
Judd, for the Defense ''Judd, for the Defense'' is an American legal drama originally broadcast on the ABC network on Friday nights from September 8, 1967, to March 21, 1969. Judd was a shortened surname from Juddinski. Synopsis The show stars Carl Betz, who had pr ...
'' (1 episode, 1969)


Writer

* ''Dragnet'' (Co-writer, 6 episodes)


References


Further reading

* * Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, pp. 49–51. * Dye, David. ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 4.


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Ben American male television actors 1911 births 1969 deaths American male child actors American male silent film actors American male radio actors Male actors from Nevada People from Goldfield, Nevada Stanford University alumni 20th-century American male actors