William Benedict
Acting Born Apr 16, 1917 Died Nov 25, 1999 Haskell, Oklahoma, USA 237 credits
Biography
William Benedict was an American actor born on April 16, 1917, in Haskell, Oklahoma, and he passed away on November 25, 1999, at the age of 82. He is perhaps best known for playing Whitey in Monogram Pictures' The Bowery Boys series. After taking part in school theatricals, he left school and traveled to Hollywood, where his first film was the 1935 production Ten Dollars Raise starring Edward Everett Horton. Throughout his busy career, he frequently played juvenile roles such as newsboys, messengers, office boys, and farmhands. In 1939, he was recruited by Universal Pictures for their Little Tough Guys series, which was created to compete with the popular Dead End Kids features.
Advertisement
Career overview
William Benedict was an American actor born in Haskell, Oklahoma on April 16, 1917, and he died on November 25, 1999 at the age of 82. After taking part in school theatricals, he left school and made his way to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. His first film was the 1935 production $10 Raise, which starred Edward Everett Horton and launched Benedict on a busy career in the film industry.
Throughout his career, the blond-haired actor almost always played juvenile roles. These characters included newsboys, messengers, office boys, and farmhands. He is perhaps best known for playing the role of Whitey in Monogram Pictures' The Bowery Boys series. Additionally, in 1939, when Universal Pictures began its Little Tough Guys series to compete with popular Dead End Kids features, Billy Benedict was recruited for the project.
Over the course of his career, William Benedict accumulated 234 known acting credits on the screen. His personal information and filmography are documented across various film reference sources, highlighting a prolific presence in American cinema spanning decades.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about William Benedict.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter
Bonanza: The Next Generation
Highway to Heaven
Computercide
Hill Street Blues
Goldie and the Boxer
Born Again
The Incredible Hulk
Charlie's AngelsQuincy, M.E.Sherlock Holmes in New YorkWon Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Ellery QueenMatt HelmThe Dead Don't DieCop on the Beat
Little House on the Prairie
Police StoryPolice StoryThe StingThe Secret Sharer
Emergency!The Streets of San FranciscoThe Adventures of Nick CarterCall Her MomThe Dirt Gang
All in the FamilyAlias Smith and JonesAlias Smith and Jones
The Immortal
The Brady BunchThen Came BronsonHello, Dolly!Big DaddyThe Over the Hill Gang
Adam-12Here's LucyLand of the GiantsMayberry R.F.D.Mayberry R.F.D.
IronsideMannixThe Guns of Will SonnettHondoWhat Am I Bid?
Mission: ImpossibleThe MonkeesThe MonkeesFelony SquadFrankie and Johnny
I Dream of JeannieHoney WestBrandedThe Hallelujah TrailDear Heart
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Petticoat Junction
Lover Come Back
Route 66The Barbara Stanwyck Show
The Twilight ZoneDennis the MenaceThe Hanging Tree
The Rifleman
Wagon Train
The Adventures of Jim BowieThe KillingMobs, Inc.
GunsmokeNavy LogBride of the Monster
Lassie
Full Filmography
237 titles- The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter (2020) as Himself
- Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988) as Gus Morton
- Highway to Heaven (1984) as Bobby Joe
- Computercide (1982) as Elderly Man
- Hill Street Blues (1981)
- Goldie and the Boxer (1979) as Old Man
- Born Again (1978) as Leon Jaworski
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) as Vic
- Charlie's Angels (1976) as Emmett Winston, Esq.
