Occupation Actor; Comedian Years active 1933–1981 | Name Ben Lessy Role Television actor | |
Born April 29, 1902 ( 1902-04-29 ) New York City, New York, U.S. Resting place Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California, U.S. Died October 30, 1992, Beverly Hills, California, United States Movies and TV shows The Danny Thomas Show, Pajama Party, That Funny Feeling, The Jackie Robinson Story, Music for Millions Similar People Don Weis, Louise Beavers, Marjorie Lord, Alfred E Green, Richard Thorpe | ||
Ben Lessy (April 29, 1902 – October 30, 1992) was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor.
Contents
Early life
He was born in New York City, New York.
Career
Lessy was known for a nightclub act done with Patti Moore, the long-time wife of his best friend and agent, Sammy Lewis.They were regulars at Los Angeles nightclubs Slapsy Maxie's and Billy Gray's Band Box. Lessy appeared in over 50 films and television episodes between 1938 and 1981. His first film role was the black and white, 20 minute Cafe Rendezvous (1938) and his career ended with the Billy Wilder film Buddy Buddy (1981). Lessy's film credits include Music for Millions (1944), Dark Delusion (1947) (the last entry in MGM's Dr. Kildare series),The Pirate (1948) (Lessy's 9th, and final, movie during his 7 years at MGM),The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Just for You (1952),Gypsy (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Pajama Party (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965), and The Love Machine (1971). His television credits include Make Room for Daddy (1953–59 : 19 episodes), The Jack Benny Program (1959–64 : 3 episodes), That Girl (1966), Petticoat Junction (1967), The New Andy Griffith Show (1971), and McMillan & Wife (1976).
Lessy died on October 30, 1992, aged 90 from natural causes.
Filmography
Actor
1981
Buddy Buddy as
Barney Pritzig
1976
McMillan & Wife (TV Series) as
Pete
- Greed (1976) - Pete
1971
The Love Machine as
Kenny Ditto
1971
The New Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) as
Glenn Campbell
- Get Me Glen Campbell (1971) - Glenn Campbell
1970
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV Series) as
Monte Marcus
- Amateur Night (1970) - Monte Marcus
1967
The Fastest Guitar Alive as
Indian Chief
1967
Petticoat Junction (TV Series) as
Eustace Pockle
- Shoplifter at Shady Rest (1967) - Eustace Pockle
1966
That Girl (TV Series) as
Waiter
- Beware of Actors Bearing Gifts (1966) - Waiter
1966
The Last of the Secret Agents? as
Harry
1965
That Darn Cat! as
Drive-In Concessionaire (uncredited)
1965
That Funny Feeling as
Charlie
1964
The Cara Williams Show (TV Series) as
Otis / Guard
- A Pawn Ticket for a Ticker (1965) - Otis
- Cool It Cara, Those Diamonds Are Hot (1964) - Guard
1964
Pajama Party as
Fleegle
1964
I'd Rather Be Rich as
1st Hunter (uncredited)
1959
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) as
Ned / Arlington Montgomery von Husen III
- Peter, Paul and Mary (1964) - Ned
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1963) - Arlington Montgomery von Husen III
- Ed Sullivan/Genevieve Show (1959)
1963
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World as
George (uncredited)
1962
Gypsy as
Mervyn Goldstone
1953
The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series) as
Benny Lessy / Benny
- Surprise Party (1959) - Benny Lessy (uncredited)
- Danny's Big Fan (1959) - Benny Lessy
- Shirley Jones Makes Good (1959) - Benny Lessy
- The Country Girl (1958) - Benny Lessy
- Man's Best Friend (1957) - Benny Lessy
- The Lobster Story (1957) - Benny Lessy
- Danny Goes Social (1957) - Benny Lessy
- The School Teacher (1957) - Benny Lessy
- Liz's Boyfriend (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Danny's Comeback (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Talented Kid (1956) - Benny Lessy
- The Diary (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Danny Goes to Texas (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Den Mother (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Problem Father (1956) - Benny Lessy
- The Nelson Eddy Show (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Boarding School (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Danny's Birthday (1956) - Benny Lessy
