Nat Benchley

Nat Benchley
Benchley as Det. Augie Polk on HBO's The Wire
Born	Nathaniel Robert Benchley
Occupation	Film, stage, TV actor

Nathaniel Robert "Nat" Benchley is an American writer and actor who has performed on stage, television, and film.

Benchley is the son of Marjorie (Bradford) and Nathaniel Goddard Benchley, an author. He is the grandson of humorist Robert Benchley and the brother of author Peter Benchley, who wrote Jaws.

Since 1996, Nat Benchley has been performing Benchley Despite Himself, which he describes as "a compilation of Robert Benchley's best monologues, short films, radio rantings and pithy pieces as recalled, edited, and acted by his grandson, and combined with family reminiscences and friends' perspectives." He has performed it in Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; and other locations. The Washington Post called it "an engaging work that breaks with the usual conventions of one-man plays. Rather than inhabit the character of Robert Benchley the entire evening, Nat Benchley blends his own observations with re-creations of the routines and sketches that made his grandfather famous. The effect is at once seductive and distancing, perhaps a bit like Robert Benchley, whose humor often obscured his unhappiness."

He has recorded two CDs of Robert Benchley's monologues, Benchley on Benchley, Volumes 1 & 2. He also does narration work for commercials and television documentaries for the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel.

His films include Diner, Broadcast News, and Home for the Holidays. He also had a continuing character role as Det. Augustus Polk in HBO's The Wire.