- Quincy, M.E. (1976)
- Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976) as Telegraph Office Manager
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Man on Bus
- Ellery Queen (1975)
- Matt Helm (1975) as Scavenger
- The Dead Don't Die (1975) as Hotel Desk Clerk
- Cop on the Beat (1975) as Lennie
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Reverend Lyman
- Police Story (1973) as Prescott
- Police Story (1973) as Bellman
- The Sting (1973) as Roulette Dealer
- The Secret Sharer (1973) as Mr. Burns
- Emergency! (1972)
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- The Adventures of Nick Carter (1972) as Newsboy
- Call Her Mom (1972) as Mr. Feigelbaum
- The Dirt Gang (1972) as Station Attendant
- All in the Family (1971) as Jimmy McNab
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971) as Telegrapher (uncredited)
- The Immortal (1970)
- The Brady Bunch (1969)
- Then Came Bronson (1969) as Card Player
- Hello, Dolly! (1969) as News Vendor (uncredited)
- Big Daddy (1969)
- The Over the Hill Gang (1969) as Joe, the Telegrapher (as Bill Benedict)
- The Lottery (1969) as Joe Summers
- Adam-12 (1968) as Bill White
- Here's Lucy (1968) as Deliveryman
- Land of the Giants (1968) as Villager Peabody
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Uncle Whitmore
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Pet Shop Owner
- Funny Girl (1968) as Western Union Boy (uncredited)
- Rogue's Gallery (1968) as Jocko (as William Benedict)
- Ironside (1967)
- Mannix (1967)
- The Guns of Will Sonnett (1967) as Telegrapher
- Hondo (1967)
- What Am I Bid? (1967) as Clem (as Bill Benedict)
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Denver
- The Monkees (1966) as Skywriter
- The Monkees (1966) as Old Man
- Felony Squad (1966)
- Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Bum Sleeping on Bench (uncredited)
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) as Cleaning Man
- Honey West (1965) as Farley
- Branded (1965)
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Simpson
- Dear Heart (1965) as Stu
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964)
- Petticoat Junction (1963) as Willie
- Lover Come Back (1961) as Musician Exiting Elevator (uncredited)
- Route 66 (1960)
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Joe
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Conklin
- Dennis the Menace (1959)
- The Hanging Tree (1959) as Trapper (uncredited)
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Wagon Train (1957) as Wagon Train Member (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956)
- The Killing (1956) as American Airlines Clerk
- Mobs, Inc. (1956) as Telegraph Boy
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Gus
- Navy Log (1955)
- Bride of the Monster (1955) as Newsboy
- Lassie (1954)
- I'm the Law (1953)
- The Magnetic Monster (1953) as Albert
- The Red Skelton Show (1951)
- Dragnet (1951)
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Degnan
- Let's Go Navy! (1951) as Whitey
- Bowery Battalion (1951) as Whitey
- Ghost Chasers (1951) as Whitey
- Crazy Over Horses (1951) as Whitey (as William Benedict)
- Triple Trouble (1950) as Whitey, Bowery Boy
- Blonde Dynamite (1950) as Whitey
- Lucky Losers (1950) as Whitey
- Blues Busters (1950) as Whitey (as William Benedict)
- Angels in Disguise (1949) as Whitey
- Hold That Baby! (1949) as Whitey
- Fighting Fools (1949) as Whitey
- Master Minds (1949) as Whitey
- Riders of the Pony Express (1949) as Eddie Lund
- Jinx Money (1948) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- Angels' Alley (1948) as Whitey
- Secret Service Investigator (1948) as Counterman
- Smuggler's Cove (1948) as Whitey
- Trouble Makers (1948) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- Night Wind (1948) as Irv Bennett
- The Hucksters (1947) as Bellboy at Blue Penguin Inn (uncredited)
- Fun on a Weekend (1947) as Hotel Bellboy (uncredited)
- The Pilgrim Lady (1947) as Bellboy
- Hard Boiled Mahoney (1947) as Whitey