- Rusty Gets a Haircut (1955) - Benny Lessy
- The New Year's Show (1954) - Benny
- Danny Lands in Pictures (1954)
- Terry Takes Charge (1954) - Benny Lessy
- Margaret's Birthday (1954) - Benny Lessy
- True Blue Benny (1954) - Benny Lessy
- Christmas (1953) - Benny Lessy
- The Sea Captain (1953) - Benny Lessy
- Margaret, Non-Pro (1953) - Benny Lessy
- Anniversary (1953) - Benny Lessy
- Mother-in-Law (1953) - Benny Lessy
- Second Honeymoon (1953) - Benny Lessy
- Party Dress (1953) - Benny Lessy
- Uncle Daddy (1953) - Benny Lessy
1957
Telephone Time (TV Series) as
Lou Dorsey
- I Get Along Without You Very Well (1957) - Lou Dorsey
1956
Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) as
Charles
- Cleo (1956) - Charles
1952
Just for You as
Georgie Polansky
1951
Purple Heart Diary as
Ben Lessey
1950
The Jackie Robinson Story as
Shorty
1948
The Pirate as
Gumbo
1947
Dark Delusion as
Napoleon
1946
Two Sisters from Boston as
Rogetto - Olstrom's Valet (uncredited)
1945
Spreadin' the Jam (Short) as
Rent Party Organizer
1945
Her Highness and the Bellboy as
Ben Lessy
1944
Music for Millions as
Kickebush
1943
Thousands Cheer as
Silent Monk
1942
Youth on Parade as
Piano Player (uncredited)
1942
For Me and My Gal as
Dough Boy Dan (uncredited)
1942
Woman of the Year as
Punchy (uncredited)
1940
Second Chorus as
Shaw's Second Manager (uncredited)
1938
Cafe Rendezvous (Short)
Soundtrack
1963
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Jack Answers Request Letters (1963) - (performer: "Love in Bloom" - uncredited)
1953
The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series) (performer - 7 episodes)
- Danny's Big Fan (1959) - (performer: "We Belong Together" - uncredited)
- Shirley Jones Makes Good (1959) - (performer: "Tea For Two", "I Never Knew How Hard I Could Fall Until He Kissed Me In A High School Play" - uncredited)
- The Country Girl (1958) - (performer: "Mississippi Mud" - uncredited)
- Talented Kid (1956) - (performer: "Daddy, You've Been A Mother To Me" - uncredited)
- Christmas (1953) - (performer: "Pretty Boy" - uncredited)
- The Sea Captain (1953) - (performer: "My Blue Heaven" - uncredited)
- Anniversary (1953) - (performer: "Bye Bye Blackbird" - uncredited)
1952
Just for You (performer: "On the 10:10 (From Ten-Ten-Tennessee)")
1945
Spreadin' the Jam (Short) (performer: "Spreadin' the Jam")
1943
Thousands Cheer (performer: "I Dug A Ditch")
1942
For Me and My Gal (performer: "We Don't Want the Bacon (What We Want Is a Piece of the Rhine!)" (1918) - uncredited)
Self
1971
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
Self
- George Burns, Jack Albertson, Miyoshi Umeki, Teresa Graves, Patti Moore, Ben Lessy (1971) - Self
1969
The Joey Bishop Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.232 (1969) - Self
1965
Gypsy (TV Series) as
Self - comedian / Self
- Ben Lessy, Patti Moore, Caroline Meyer (1967) - Self - comedian
- Iggie Wolfington, Ben Lessy, June Havoc (1965) - Self
1963
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) as
Self
- Jack Answers Request Letters (1963) - Self (as Ben Lessey)
1959
George Jessel Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.49 (1959) - Self
1958
The Lux Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.22 (1958) - Self
- Episode #1.18 (1958) - Self
1952
The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) as
Self
- Host: Donald O'Connor; Guest: Ann Sheridan, The Bell Sisters, Patti Moore, Ben Lessey, Tom D'Andrea & Hal March, Sid Miller (1952) - Self
1952
The Frank Sinatra Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Tom D'Andrea, Bob Crosby, Dick Haymes, Larry Blake, Patti Moore & Ben Lessy (1952) - Self
1949
The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) as
Self - Comedian
- Episode #1.49 (1949) - Self - Comedian
Archive Footage
1980
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Candy Man
- That Darn Cat! (1980) - Candy Man
1957
The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series) as
Benny Lessy
- The Flashback Show (1957) - Benny Lessy
1956
MGM Parade (TV Series documentary) as
Gumbo
- Episode #1.33 (1956) - Gumbo
References
Ben Lessy Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA