Paul Benedict facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Benedict
Paul Benedict as Harry Bentley, 1975
Born	Paul Bernard Benedict (1938-09-17)September 17, 1938
Died	December 1, 2008(2008-12-01) (aged 70) Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	Suffolk University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1965–2008
Known for	The Jeffersons Sesame Street

Paul Bernard Benedict (September 17, 1938 – December 1, 2008) was an American actor. He appeared in many TV shows and movies starting in 1965. He was famous for playing the The Number Painter on the children's show Sesame Street. He also played Harry Bentley, a friendly English neighbor, on the TV comedy The Jeffersons.

Paul Benedict's Early Life

Paul Benedict was born in Silver City, New Mexico. His mother, Alma Marie, was a journalist. His father, Mitchell M. Benedict, was a doctor. Paul grew up in Massachusetts. He went to Boston College High School and Suffolk University. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Paul had a unique look. His large jaw and nose were partly due to a condition called acromegaly. A doctor first noticed this when he saw Paul in a play.

Famous TV and Movie Roles

Paul Benedict worked with director Norman Lear on many projects. One of his first roles for Lear was in the 1971 film Cold Turkey.

Playing Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons

Paul Benedict is best known for his role as Harry Bentley. He played this character on the TV show The Jeffersons. He was on the show from 1975 to 1981. He then returned in 1983 and stayed until the show ended in 1985.

Harry Bentley was a polite English neighbor. He lived next door to George and Louise Jefferson. He worked at the United Nations as a translator. Harry was a bachelor, meaning he was not married. Most characters on the show liked him. George Jefferson found him annoying at first. But they eventually became good friends. Harry was also known for telling long, sometimes boring, stories. These stories were often about his childhood or relatives in England.

Paul Benedict and Zara Cully, The Jeffersons, 1975

The Number Painter on Sesame Street

Paul Benedict also played a fun character on Sesame Street. He was known as The Number Painter. This was a recurring role on the popular children's PBS show.

Other Movie Appearances

Paul Benedict appeared in many other films. In 1971, he played a father in Taking Off. This was director Miloš Forman’s first American movie. He also had a small role in They Might Be Giants that same year.

One of his most famous movie roles was Reverend Lindquist. He played this character in the 1972 film Jeremiah Johnson. This movie starred Robert Redford.

More Film Roles

In 1974, Paul Benedict was in The Front Page. He played Plunkett, a governor's helper. He also appeared in Mandingo (1975). In The Goodbye Girl (1977), he played a theater director.

He was the calm butler in The Man With Two Brains (1983). He also had a short scene in the funny movie This Is Spinal Tap (1984). He played Tucker Smitty Brown, a hotel desk clerk. When called a "twisted old fruit," he famously replied, "I'm just as God made me, sir."

In 1988, Paul Benedict played Fairchild. He was the butler to Dudley Moore in Arthur 2: On the Rocks. This was the sequel to the hit movie Arthur. That same year, he was a finance teacher in Cocktail. In 1990, he played a film school professor in The Freshman.

He was Judge George Womack in The Addams Family (1991). He also appeared in Waiting for Guffman (1996). This was another funny movie like This Is Spinal Tap. His final TV appearance was on The Drew Carey Show in 2002.

Paul Benedict's Theater Work

After graduating from Suffolk University, Paul Benedict started acting in theater. He performed with famous actors like Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Al Pacino.

Broadway and Off-Broadway

Paul Benedict was a talented theater actor. He performed on Broadway many times. In 1996, he was in Hughie with Al Pacino. He also appeared in The Music Man from 2000 to 2001.

He performed Off-Broadway in 1986 in It's Only a Play. He had also directed an earlier version of this play. In 2007, he acted in No Man's Land in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Directing Plays

Paul Benedict also directed plays. He directed Any Given Day on Broadway. Off-Broadway, he directed Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune. He also directed The Kathy and Mo Show. This play won an Obie Award.

Paul Benedict's Passing

Paul Benedict passed away on December 1, 2008. He was found at his home in Aquinnah, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. He was 70 years old. His death was caused by a brain hemorrhage.

In 2009, Paul Benedict received a special award. It was the Elliot Norton Award from the Boston Theater Critics Association. This award was given to him after his death.

Filmography