Martin Benson (actor): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:14, 7 January 2012
Martin Benson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Martin Benjamin Benson 10 August 1918 |
| Died | 28 February 2010 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1942–2005 |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Oliver (?–?) divorced Joy Swinson-Benson(?–2010) (his death) |
Martin Benjamin Benson (10 August 1918–28 February 2010)[1] was an English character actor, who appeared in films, theatre and television. He appeared in both British and Hollywood productions.
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 refused to take part in the title villain's plan and is later shot by his henchman Oddjob in the James Bond film, Goldfinger
Television
He appeared in many roles on television. 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 and death
He was a son of a Russian-Jewish grocer and his Polish-Jewish wife who had left Russia at the revolution.[2] He married, first Joan Oliver, with whom he had three daughters and a son and then Joy Swinson, with whom he had two daughters and a son; there was a son by another relationship.
Benson died in his sleep on 28 February 2010, from natural causes, aged 91 at his home in Markyate, Hertfordshire. He is survived by his wife, Joy Swinson-Benson, his three daughters, his son, his two stepdaughters and one stepson.
Selected filmography
References
External links
- Martin Benson at IMDb
- Obituary in The Times
- Martin Benson - Daily Telegraph obituary