Occupation Actor Spouse Joy Benson (m. ?–2010) Role Character actor | Name Martin Benson Years active 1942–2005 | |
Full Name Martin Benjamin Benson Born 10 August 1918 ( 1918-08-10 ) London, England, UK Education San Francisco State University Movies The King and I, Goldfinger, The Omen, The Message, Cleopatra Similar People Rex Thompson, Walter Lang, Guy Hamilton, Burt Kwouk, Nadja Regin | ||
Martin Benjamin Benson (10 August 1918 – 28 February 2010) was an English character actor, who appeared in films, theatre and television. He appeared in both British and Hollywood productions.
Contents
Early life
Benson was born in the East End of London, a son of a Russian grocer and his Polish wife who had left Russia at the revolution. After attending Tottenham Grammar School on a scholarship, he served in the 2nd Searchlight, Royal Artillery, during War World II. Stationed in Cairo, Egypt, he and Arthur Lowe founded the repertory company Mercury Theatre.
Career
He is remembered for his role as the Kralaholme in the original London production of The King and I, a role he recreated in the Oscar-winning film version.
Appearing in films for over six decades, Benson played mostly supporting characters or villains. His films include The Blind Goddess (1948), Wheel of Fate (1953), Interpol (1957), The Strange World of Planet X (1958), Once More, with Feeling! (1959), Exodus (1960), Five Golden Hours (1961), A Shot in the Dark (1964), Pope Joan (1972), The Sea Wolves (1980) and Angela's Ashes (1999).
He also had an uncredited role in MGM's hit historical film, Ivanhoe, and in 1963 he acted in another historic film, as Ramos in Cleopatra (which also starred Elizabeth Taylor). Benson played both serious roles, such as Ali in Killers of Kilimanjaro (1959) and comic roles, such as Maurice in A Shot in the Dark.
In 1964, he appeared as Mr. Solo, the gangster who is killed by Goldfinger's henchman Oddjob in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
Television
He appeared in many roles on television. He appeared as a barrister, using his own name, in the unscripted series "The Verdict is Yours" which ran for several years in the 1950s. Cases were shown and the previously unknown verdict was given by jury of viewers. In 1957 he made a guest appearance on The Jack Benny Show. In the same year he played the recurring character the Duke de Medici in the children's adventure series Sword of Freedom. In 1981 he appeared in the television production of The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, albeit unrecognisable under the heavy make-up and costume of Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, leader of the Vogon fleet sent to destroy Earth. His last appearance was in the TV series Casualty in 2005.
Personal life
Benson died in his sleep on 28 February 2010, from natural causes.
Filmography
Actor
2005
Casualty (TV Series) as
Rudy Goldspink
- Aftermath (2005) - Rudy Goldspink
1999
Angela's Ashes as
Christian Brother
1998
Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) as
The Vicar
- The Only Diesel Saxophone in Captivity (1998) - The Vicar
1992
The Camomile Lawn (TV Series) as
Pauli
- Episode #1.4 (1992) - Pauli
- Episode #1.5 (1992) - Pauli
- Episode #1.1 (1992) - Pauli
