Brooks Benedict (born Harold J. Mann, February 6, 1896 – January 1, 1968) was an American actor of the silent and sound film eras, when he played supporting and utility roles in over 300 films, mostly uncredited.
Life
He was born to Alice Julian and Samuel Mann.
He attended
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...
for two years,
and was a member of its football team.
He then joined the
American Ambulance Corps in France for six months at the height of the
First World War
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 ...
.
Upon return and after the
Selective Service Act of 1917, he enlisted and served as a private in the
U.S. Army Air Service (632 Aero Sq., 144 Aero Sq., Sq. I Kelly Field, Sq. C Gerstner Field; Flying School Detachment).
Benedict then went to Hollywood and pursued different jobs until his starting role in
William Wellman's movie ''
Cupid's Fireman'' (1923) at Fox Film Corporation. His first major role came later opposite
Harold Lloyd in ''
The Freshman / College Days'' (1925) as the Campus Cad.
He continued to appear with Lloyd and other prominent silent era stars in the 1920s During World War II and throughout the 1940s, he appeared in more than 130 movies, where he was limited to utility roles in all but three. During this time, in an interview published in the ''Prescott Evening Courier'', he and Howard R. Philbrick (Chief Casting Executive) explain the challenges faced by some 7000 extras in 1940 Hollywood. In later stages of his career, he extended his work to television, appearing as a regular in such series as the ''
Four Star Playhouse'' (1956). His last performance was in the movie ''
Houseboat'' (1958).
As of 1940, he was married to Marjorie Benedict in Los Angeles.
Benedict died at 12:05 am January 1, 1968, in Bellaire General Hospital in Houston, Texas, due to myocardial infarction after a history of arteriosclerosis and rheumatic heart disease.
He was interred at
Houston National Cemetery two days later.
Gallery
Selected filmography
* ''
Cupid's Fireman'' (1923) - Bill Evans
* ''
The Only Woman'' (1924) - First Officer
* ''
The Love Gamble'' (1925)
* ''
His Master's Voice
His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...
'' (1925)
* ''
The Freshman'' (1925)
* ''
Why Girls Go Back Home'' (1926, lost)
* ''
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp'' (1926)
* ''
College Days'' (1926)
* ''
Ranson's Folly'' (1926)
* ''
The Strong Man'' (1926) (uncredited)
* ''
Going the Limit'' (1926)
* ''
Orchids and Ermine'' (1927)
* ''
The Drop Kick'' (1927)
* ''
Backstage'' (1927)
* ''
The Kid Sister'' (1927)
* ''
Lost at the Front'' (1927)
* ''
The Gorilla'' (1927)
* ''
Speedy'' (1928)
* ''
The Cowboy Kid'' (1928)
* ''
Moran of the Marines'' (1928)
* ''
Clear the Decks'' (1929)
* ''
The Sophomore'' (1929)
* ''
Street of Chance'' (1930)
* ''
Recaptured Love'' (1930)
* ''
The Office Wife'' (1930)
* ''
Derelict'' (1930)
* ''
The Widow from Chicago'' (1930)
* ''
Gun Smoke'' (1931)
* ''
Reckless Living'' (1931)
* ''
Girl Crazy
''Girl Crazy'' is a 1930 musical by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Co-leads Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman made their stage debuts in the first production and Rogers became an overnight sta ...
'' (1932)
* ''
What Price Hollywood?'' (1932)
* ''
Cheating Blondes'' (1933)
* ''
No Other Woman'' (1933)
* ''
Picture Brides'' (1934)
* ''
Buried Loot'' (1935)
* ''
Murder on a Honeymoon'' (1935)
* ''
Follow the Fleet'' (1936)
* ''
The Affairs of Annabel'' (1938)
* ''
Rose of Washington Square'' (1939)
[''Great Movie Musicals on DVD'' - A Classic Movie Fan's Guide]
by John Howard Reid - Google search with book preview
* ''
Laugh It Off'' (1939)
* ''
I Take This Oath'' / ''Police Rookie'' (1940)
* ''
Enemy Agent'' (1940)
* ''
The Dancing Masters'' (1943)
* ''
The Gang's All Here'' (1943)
* ''
The Dolly Sisters'' (1945)
* ''
Three on a Ticket'' (1947)
* ''
Strangers on a Train'' (1951) - tennis umpire (uncredited)
References
External links
*
Police Rookie (1940) Internet Archive – Full Movie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedict, Brooks
1896 births
1968 deaths
Princeton Tigers football players
American Field Service personnel of World War I
United States Army soldiers
United States Army personnel of World War I
American male film actors
American male silent film actors
20th-century American male actors
Comedians from New York City
Silent film comedians
20th-century American comedians
Burials at Houston National Cemetery