Years active 1930-1966 Name Ben Welden | Role Character actor | |
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Full Name Benjamin Weinblatt Born June 12, 1901 ( 1901-06-12 ) Toledo, Ohio, USA Died October 17, 1997, Woodland Hills, California, United States Movies Marked Woman, The Triumph of Sherlock, The Adventures of Captai, His Lordship, Appointment for Murder Similar People Lloyd Bacon, Michael Curtiz, Sepp Allgeier, Lupino Lane, Fred de Cordova | ||
Ben Welden (June 12, 1901 – October 17, 1997) was an American character actor who played a wide variety of Damon Runyon-type gangsters in various movies and television shows. He appeared in over 200 films between 1930 and 1966.
Contents
Early years
Welden was born Benjamin Weinblatt in Toledo, Ohio.
Career
Short, balding and somewhat rotund, Welden often literally played a "heavy", frequently in a somewhat comical or slightly dim-witted way, offsetting the sinister nature of his character's actions. Among his roles in this vein was The Big Sleep.
Fans of Adventures of Superman remember him well, as he appeared in eight episodes, always as a different character and yet really the same character, in a way. His best-known Superman episode might be "Flight to the North", in which he tries (and fails) to outwit a country-bumpkin type (played by Chuck Connors).
In 1966, he acted in episodes 47 and 48 of Batman.
He was a semi-regular in the 1954-1955 CBS legal drama The Public Defender, starring Reed Hadley as an attorney for the indigent. He appeared in a 1956 episode of The Lone Ranger entitled "Trouble at Tylerville".
In his later years, Welden owned a confection company called Nutcorn, which supplemented his acting income.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Death
Welden died at age 96 on October 17, 1997, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was survived by a sister.
Filmography
Actor
1966
Batman (TV Series) as
Foo Yung
- The Yegg Foes in Gotham (1966) - Foo Yung
- An Egg Grows in Gotham (1966) - Foo Yung
1966
Branded (TV Series) as
Vega
- The Ghost of Murietta (1966) - Vega
1961
Mister Ed (TV Series) as
Joe / First Man
- Ed's Juice Stand (1965) - Joe (as Ben Weldon)
- Ed the Zebra (1963) - Joe (as Ben Weldon)
- Lie Detector (1962) - Joe
- Ed the Tout (1961) - First Man (as Ben Weldon)
1956
The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) as
Badman / Ben the Henchman / Eddie / ...
- On Top of Old Hokey (1964) - Badman
- Cauliflower's Hamburger Stand (1958) - Ben the Henchman (as Ben Weldon)
- Public Pigeon (1956) - Eddie
- Dance Marathon (1956) - Baby Face Hogan
- The Election Show (1956) - Big Bill's henchman #1
1963
Ripcord (TV Series) as
Dan Larch
- A Free Falling Star (1963) - Dan Larch
1963
The Lucy Show (TV Series) as
Mr. Cooper
- Lucy Drives a Dump Truck (1963) - Mr. Cooper
1961
Angel (TV Series) as
Phil
- Promise to a Friend (1961) - Phil
1961
The Jim Backus Show (TV Series) as
Little Augie
- The Fix (1961) - Little Augie
1960
U.S. Marshal (TV Series) as
Curly
- High Fence (1960) - Curly
1960
Surfside 6 (TV Series) as
Joe Bundy
- Par-a-kee (1960) - Joe Bundy
1960
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series) as
Police Chief
- Taken to the Cleaners (1960) - Police Chief
1960
Lassie (TV Series) as
Delivery Man
- The Elephant (1960) - Delivery Man (as Ben Weldon)
1959
77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) as
Benny Hayt
- Thanks for Tomorrow (1959) - Benny Hayt
1959
The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna (TV Series) as
Muggsy
- The Card Shark (1959) - Muggsy
1959
Dragnet (TV Series)
- The Big Malcolm (1959) - (as Ben Weldon)
1959
The D.A.'s Man (TV Series)
- Sammy's Friend (1959)
1958
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) as
Barber
- Jingles on the Jailroad (1958) - Barber
1952
Adventures of Superman (TV Series) as
Blade / Jody Malone / Lefty / ...
- The Gentle Monster (1958) - Blade
- The Mysterious Cube (1958) - Jody Malone
- Disappearing Lois (1957) - Lefty
- Topsy Turvy (1956) - Carni
- Flight to the North (1955) - 'Leftover' Louie Lyman
- The Machine That Could Plot Crimes (1953) - Nosey
- The Dog Who Knew Superman (1953) - Hank
- The Mind Machine (1952) - Curley
1958
Fury (TV Series) as
Mack
- A Fish Story (1958) - Mack
1958
How to Marry a Millionaire (TV Series) as
Customer
- Loco Leaves Home (1958) - Customer
1956
Navy Log (TV Series) as
Robert Arnt / Chief
- The Way of the Wrangell (1958) - Robert Arnt
- The First Shot (1956) - (as Ben Weldon)
- Ninety Day Wonder (1956) - Chief
1957
The Thin Man (TV Series) as
Ned the Bartender
- Unwelcome Alibi (1957) - Ned the Bartender
1957
The Crooked Circle as
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
1957
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) as
Gangster
- Hal March Show (1957) - Gangster
1957
The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) as
Father Bernardo
- The Irishman (1957) - Father Bernardo
1957
Night Passage as
Pete (uncredited)
1951
The Lone Ranger (TV Series) as
Jim Waddell / Ed Lacey / Joel Conway / ...
- Outlaws in Greasepaint (1957) - Jim Waddell
- Trouble at Tylerville (1956) - Ed Lacey
- Stage to Tishomingo (1954) - Joel Conway
- Right to Vote (1953) - Ray Noonan
- Delayed Action (1952) - Pete Morales
- Two Gold Lockets (1951) - Carlos Marina (as Ben Weldon)
1957
Spook Chasers as
Ziggie
1956
Hollywood or Bust as
Boss (uncredited)
1956
Crossroads (TV Series)
- Home Is the Sailor (1956)
- The Pavement Pastor (1956)
1956
Hidden Guns as
Ben Peabody
1956
The Benny Goodman Story as
Sammy - Primo's 1st Henchman (uncredited)
1955
So You Want to Be a Policeman (Short) as
Speeding Motorist (uncredited)
1955
Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) as
Big John / Durocky
- Barbeque (1955) - Big John
- Bunny on the Beach (1955) - Big John
- All Is Not Gold (1955) - Durocky
1955
Matinee Theatre (TV Series) as
Boss
- One for the Road (II) (1955) - Boss
- One for the Road (1955) - Boss
1955
Adventures of Captain Africa: Mighty Jungle Avenger! as
Omar
1955
Buffalo Bill, Jr. (TV Series) as
Stage Driver / Curly
- The Calico Kid (1955) - Stage Driver
- Boomer's Blunder (1955) - Curly
1954
Public Defender (TV Series) as
Boss / Pinhead Pete / Donny / ...
- Eight Out of a Hundred (1955) - Boss
- The Ring (1954) - Pinhead Pete
- The Prize Fighter Story (1954) - Donny (as Ben Weldon)
- Lost Cause (1954) - Dominick (as Ben Weldon)
1955
So You Want to Be on a Jury (Short) as
Louie Avocado - Plaintiff (uncredited)
1955
Your Favorite Story (TV Series)
- No Tears (1955)
1954
The Lone Wolf (TV Series) as
Murry Fitch
- The Robbery Story (a.k.a. Memo: Robbery) (1954) - Murry Fitch
1954
The Steel Cage as
Mike - Convict (segment "The Face")
1954
I Married Joan (TV Series) as
Martin Logan
- Big Louie's Parole (1954) - Martin Logan
1954
Topper (TV Series) as
Howard
- Topper Strikes Gold (1954) - Howard
1954
It's a Great Life (TV Series) as
Headwaiter
- I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1954) - Headwaiter
1954
Adventures of the Falcon (TV Series) as
Candy
- Backlash (1954) - Candy
1952
Space Patrol (TV Series) as
Sollum / Johnson / Joe / ...
- Trapped in the Pyramid (1954) - Sollum
- The Martian Totem Head (1954) - Sollum
- The Hidden Treasure of Mars (1954) - Sollum
- The Men Slaves of Cydonia (1954) - Johnson
- The Monsoon Trap on Cydonia (1954) - Johnson
- The Amazons of Cydonia (1954) - Johnson
- The Theft of Terra Five (1953) - Joe
- Powerdive (1952) - Harvey
- Blackmail at Lake Azure (1952) - Hislop
1954
Duffy's Tavern (TV Series) as
Slug
- Grand Opening (1954) - Slug
1954
Where's Raymond? (TV Series) as
Bullets Brannigan
- Juvenile Delinquency (1954) - Bullets Brannigan
1954
Killers from Space as
Pilot - Tar Baby 2
1953
The Veils of Bagdad as
Stout Wrestler (uncredited)
1953
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series) as
Lefty
- Gracie Sees a Hold-Up/Johnny Velvet (1953) - Lefty
1952
Mr. & Mrs. North (TV Series) as
Jumbo / Nick Magnus
- Million Dollar Coffin (1953) - Jumbo
- Dead Man's Tale (1952) - Nick Magnus
1953
Thunder Bay as
Fisherman (uncredited)
1953
The Abbott and Costello Show (TV Series) as
Judge / Gaston - Restaurant Manager
- Television (1953) - Judge (as Ben Weldon)
- The Wrestling Match (1953) - Gaston - Restaurant Manager
1953
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki as
Shorty Bates - Kidnapper (uncredited)
1953
All Ashore as
Hugo - Bartender
1951
Boston Blackie (TV Series) as
Barney Stevens / Slugs
- The Friendly Gesture (1953) - Barney Stevens
- Murder Train (1951) - Slugs (as Ben Weldon)
1952
Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV Series)
- Three and One Half Musketeers (1953)
- Marked X (1952)
1953
Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) as
Blackmailer
- Guardian of the Clock (1953) - Blackmailer (as Ben Weldon)
1952
Hollywood Opening Night (TV Series)
- The Priceless Gift (1952)
1952
Big Town (TV Series) as
Greeny
- Please Murder Me (1952) - Greeny
1952
Three Dark Horses (Short) as
Jim Digger
1952
My Little Margie (TV Series) as
Harry
- Margie's Career (1952) - Harry (as Ben Weldon)
1952
Tropical Heat Wave as
Abbot (uncredited)
1952
Sky King (TV Series) as
Tony Moore
- Speak No Evil (1952) - Tony Moore
1952
Captain Pirate as
Martinique Policeman (uncredited)
1952
Night Stage to Galveston as
Policeman (uncredited)
1952
The Stu Erwin Show (TV Series) as
Robber
- A Very Rainy Day (1952) - Robber
1951
Front Page Detective (TV Series) as
Dominic Caballo
- The Murderer Is Anonymous (1951) - Dominic Caballo
- A Friend of the Corpse (1951)
1950
The Gene Autry Show (TV Series) as
Henchman Rusty / Henchman Pete / Pete Clark / ...
- Return of Maverick Dan (1951) - Henchman Rusty (as Ben Weldon)
- Outlaw Escape (1951) - Henchman Pete (as Ben Weldon)
- The Silver Arrow (1950) - Pete Clark (as Ben Weldon)
- Head for Texas (1950) - Baldy Carter (as Ben Weldon)
1951
I Love Lucy (TV Series) as
Thief
- The Fur Coat (1951) - Thief
1951
The Amos 'n Andy Show (TV Series) as
Joe
- Andy Buys a House (1951) - Joe (uncredited)
1951
Rhubarb as
Oily Moe - Bookie (uncredited)
1951
The Lady and the Bandit as
Barkeep in Pub (uncredited)
1951
Woo-Woo Blues (Short) as
The Blackmailer
1951
Mask of the Avenger as
Tavern Loafer (uncredited)
1951
Tales of Robin Hood as
Friar Tuck
1951
The Awful Sleuth (Short) as
Memphis Mike Bennett
1951
My True Story as
Buzz Edwards
1951
The Lemon Drop Kid as
Singing Solly
1950
The Misadventures of Buster Keaton as
Sam (uncredited)
1950
The Desert Hawk as
Mokar (uncredited)
1950
On the Isle of Samoa as
Nick Leach
1950
The Jackie Robinson Story as
Tough Lodge Member in Stands (uncredited)
1950
Buccaneer's Girl as
Tom
1949
The Threat as
Tony Anzio (uncredited)
1949
Riders in the Sky as
Bartender Dave
1949
Tell It to the Judge as
Augie (uncredited)
1949
Tough Assignment as
Sniffy
1949
Mary Ryan, Detective as
Sammy (uncredited)
1949
Prison Warden as
Yardbird with Cards (uncredited)
1949