1989
The Bill (TV Series) as
Craven
- Make My Day (1989) - Craven
1989
Mystery!: Campion (TV Series) as
Isaac Melchizadek
- Look to the Lady: Part 1 (1989) - Isaac Melchizadek
1988
Wyatt's Watchdogs (TV Series) as
Judge Goodman
- A Clot on the Landscape (1988) - Judge Goodman
1988
Young Toscanini as
Comparsa (uncredited)
1986
Tourism-The Welcome Business (TV Movie) as
Mr. McGrath
1986
The Clairvoyant (TV Series) as
Browser
- Episode #1.3 (1986) - Browser
1984
Arch of Triumph (TV Movie) as
Goldberg
1984
The Hello Goodbye Man (TV Series) as
Mr. Renwick
- Episode #1.4 (1984) - Mr. Renwick
1982
Schoolgirl Chums (TV Movie) as
Count Slansky
1981
Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) as
Vasco
- The Way to Do It (1981) - Vasco
1981
Sphinx as
Muhammed
1981
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV Series) as
Vogon Captain
- Episode #1.2 (1981) - Vogon Captain
- Episode #1.1 (1981) - Vogon Captain
1980
The Sea Wolves as
Mr. Montero
1980
The Dybbuk (TV Movie) as
Rabbi Samson
1980
BBC2 Playhouse (TV Series) as
Schrayer
- Pews (1980) - Schrayer
1979
The Human Factor as
Boris
1979
Meetings with Remarkable Men as
Dr. Ivanov
1979
Telford's Change (TV Series) as
Jacques Dupont
- Garnishee Order (1979) - Jacques Dupont
- The Philistines Of Sussex/Situation Vacant (1979) - Jacques Dupont
1978
Return of the Saint (TV Series) as
Elim
- One Black September (1978) - Elim
1978
The Many Wives of Patrick (TV Series) as
Sheikh Abdul
- The Sheikh of Saudi Kensington (1978) - Sheikh Abdul
1978
The Professionals (TV Series) as
Villa
- Long Shot (1978) - Villa
1977
The Onedin Line (TV Series) as
Ranocci
- The Hostage (1977) - Ranocci
1977
Jesus of Nazareth (TV Mini Series) as
Pharisee
- Part 4 (1977) - Pharisee
- Part 2 (1977) - Pharisee (uncredited)
1976
The Message as
Kisra
1976
The Message as
Abu-Jahal
1976
The Omen as
Father Spiletto
1976
Thriller (TV Series) as
Spiros Lemke
- The Next Victim (1976) - Spiros Lemke
1974
A Little Bit of Wisdom (TV Series) as
Sharkie
- The Magic Monkey of Kubla Khan (1974) - Sharkie
1973
You'd Better Go in Disguise
1973
Tiffany Jones as
Petcek
1973
The Adventurer (TV Series) as
Nicky Asteri
- The Case of the Poisoned Pawn (1973) - Nicky Asteri
1973
The Protectors (TV Series) as
President
- - With a Little Help from My Friends (1973) - President
1972
Pope Joan as
Lothair
1968
The Champions (TV Series) as
Garcian
- Full Circle (1968) - Garcian
1968
Mogul (TV Series) as
Major General Hassef
- The Slight Problem with the Press (1968) - Major General Hassef
1967
Theatre 625 (TV Series) as
Joseph Scharf / Eric Jan Hanussen
- The Burning Bush (1967) - Joseph Scharf
- Firebrand (1967) - Eric Jan Hanussen
1967
Battle Beneath the Earth as
General Chan Lu
1967
The Magnificent Two as
President Diaz
1963
The Saint (TV Series) as
Inspector Yolu / Sanchez / Maj. Louis Quintana
- The Gadic Collection (1967) - Inspector Yolu
- The Reluctant Revolution (1966) - Sanchez
- The Work of Art (1963) - Maj. Louis Quintana
1967
Who Is Sylvia? (TV Series)
- A Pool of Blood and a Red Carnation (1967)
1966
The Man Who Never Was (TV Series)
- If This Be Treason (1966)
1966
Court Martial (TV Series) as
Padre Verga
- Achilles' Heel (1966) - Padre Verga
1966
A Man Could Get Killed as
Politanu
1966
The Wednesday Play (TV Series) as
Rudi
- Why Aren't You Famous? (1966) - Rudi
1965
BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) as
Rezso Kantner
- The Joel Brand Story (1965) - Rezso Kantner
1965
The Secret of My Success as
Rex Mansard
1961
No Hiding Place (TV Series) as
Tomas Bexiga / Bernard Huntley
- Found Dead (1965) - Tomas Bexiga
- Payment in Kind (1961) - Bernard Huntley
1965
Secret Agent (TV Series) as
General Ventura
- The Affair at Castelevara (1965) - General Ventura
1964
Mozambique as
Da Silva
1964
Goldfinger as
Solo
1964
Behold a Pale Horse as
Priest
1964
A Shot in the Dark as
Maurice
1964
The Secret Door as
Edmundo Vara
1963
Cleopatra as
Ramos
1963
Suspense (TV Series) as
John Haythorn, a Barrister
- The Uncertain Witness (1963) - John Haythorn, a Barrister
1963
Ghost Squad (TV Series) as
Zervas
- Death of a Sportsman (1963) - Zervas
1960
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
Tony Paleto / Harry Salvi / Colonel Alvarez
- The Paleto Confession (1963) - Tony Paleto
- Flight 447 Delayed (1961) - Harry Salvi
- Act of Terror (1960) - Colonel Alvarez
1962
The Fur Collar as
Martin Benson
1962
The Verdict Is Yours (TV Series) as
Prosecuting Counsel
- Regina v Derbyshire (1962) - Prosecuting Counsel
- Braithwaite v Merton (1962)
1962
Richard the Lionheart (TV Series) as
Jeweller / Forked Beard
- When Champions Meet (1962) - Jeweller
- The Pirate King (1962) - Forked Beard
1962
Silent Evidence (TV Series) as
Shufru-Ka
- Prophet of Truth (1962) - Shufru-Ka
1962
I tre nemici as
Prof. Otto Kreutz
1962
Night Creatures as
Rash
1962
Village of Daughters as
1st Pickpocket
1962
Satan Never Sleeps as
Kuznietsky
1962
The Silent Invasion as
Borge
1961
A Matter of WHO as
Rahman
1961
One Step Beyond (TV Series) as
Klaus Karnak / Dr. Evans - Minister
- The Sorcerer (1961) - Klaus Karnak
- Justice (1961) - Dr. Evans - Minister
1960
The Charlie Drake Show (TV Series) as
Fagin
- Jester Minute (1961)
- A Christmas Carol (1960) - Fagin
1961
Five Golden Hours as
Enrico
1961
Gorgo as
Dorkin
1960
Whack-O! (TV Series) as
Admiral Sir Archibald Ballard
- Episode #7.6 (1960) - Admiral Sir Archibald Ballard
1960
Exodus as
Mordekai
1960
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver as
Flimnap
1960
The Gentle Trap as
Ricky Barnes
1960
Danger Man (TV Series) as
Fawzi
- Position of Trust (1960) - Fawzi
1960
Our House (TV Series)
- The Man Who Knew Nothing (1960)
1960
Sands of the Desert as
Selim
1960
On Trial (TV Series) as
Edward Carson
- Oscar Wilde (1960) - Edward Carson
1960
An Arabian Night (TV Movie) as
Wazir Al-Muin
1960
Oscar Wilde as
George Alexander
1960
The Four Just Men (TV Series) as
Captain Renald
- The Boy Without a Country (1960) - Captain Renald
1960
Once More, with Feeling! as
Luigi Bardini
1960
The Army Game (TV Series) as
Captain Strickley
- Bowler Hatting of Pocket (1960) - Captain Strickley
1960
Interpol Calling (TV Series) as
Ahmed
- Mr. George (1960) - Ahmed
1959
Dial 999 (TV Series) as
Waymac
- Special Branch (1959) - Waymac
1957
Sword of Freedom (TV Series) as
Duke de Medici / De Medici / Duke De Medici
- Forgery in Red Chalk (1959) - Duke de Medici
- The Lion and the Mouse (1958) - Duke De Medici
- The School (1958) - Duke de Medici
- The Beseiged Duchess (1958) - Duke de Medici
- The Tower (1958) - Duke de Medici
- Choice of Weapons (1958) - Duke de Medici
- The Hero (1958) - Duke de Medici
- The Eye of the Artist (1958) - Duke de Medici
- The Duke (1958) - Duke de Medici
- Portrait in Emerald Green (1958) - Duke de Medici
- Francesca (1958) - Duke de Medici
- The Woman in the Picture (1957) - Duke De Medici
- Vendetta (1957) - De Medici
- The Suspects (1957) - De Medici
- The Strange Intruder (1957) - Duke De Medici
- The Ship (1957) - Duke de Medici
- The Primavera (1957) - Duke De Medici
- The Pagan Venus (1957) - De Medici
- The Marionettes (1957) - De Medici
- Chart of Gold (1957) - De Medici
- The Bell (1957) - De Medici
- The Assassin (1957) - De Medici
- The Ambassador (1957) - Duke De Medici
- Adriana (1957) - De Medici
- Serenade in Red (1957) - De Medici
- Marriage of Convenience (1957) - De Medici
- A Game of Chance (1957) - Duke De Medici
1959
Killers of Kilimanjaro as
Ali
1959
The Third Man (TV Series) as
Karsos
- An Offering of Pearls (1959) - Karsos
1959
Make Mine a Million as
Chairman (uncredited)
1958
The Verdict Is Yours (TV Series) as
Counsel for the plaintiff
- The Case of the Offensive General (1958) - Counsel for the plaintiff
1958
White Hunter (TV Series) as
Piet Ritter
- Dead Man's Tale (1958) - Piet Ritter
1958
The Two-Headed Spy as
Gen. Wagner
1958
The Invisible Man (TV Series) as
Omar
- Crisis in the Desert (1958) - Omar
1958
Desert Patrol as
German Half-track Officer (uncredited)
1958
The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (TV Series) as
Roberto Ricci / Ahmed
- A Bowl by Cellini (1958) - Roberto Ricci
- The Hand of Hera Dass (1958) - Ahmed
1958
A Woman of Mystery as
Freddy
1958
The Strange World of Planet X as
Smith
1957
Windom's Way as
Samcar, Rebel Commander (uncredited)
1957
Thunder Over Tangier as
Voss
1957
O.S.S. (TV Series) as
Tullio
- Operation Pay Day (1957) - Tullio
1954
The Vise (TV Series) as
Ambroise Martin / Carlos
- Deep in the Heart of Chelsea (1957) - Ambroise Martin
- The Gamblers (1954) - Carlos
1957
The New Adventures of Martin Kane (TV Series)
- The Missing Daughter Story (1957)
1956
Sailor of Fortune (TV Series) as
Police Chief / El Saiyid
- The Lost Portrait (1957) - Police Chief
- The Desert Hostages (1956) - El Saiyid
1957
The Flesh Is Weak as
Angelo Giani
1957
Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! (TV Series) as
Dimitrios
- Santa Claus in a Jeep (1957) - Dimitrios
1957
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (TV Series) as
Hassim
- The Mortaise Fair (1957) - Hassim
1957
Pickup Alley as
Capt. Varolli
1957
Doctor at Large as
Maharajah of Rhanda
1957
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) as
Man Using Telescope
- Jack in Paris (1957) - Man Using Telescope
1957
Aggie (TV Series) as
Sheikh Feisal
- Tarboosh (1957) - Sheikh Feisal
1957
Assignment Foreign Legion (TV Series) as
Novac / Legionnaire Crazy Horse / Kassar
- Mixed Blood (1957) - Novac
- A Pony for Joe Crazy Horse (1957) - Legionnaire Crazy Horse
- The Testimonial of a Soldier (1957) - Kassar
1957
Istanbul as
Mr. Darius
1953
Rheingold Theatre (TV Series) as
Party Chief / Howard Geiger / First Frenchman / ...
- The Man Who Wouldn't Escape (1956) - Party Chief
- Crime à la Carte (1955) - Howard Geiger
- Border Incident (1955) - First Frenchman
- Street of Angels (1954) - Inspector Sabo
- The Silent Man (1954) - Andrew Prevna
- The Death of Michael Turbin (1953) - Lenkov
- Moment of Truth (1953) - Reporter
- The Genie (1953)
1956
The King and I as
Kralahome
1956
23 Paces to Baker Street as
Pillings
1956
Spin a Dark Web as
Rico Francesi
1956
Colonel March of Scotland Yard (TV Series) as
Dupont
- The Silent Vow (1956) - Dupont
1955
Doctor at Sea as
Head Waiter (uncredited)
1955
Passage Home as
Gutierres
1954
Knave of Hearts as
Art (uncredited)
1954
West of Zanzibar as
Lawyer Dhofar
1954
The Young Cyrus (TV Movie) as
Astyages, King of the Medes
1954
You Know What Sailors Are as
Agrarian Officer (uncredited)
1953
Escape by Night as
Guillio
1953
Black 13 as
Bruno
1953
Recoil as
Farnborough
1953
Desert Adventure (TV Movie) as
Steve
1953
Always a Bride as
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1953
Wheel of Fate as
Riscoe
1953
Never Let Me Go as
Toasting Russian Officer (uncredited)
1953
Top of the Form as
Cliquot
1952
The Gambler and the Lady as
Tony - Pat's Dance Partner
1952
The Plate on the Wall (TV Movie) as
A policeman
1952
Chevron Theatre (TV Series)
- Venture in Ivory (1952)
1952
The Man with the Gun (TV Movie) as
Rico
1952
Ivanhoe as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1952
Wide Boy as
Rocco
1952
The Frightened Man as
Alec Stone
1952
Judgment Deferred as
Pierre Desportes
1951
Jack Sterling: White Hunter (Short)
1951
Mystery Junction as
Steve Harding
1951
Hotel Sahara as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1951
The Passing Show (TV Series)
- 1930-1939: The Days Before Yesterday (1951)
1951
Assassin for Hire as
Catesby
1951
The Dark Light as
Luigi
1951
Night Without Stars as
White Cap
1951
The Mysterious Count (TV Movie) as
Gaston
1951
Lucky Nick Cain as
Sperazza
1949
The Adventures of P.C. 49: Investigating the Case of the Guardian Angel as
Skinny Ellis
1949
Under Capricorn as
Man Carrying Shrunken Head (uncredited)
1949
Trapped by the Terror as
Prison Governor
1949
Third Time Lucky as
Gambler in basement club (uncredited)
1948
But Not in Vain as
Mark Meyer
1948
The Blind Goddess as
Count Stephan Mikla
1948
The Unthinking Lobster (TV Movie) as
Folgore Division type
1946
Othello as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1942
Suspected Person as
Minor Role (uncredited)
Writer
-
One Step Beyond (TV Series) (story supervisor - 14 episodes, 1961) (dramatization - 1 episode, 1961)
- Eyewitness (1961) - (story supervisor)
- Nightmare (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Tiger (1961) - (story supervisor)
- Midnight (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Villa (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Sorcerer (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Prisoner (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Avengers (1961) - (dramatization) / (story supervisor)
- The Confession (1961) - (story supervisor)
- Signal Received (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Room Upstairs (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Face (1961) - (story supervisor)
- Justice (1961) - (story supervisor)
- The Stranger (1961) - (story supervisor)
Self
2007
Parrot Fashion (Video documentary short) as
Vogan Captain
2002
Reputations (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Arthur Lowe (2002) - Self
2001
The Omen Legacy (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
1993
The Making of 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (Video documentary) as
Self
Archive Footage
2013
The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo' (Video documentary short) as
Dorkin (uncredited)
1971
The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) as
Maurice in film A SHOT IN THE DARK
- Julie Andrews/Blake Edwards (1971) - Maurice in film A SHOT IN THE DARK
References
Martin Benson (actor) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA