Jack Benny

Actor · 1894–1974 · Chicago, Illinois, United States

Biography

Jack Benny (February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film. Widely recognized as one of the leading American entertainers of the 20th century, Benny played the role of the comic penny-pinching miser, insisting on remaining 39 years old on stage despite his actual age, and often playing the violin badly. Benny was known for his comic timing and his ability to get laughs with either a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated "Well!" His radio and television programs, tremendously popular from the 1930s to the 1960s, were a foundational influence on the situation comedy genre. Dean Martin, on the celebrity roast for Johnny Carson in November 1973, introduced Benny as "the Satchel Paige of the world of comedy." Description above from the Wikipedia article Jack Benny, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acted in 52

2010s

2019
Mike Wallace Is Here
(archive footage)
76

2000s

2005
Pioneers of Primetime
Movie

1990s

1994
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage) (uncredited)

1970s

1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
1974
The Perry Como Christmas Show
Santa Claus (uncredited)
1972
The Man
Jack Benny
1970
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Man Who Finds Silver Dollar

1960s

1968
Here's Lucy
Jack Benny · 4 episodes
68
1967
A Guide for the Married Man
Technical Adviser
59
The Honey Pot
Violinist Outside Restaurant (uncredited)
64
1965
The Jack Benny Hour
Jack Benny / Rosano
1963
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Man in Car in Desert (uncredited)
70
1962
Gypsy
Jack Benny (uncredited)
70
The Lucy Show
Harry Tuttle, Jack Benny · 1 episode
71
1960
Checkmate
Jack Bowen · 1 episode
The Slowest Gun in the West
Chicken Finsterwald
Who Was That Lady?
Mr. Cosgrove (uncredited)

1950s

1959
The Mouse That Jack Built
Jack (voice)
1958
Rock-a-Bye Baby
Carlos, the matador (uncredited)
1957
Jack Benny Christmas Shopping Show
Jack Benny
Beau James
Jack Benny
1953
The Danny Thomas Show
Jack Benny · 1 episode
68
General Electric Theater
Tom Jones, Sheldon Weeks, Harold Fenton · 2 episodes
1952
Omnibus
Athanael · 1 episode
Somebody Loves Me
Jack Benny
1950
The Jack Benny Program
Jack Benny · 261 episodes
83
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Jack Benny (uncredited) · 1 episode
82

1940s

1949
The Great Lover
Jack Benny (uncredited)
1946
Without Reservations
Jack Benny (uncredited)
64
1945
The Horn Blows at Midnight
Athanael
63
It's in the Bag!
Jack Benny
1943
The Meanest Man in the World
Richard Clarke
1942
George Washington Slept Here
Bill Fuller
To Be or Not to Be
Joseph Tura
85
1941
Charley's Aunt
Babbs Babberley
1940
Love Thy Neighbor
Jack Benny
Buck Benny Rides Again
Jack Benny

1930s

1939
Man About Town
Bob Temple
1938
Artists and Models Abroad
Buck Boswell
1937
Artists & Models
Mac Brewster
1936
College Holiday
J. Davis Bowster
The Big Broadcast of 1937
Jack Carson
1935
It's in the Air
Calvin Churchill
Broadway Melody of 1936
Bert Keeler
73
1934
Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round
Chad Denby
1933
Mr. Broadway
Jack Benny
1931
A Broadway Romeo
Jack
1930
The Medicine Man
Dr. John H. Harvey
Children of Pleasure
Radio Performer Jack (uncredited)
Lord Byron of Broadway
Voice on Radio
The Rounder
Mr. Bartlett
Chasing Rainbows
Eddie Rock

Produced 1

1940s

1949
The Lucky Stiff
Producer

Appearances56

2020s

2021
The Automat
Self (archive footage)

2010s

2018
Studio 54
Self (archive footage)
73
2016
The Last Laugh
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
75
2015
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
Self / Shower of Stars (archive footage)
2011
Beatles Stories
Self
2010
The Best of Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage)

2000s

2004
Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown
Self (archive)
2002
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self (archive footage)
2001
Beatles: Big Beat Box
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)

1990s

1998
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1997
Vaudeville
Self (archive footage)
1992
Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom
Himself

1980s

1988
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1987
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
1986
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Self
1982
Showbiz Goes to War
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)