William Bendix
| William Bendix | |
|---|---|
Bendix in 1960.
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| Born |
January 14, 1906 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 1964 (aged 58) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Resting place | San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Film, radio, television actor |
| Years active | 1936–1964 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Theresa Stefanotti (1927–1964 (his death)) |
| Children | Lorraine Bendix (b. 1929) Stephanie Bendix |
William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, who typically played rough, blue-collar characters. He is best remembered in movies for the title role in The Babe Ruth Story. He also memorably portrayed the clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker Chester A. Riley in radio and television's The Life of Riley. He received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Wake Island (1942).
Bendix, named William after his paternal grandfather, was born in Manhattan, the only child of Oscar and Hilda (Carnell) Bendix. His uncle was composer, conductor, and violinist Max Bendix. In the early 1920s, Bendix was a batboy for the New York Yankees and said he saw Babe Ruth hit more than a hundred home runs at Yankee Stadium. However, he was fired after fulfilling Ruth's request for a large order of hot dogs and soda before a game, which resulted in Ruth being unable to play that day. In 1927, Bendix married Theresa Stefanotti. He worked as a grocer until the Great Depression.
Bendix began his acting career at age 30 in the New Jersey Federal Theatre Project. He made his film debut in 1942. He played in supporting roles in dozens of Hollywood films, usually as a warm-hearted gangster, detective, or serviceman. He began with appearances in film noir, including a performance in The Glass Key (1942), which also featured Brian Donlevy, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. He soon gained attention after appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944) as Gus, a wounded and dying American sailor.
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