The Doctor and the Girl as
Patient (uncredited)
1949
Sorrowful Jones as
Big Steve's Bodyguard
1949
Search for Danger as
Gregory
1949
Impact as
Moving Van Helper
1949
Fighting Fools as
Lefty Conlin
1948
Appointment with Murder as
Martin Minecci
1948
My Dear Secretary as
Bookie (uncredited)
1948
A Song Is Born as
Monte
1948
Smart Girls Don't Talk as
Nelson Clark (uncredited)
1948
Lady at Midnight as
Willie Gold
1948
The Babe Ruth Story as
Bartender (scenes deleted)
1948
The Vicious Circle as
Constable
1948
Jinx Money as
Benny the Meatball
1948
The Dude Goes West as
Porgy (uncredited)
1948
Trapped by Boston Blackie as
Louis
1948
The Noose Hangs High as
Stewart (uncredited)
1948
Here Comes Trouble as
Rankin (uncredited)
1947
Heading for Heaven as
Sam
1947
The Pretender as
Mickie
1947
Killer Dill as
Big Nick Moronie
1947
Blackmail as
Bartender (uncredited)
1947
Little Miss Broadway as
Cash Monahan
1947
Fiesta as
Policeman (uncredited)
1947
Too Many Winners as
Gil Madden / Theodore Ross
1947
Hit Parade of 1947 as
Mr. French (uncredited)
1947
Sinbad, the Sailor as
Commoner (uncredited)
1946
The Man I Love as
Jack Atlas (uncredited)
1946
Mr. Hex as
Bull Laguna (as Ben Weldon)
1946
Angel on My Shoulder as
Shaggsy (uncredited)
1946
The Big Sleep as
Pete (uncredited)
1946
The Last Crooked Mile as
Haynes
1946
Anna and the King of Siam as
Third Judge (uncredited)
1946
Dangerous Business as
Moxie (uncredited)
1946
Cinderella Jones as
Truck Driver (uncredited)
1945
Follow That Woman as
Joe (uncredited)
1945
Midnight Manhunt as
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
1945
The Missing Corpse as
'Slippery Joe' Clary
1945
It's in the Bag! as
Monty - Bookie
1945
Circumstantial Evidence as
Kenny
1944
Shadows in the Night as
Nick Kallus
1944
The Desert Hawk as
Omar, the Beggar
1944
The Fighting Seabees as
Yump Lumkin
1943
Here Comes Elmer as
Louis Burch
1942
Stand by for Action as
Chief Quartermaster Rankin
1942
Secrets of the Underground as
Henchman Joe
1942
Highways by Night as
Tony Delewese (uncredited)
1942
Maisie Gets Her Man as
Percy Podd (as Ben Weldon)
1942
Bullet Scars as
Pills Davis
1942
A Close Call for Ellery Queen as
Watchman
1942
All Through the Night as
Smitty
1941
Dangerously They Live as
Eddie
1941
Fiesta as
Policeman (uncredited)
1941
At the Stroke of Twelve (Short) as
Babe
1941
Nine Lives Are Not Enough as
Moxie Karper
1941
Manpower as
Al Hurst
1941
I'll Wait for You as
Dr. Anderson (as Ben Weldon)
1941
Strange Alibi as
Durkin
1941
Men of Boys Town as
Superintendent (as Ben Weldon)
1941
Knockout as
Pelky
1941
Mr. District Attorney as
Monk Westman (uncredited)
1941
The Strawberry Blonde as
Reluctant Convict Dental Patient (uncredited)
1940
City for Conquest as
Cobb
1940
South of Pago Pago as
Grimes
1940
Passport to Alcatraz as
Bender
1940
Tear Gas Squad as
Sully, Rocks' Partner (uncredited)
1940
Outside the Three-Mile Limit as
Lefty Shores
1940
Wolf of New York as
Owney McGill
1940
The Earl of Chicago as
Silky's Driver (uncredited)
1939
The Roaring Twenties as
Tavern Proprietor (uncredited)
1939
Hollywood Cavalcade as
Agent
1939
The Star Maker as
Joe Gimlick
1939
Fugitive at Large as
Convict (uncredited)
1939
Rose of Washington Square as
Toby
1939
Boys' Reformatory as
Mike Hearn
1939
Sergeant Madden as
Henchman Stemmy
1939
I Was a Convict as
Rocks Henry
1939
Pardon Our Nerve as
Captain of Waiters (uncredited)
1939
The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt as
Jenks
1939
Stand Up and Fight as
Foreman (uncredited)
1938
Federal Man-Hunt as
Goldie
1938
The Girl Downstairs as
Policeman (uncredited)
1938
Little Orphan Annie as
Spot McGee
1938
Up the River as
Coach Larkin (uncredited)
1938
The Night Hawk as
Otto Miller
1938
Straight Place and Show as
Promoter
1938
Time Out for Murder as
Lefty (uncredited)
1938
10th Ave Kid as
Marty Dayton
1938
Smashing the Rackets as
Whitey Clark
1938
Gateway as
Motorboat Man (uncredited)
1938
Crime Ring as
Nate
1938
Always Goodbye as
1st New York Taxi Driver
1938
The Saint in New York as
Boots Papinoff
1938
Mystery House as
Gerald Frawley
1938
Prison Nurse as
Gaffney
1938
What Price Safety! (Short) as
Joe - Zuto's Henchman (uncredited)
1938
Happy Landing as
Manager Skating Rink (as Ben Weldon)
1938
City Girl as
Blake's Valet (uncredited)
1937
Love and Hisses as
Mugsie
1937
Missing Witnesses as
Frank Wagner
1937
The Duke Comes Back as
Barney (as Ben Weldon)
1937
The Last Gangster as
Bottles Bailey (uncredited)
1937
The Great Garrick as
Blacksmith at Turk's Head (uncredited)
1937
Alcatraz Island as
'Red' Carroll
1937
Love Is on the Air as
'Nicey' Ferguson
1937
Varsity Show as
Hammer
1937
That Certain Woman as
Headwaiter Harry Aqueilli (uncredited)
1937
Back in Circulation as
Sam Sherman
1937
Soak the Poor (Short) as
Hood (uncredited)
1937
Confession as
Defense Attorney
1937
Another Dawn as
Victor Romkoff - Tobacco Tycoon (uncredited)
1937
Kid Galahad as
Buzz Barett
1937
Marked Woman as
Charlie
1937
The King and the Chorus Girl as
First Waiter (uncredited)
1937
Maytime as
Student (uncredited)
1937
Silent Barriers as
Joe (as Ben Weldon)
1937
Westbound Mail as
Steve Hickman
1936
Hot News as
Slug Wilson
1936
The Man Who Could Work Miracles as
San Francisco Reporter (uncredited)
1936
She Knew What She Wanted as
Chester
1936
The Avenging Hand as
Slug Clarke (uncredited)
1936
The Improper Duchess as
Macabe
1935
Trust the Navy as
Scar
1935
Alibi Inn as
Saunders
1935
Come Out of the Pantry as
Tramp
1935
Phantom Ship as
Boas 'Sailor' Hoffman
1935
Admirals All as
Adolph Klotz
1935
Murder on the Set as
Freshman
1935
Annie, Leave the Room! as
Raisins
1935
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes as
Ted Balding
1935
The Big Splash as
Crook
1934
The Medium (Short) as
Deval
1934
Gay Love as
Ben
1934
Along Came Sally as
Casino
1934
General John Regan as
Billing
1934
The Man Who Changed His Name as
Jerry Muller
1934
The Fire Raisers as
Bellini - Stedding's Henchman (uncredited)
1934
The River Wolves as
Flash Lawson
1934
The Black Abbot as
Charlie Marsh
1933
Home, Sweet Home as
Santos
1933
Mr. Quincey of Monte Carlo as
Grover Jones
1933
Send 'em Back Half Dead (Short) as
Mustapha
1933
Wolves of the Underworld
1933
The Pride of the Force as
Tony Carlotti
1933
Mannequin as
Chris Dempson
1933
The Medicine Man as
Joe Garbel
1933
Their Night Out as
Crook
1933
This Is the Life as
Two Gun Mullins
1933
His Grace Gives Notice as
Michael Collier
1933
Born Lucky as
Harriman
1932
His Lordship as
Washington Roosevelt Lincoln
1932
Tin Gods as
Cyrus P. Schroeder
1932
Why Saps Leave Home as
Spike Guinan
1932
Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Rembrandt as
Pinkerton Agent (uncredited)
1931
77 Park Lane as
Sinclair
1931
Who Killed Doc Robin? (Short)
1930
The Man from Chicago as
Ted
1930
Big Business as
Fenchurch
Soundtrack
1942
Bullet Scars ("Shadow Waltz", uncredited)
Self
1955
The Donald O'Connor Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.18 (1955) - Self
1952
All Star Revue (TV Series) as
Self
- Ann Sothern, Lola Albright, The Honey Brothers (1952) - Self
1935
Regal Cavalcade as
Businessman
Archive Footage
2015
Hey Moe, Hey Dad! (TV Series documentary) as
Various characters
- Déjà Vu All Over Again (2015) - Various characters (uncredited)
1973
Superman as
Jody Malone
1954
Superman and the Jungle Devil as
Nosey
1954
Superman Flies Again as
Hank
1953
Adventures of Superman (TV Series) as
Gangster in Montage
- Crime Wave (1953) - Gangster in Montage
1938
Breakdowns of 1938 (Documentary short) as
Ben (Back in Circulation outtakes) (uncredited)
References
Ben Welden Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA