Ben Lessy (born Benjamin Lesinsky;Wilson, Scott (2016).
Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.
'. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 439. . April 29, 1902Hess, Earl J.; Dabholcar, Pratibha, A. (2014).
The Cinematic Voyage of THE PIRATE: Kelly, Garland, and Minnelli at Work
'. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. p. 215. . – October 30, 1992) was an American

nightclub A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...

comedian and television and film actor.

Early life

He was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Career

Lessy was known for a nightclub act done with Patti Moore,"Patti Moore, Ben Lessy Team Started in Early 40's"
''The Victorville Press''. October 3, 1957. p. 14. Retrieved November 7, 2024. the long-time wife of his best friend and agent, Sammy Lewis. They were regulars at Los Angeles nightclubs Slapsy Maxie's and Billy Gray's Band Box. Lessy appeared in over 50 films and television episodes between 1938 and 1981. His first film role was in the two reel ''Cafe Rendezvous'' (1938) and his career ended with the

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an American filmmaker and screenwriter. His career in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and ver ...

film '' Buddy Buddy'' (1981). Other credits include '' Music for Millions'' (1944), '' Dark Delusion'' (1947) (the last entry in the

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

Dr. Kildare series),'' The Pirate'' (1948) (Lessy's 9th, and final film during his seven years at MGM),'' The Jackie Robinson Story'' (1950), '' Just for You'' (1952), ''

Gypsy {{Infobox ethnic group , group = Romani people , image = , image_caption = , flag = Roma flag.svg , flag_caption = Romani flag created in 1933 and accepted at the 1971 World Romani Congress , po ...

'' (1962), ''

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' is a 1963 American Technicolor epic comedy film in Ultra Panavision 70 produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, from a screenplay by William and Tania Rose. The film, starring Spencer Tracy with an all ...

'' (1963), '' Pajama Party'' (1964), ''

That Darn Cat! ''That Darn Cat!'' is a 1965 American thriller (genre), thriller comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson (director), Robert Stevenson and starring Hayley Mills and Dean Jones (actor), Dean Jones in a story about bank robbers, a kidnapping and ...

'' (1965), and '' The Love Machine'' (1971). On the small screen, he was frequently seen during the 1950s on the popular sitcom '' Make Room for Daddy'', whose creator/star

Danny Thomas Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, (born January 6, 1912 – February 6, 1991) known professionally as Danny Thomas, was an American comedian, actor, singer, producer, and philanthropist. He created and starred in ''The Danny Thomas Show''. In additio ...

dubbed Lessy "one of the greatest living generators of laughter". Lessy also did a number of variety and

talk show A talk show is a television programming, radio programming or podcast genre structured around the act of spontaneous conversation.Bernard M. Timberg, Robert J. Erler'' (2010Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Show', pp.3-4Erler, Robert (201 ...

spots alongside nightclub partner Moore; these include

Ed Sullivan Edward Vincent Sullivan (September 28, 1901 – October 13, 1974) was an American television host, impresario, sports and entertainment reporter, and syndicated columnist for the ''New York Daily News'' and the Chicago Tribune New York News ...

's '' Toast of the Town'', '' The Frank Sinatra Show'', '' The NBC Comedy Hour'', ''

Juke Box Jury ''Juke Box Jury'' was a music panel show which ran on BBC Television between 1 June 1959 and 27 December 1967. The programme was based on the American show '' Jukebox Jury'', itself an offshoot of a long-running radio series. The American ser ...

'', '' The John Conte Show'', '' The Woody Woodbury Show'', and ''

Merv Griffin Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway theatre, Broadway. From 1962 to 1986, G ...

''. Other TV credits include '' Telephone Time'' (1957), ''

The Jack Benny Program ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio and television comedy series. The show ran for over three decades, from 1932 to 1955 on radio, and from 1950 to 1965 on television. It won numerous awards, including the 1959 and 19 ...

'' (1959–64: 3 episodes), '' The Cara Williams Show'' (1964–1965), '' The Gypsy Ross Lee Show'', '' That Girl'' (1966), ''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, an ...

'' (1967), '' The New Andy Griffith Show'' (1971), and ''

McMillan & Wife ''McMillan & Wife'' (known simply as ''McMillan'' from 1976 to 1977) is an American police procedural television series that aired on NBC from September 17, 1971, to April 24, 1977. Starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in the title roles, ...

'' (1976). USA Sitcoms ComedyZZ (May 10, 2024)
"McMillan and Wife , Season 05 , Episode 06 - Greed"
YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2024. Lessy died on October 30, 1992, aged 90 from natural causes. His remains are interred at Sholom Memorial Park in

Sylmar, California Sylmar is a suburban neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley and the northernmost neighborhood within the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Historically known for its profusion of sylvan olive orchards, Sylmar can trace its past t ...

Filmography

*''

Second Chorus ''Second Chorus'' is a 1940 Hollywood musical film, musical comedy film starring Paulette Goddard and Fred Astaire and featuring Artie Shaw, Burgess Meredith and Charles Butterworth (actor), Charles Butterworth, with music by Artie Shaw, Bernie H ...

'' (1940) - Shaw's Second Manager (uncredited) *''

Woman of the Year ''Woman of the Year'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy drama film directed by George Stevens and starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The film was written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin (with uncredited work on the rewritte ...

'' (1942) - Punchy (uncredited) *'' For Me and My Gal'' (1942) - Dough Boy Dan (uncredited) *'' Youth on Parade'' (1942) - Piano Player (uncredited) *''

Thousands Cheer ''Thousands Cheer'' is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by George Sidney and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Produced during the Second World War, the film was intended as a morale booster for American troops and their families. P ...

'' (1943) - Silent Monk *'' Music for Millions'' (1944) - Kickebush *'' Her Highness and the Bellboy'' (1945) - Himself *'' Two Sisters from Boston'' (1946) - Rogetto - Olstrom's Valet (uncredited) *'' Dark Delusion'' (1947) - Napoleon *'' The Pirate'' (1948) - Gumbo *'' The Jackie Robinson Story'' (1950) - Shorty *'' Purple Heart Diary'' (1951) - Himself *'' Just for You'' (1952) - Georgie Polansky *''

'' (1962) - Mervyn Goldstone *''

'' (1963) - George, the steward (uncredited) *'' I'd Rather Be Rich'' (1964) - 1st Hunter (uncredited) *'' Pajama Party'' (1964) - Fleegle *'' That Funny Feeling'' (1965) - Charlie - Bartender *''

'' (1965) - Drive-In Concessionaire (uncredited) *'' The Last of the Secret Agents?'' (1966) - Harry *''

The Fastest Guitar Alive ''The Fastest Guitar Alive'' is a 1967 American Musical film, musical Comedy film, comedy western (genre), Western film directed by Mickey Moore, Michael D. Moore and starring singer Roy Orbison in his only acting role. The film features Orbison ...

'' (1967) - Indian Chief *'' The Love Machine'' (1971) - Kenny Ditto *'' Buddy Buddy'' (1981) - Barney Pritzig (final film role)

References

External links

*
1902 births 1992 deaths Male actors from New York City American male film actors American male television actors American male comedians 20th-century American male actors Comedians from New York City 20th-century American comedians {{US-screen-actor-1900s-stub