- Merton of the Movies (1947) as Von Strutt's Assistant (uncredited)
- News Hounds (1947) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- Bowery Buckaroos (1947) as Whitey
- Without Reservations (1946) as Telegraph Delivery Boy (uncredited)
- Live Wires (1946) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- Gay Blades (1946) as Newsboy (uncredited)
- Never Say Goodbye (1946) as Messenger Boy (uncredited)
- People Are Funny (1946) as NBC Usher
- The Kid from Brooklyn (1946) as Newsboy (uncredited)
- In Fast Company (1946) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- Road to Utopia (1946) as Newsboy #2 (uncredited)
- Do You Love Me (1946) as Singing Western Union Boy (uncredited)
- The Gentleman Misbehaves (1946) as Bellboy (uncredited)
- Mr. Hex (1946) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- One More Tomorrow (1946) as Stinky
- Bowery Bombshell (1946) as Whitey
- Spook Busters (1946) as Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
- Story of G.I. Joe (1945) as Pvt. Whitey (uncredited)
- Brenda Starr, Reporter (1945) as Pesky (uncredited)
- Docks of New York (1945) as Skinny
- Hollywood and Vine (1945) as Joe the Newsboy
- Mr. Muggs Rides Again (1945) as Skinny
- Come Out Fighting (1945) as Skinny
- The Whistler (1944) as The Deafmute (Uncredited)
- Follow the Boys (1944) as Joe (uncredited)
- Follow the Leader (1944) as Spider O'Brien
- Janie (1944) as Soda Jerk (uncredited)
- Block Busters (1944) as Butch
- Million Dollar Kid (1944) as Skinny
- Bowery Champs (1944) as Skinny
- That's My Baby! (1944) as Office boy
- They Live in Fear (1944) as Thomas 'Mack' Knight (uncredited)
- I Won't Play (1944) as Florida
- The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) as Greene (uncredited)
- Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) as Busboy (uncredited)
- Aerial Gunner (1943) as Jackson 'Sleepy' Laswell
- Nobody's Darling (1943) as Sammy (uncredited)
- The Powers Girl (1943) as Powers Agency Office Boy (uncredited)
- Ghosts on the Loose (1943) as Benny
- Whispering Footsteps (1943) as Jerry Murphy
- All by Myself (1943) as Telegraph Messenger
- Mr. Muggs Steps Out (1943) as Pinky
- Adventures of the Flying Cadets (1943) as Zombie Parker
- Moonlight in Vermont (1943) as Abel
- Clancy Street Boys (1943) as Butch
- The Talk of the Town (1942) as Western Union Boy (uncredited)
- Rings on Her Fingers (1942)
- The Glass Key (1942) as Farr's Receptionist (uncredited)
- A Night to Remember (1942) as Messenger Boy (uncredited)
- Junior G-Men of the Air (1942) as Whitey
- On the Sunny Side (1942) as Messenger
- Heart of the Golden West (1942) as Telegraph Messenger
- Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942) as Messenger (uncredited)
- Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1942) as Theatre Usher
- Lady in a Jam (1942) as Barker (uncredited)
- The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine (1942) as Bellboy
- Perils of Nyoka (1942) as Red Davis
- Get Hep to Love (1942) as Soda Jerk
- I Live on Danger (1942) as Bellboy (uncredited)
- Home in Wyomin' (1942) as Usher (uncredited)
- Wildcat (1942) as Bud Smithers
- Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) as Whitey Murphy
- Great Guns (1941) as Recruit at Corral
- Dressed to Kill (1941) as Singing Telegram Boy
- Mr. District Attorney (1941) as Office Boy
- Second Chorus (1941) as Ticket Taker (uncredited)
- The Great Mr. Nobody (1941) as Jig
- She Knew All the Answers (1941) as Singing Telegraph Boy
- In Old Cheyenne (1941) as Train Vendor
- Time Out for Rhythm (1941) as Messenger (uncredited)
- Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941) as Ice Cream Man
- Cadet Girl (1941) as Soldier at Camp Show (uncredited)
- The Man Who Lost Himself (1941) as Telegram Delivery Boy
- Jesse James at Bay (1941) as Young Davis
- Tuxedo Junction (1941) as Thomas 'Piecrust' Murphy (as Billy Benedict)
- Scattergood Baines (1941) as Lafe Hopper (uncredited)
- Young People (1940) as Boy (uncredited)
- Bowery Boy (1940) as (uncredited)
- Lucky Partners (1940) as Delivery Boy (uncredited)
- Adventures of Red Ryder (1940) as Dan Withers
- The Great McGinty (1940) as Farm Boy (uncredited)
- And One Was Beautiful (1940) as Delivery Man
- My Little Chickadee (1940) as Lem (uncredited)
- Give Us Wings (1940) as Link (as Billy Benedict)
- Melody Ranch (1940) as Slim
- Rhythm on the River (1940) as Elevator Boy
- The Mad Doctor (1940) as Mickey Barnes (Uncredited)
- Grand Ole Opry (1940) as Newsboy (uncredited)
- Legion of the Lawless (1940) as Eddie
- Stage to Chino (1940) as Happy (uncredited)
- Hollywood Hobbies (1939) as Tour Guide
- Code of the Streets (1939) as Trouble
- Pack Up Your Troubles (1939) as Office Boy
- Bringing Up Baby (1938) as David's Caddy (uncredited)
- King of the Newsboys (1938) as Squimpy
- There's Always a Woman (1938) as Bellboy
- Hold That Kiss (1938) as Delivery Boy
- Young Fugitives (1938) as Jud (as William 'Billy' Benedict)
- Walking Down Broadway (1938) as Eddie
- I Met My Love Again (1938) as Billy (uncredited)
- Newsboys' Home (1938) as Trouble
- Say It in French (1938) as Midget Car Driver
- Little Tough Guys in Society (1938) as Trouble
- Hold That Co-ed (1938) as Sylvester
- Tramp Trouble (1937) as Young Bindlestiff
- Flying Fists (1937) as Monk, Tall Kid
- The Last Gangster (1937) as Freddy the Office Boy
- Jim Hanvey, Detective (1937) as Copy Boy (uncredited)
- Tim Tyler's Luck (1937) as Spud
- They Wanted to Marry (1937) as Freckles
- That I May Live (1937) as Kurt Plivens
- Rhythm in the Clouds (1937) as Bellboy
- Libeled Lady (1936) as Johnny
- After the Thin Man (1936) as Newsboy (uncredited)
- Crack-Up (1936) as Bunky, Office Boy (uncredited)
- Theodora Goes Wild (1936) as Henry - Copyboy (uncredited)
- Captain January (1936) as Telegram Delivery Boy (uncredited)
- The Witness Chair (1936) as Benny Ryan
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Wilbur
- The Country Doctor (1936) as The Gawker
- Ramona (1936) as Joseph Hyar
- M'Liss (1936) as Archer Morpher
- Can This Be Dixie? (1936) as Shenandoah Peachtree (uncredited)
- Way Down East (1935) as Amos
- Your Uncle Dudley (1935) as Cyril Church
- The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935) as Boy Announcing Dan's Arrival Before Fight
- College Scandal (1935) as 'Penny' Parker
- Steamboat Round the Bend (1935) as Breck
- 3 Kids and a Queen (1935) as Flash
- Doubting Thomas (1935) as Caddie
- Show Them No Mercy! (1935) as Willie (uncredited)
- $10 Raise (1935) as Jimmy
- Bad Boy (1935) as Grocery Clerk
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William Benedict best known for?
William Benedict is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Joint Security Area (2000), Hill Street Blues (1981), Beauty and the Beast (1946), Charlie's Angels (1976).
When and where was William Benedict born?
William Benedict was born on April 16, 1917 in Haskell, Oklahoma, USA. They passed away on November 25, 1999.
How many credits does William Benedict have?
William Benedict has accumulated over 237 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1935 to 2020.
What is William Benedict's background in cinema and television?
William Benedict was an American actor born on April 16, 1917, in Haskell, Oklahoma, and he passed away on November 25, 1999, at the age of 82. He is perhaps best known for playing Whitey in Monogram Pictures' The Bowery Boys series. After taking part in school theatricals, he left school and traveled to Hollywood, whe...
William Benedict by the numbers
237credits
186films
51TV series
1935–2020active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Degnan — aged about 34
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Conklin — aged about 42
- The Sting (1973) as Roulette Dealer — aged about 56
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Reverend Lyman — aged about 57
- Emergency! (1972) — aged about 55
- Matt Helm (1975) as Scavenger — aged about 58
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on William Benedict.