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William 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 for his role in Wake Island, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also portrayed the clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker Chester A. Riley in both the radio and television versions of The Life of Riley, and baseball player Babe Ruth in The Babe Ruth Story. Bendix was a frequent co-star of Alan Ladd, the two appearing in ten films together; both actors coincidentally died in 1964.

William Bendix

(1906-01-14)January 14, 1906

December 14, 1964(1964-12-14) (aged 58)

San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles

Film, radio, television actor

1936–1964

Theresa Stefanotti
(m. 1927⁠–⁠1964)

2

Early life[edit]

Bendix was born in Manhattan, the only child of Oscar and Hilda (Carnell) Bendix, and was named William after his German paternal grandfather. His uncle was composer, conductor, and violinist Max Bendix.[1] In the early 1920s, Bendix was a batboy for the New York Yankees and said he saw Babe Ruth hit more than 100 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. He worked as a grocer until the Great Depression.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Bendix married a childhood friend, Theresa Stefanotti, on October 22, 1927. They remained married until his death 37 years later in 1964. The couple had a daughter, Lorraine, and adopted another, Stephanie.[2]


Bendix died in Los Angeles at age 58 in 1964 as the result of a chronic stomach ailment that brought on malnutrition and ultimately lobar pneumonia. He was interred at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles.


Bendix was a Republican. During the 1944 presidential election campaign, he attended a large rally organized by David O. Selznick in the Los Angeles Coliseum in support of the Dewey-Bricker ticket as well as Governor Earl Warren of California.[10]

(1953–1958)

The Life of Riley

: "The Time Element" (TV series, 1958) as Peter Jenson

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

: "The Tri-State Gang" (TV series, 1959) as Wally Legenza

The Untouchables

, a 1960 Western series starring Bendix and Doug McClure

Overland Trail

(1952) -- Portraying Lou Diamond in "The Marine Who Was 200 Years Old[11]

Cavalcade of America

Smithsonian Collection: Old Time Radio All-Time Favourites, liner notes from audio cassette box set. Joe Bevilaqua. Radio Spirits: Schiller Park, 1994.

John Dunning, On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.)

at IMDb

William Bendix

at the Internet Broadway Database

William Bendix

at AllMovie

William Bendix

at Find a Grave

William Bendix

The short film is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.

William Bendix in Riley, Savings Bonds Salesman (c. 1943–44)