Harry Benham (February 26, 1884 – July 17, 1969) was an American

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

actor.

Background

Benham was born in

Valparaiso, Indiana Valparaiso ( ), colloquially Valpo, is a city and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 34,151 at the 2020 census. History The site of present-day Valparaiso was included in the purchase of land from the ...

. As a child, he and his family moved to

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, where he was raised and attended school. Benham had a talent for singing and sang in his local church choir. In 1904, the production ''Peggy From Paris'' came to Chicago and, at age 20, Benham became a member of the chorus while earning a living in the wholesale paper business. Benham was soon selected to play the leading role in the production and remained in that role throughout the production's three-year run. He was subsequently able to garner more roles in other plays, such as ''The Sultan of Sulu'', ''Woodland, Marrying Mary'', ''The Gay Musician'', ''

H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, whic ...

'', ''

Florodora ''Florodora'' is an Edwardian musical comedy. After its long run in London, it became one of the first successful Broadway musicals of the 20th century. The book was written by Jimmy Davis under the pseudonym Owen Hall, the music was by Leslie St ...

'', ''The Mayoress'', and ''Madame Sherry''. In 1910 Benham joined the

Thanhouser Company The Thanhouser Company (later the Thanhouser Film Corporation) was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser, his wife Gertrude and his brother-in-law Lloyd Lonergan. It operated in New York City until 1920, ...

New Rochelle, New York New Rochelle (; older french: La Nouvelle-Rochelle) is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state. In 2020, the city had a population of 79,726, making it the seventh-largest in the state of ...

, for whom he played the leading role in many of the company's

films A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

through 1915. He married actress Ethyle Cooke, and together they had two children, Dorothy and Leland, who also became prominent Thanhouser personalities. Benham died on July 17, 1969 in

Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...

, aged 85. An article about his role in ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1912) appeared in ''Famous Monsters of Filmland'' (October 1963).

Filmography

1910s

* ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1911) * ''The Mummy'' (1911) * ''The Regimental Ball'' (1911) * ''Get Rich Quick'' (1911) .... Undetermined Role * ''The Rescue of Mr. Henpeck'' (1911) .... Mr. Henpeck * '' The Smuggler'' (1911) .... The Secret Service Man * ''David Copperfield'' (1911) * ''The Satyr and the Lady'' (1911) .... The Artist * ''Their Burglar'' (1911) .... Jack * ''The Missing Heir'' (1911) .... The Policeman * ''The Lady from the Sea'' (1911) * ''The Tomboy'' (1911) .... The Guardian * ''Cinderella'' (1911) .... The Prince * ''

She She most commonly refers to: *She (pronoun), the third person singular, feminine, nominative case pronoun in modern English. She or S.H.E. may also refer to: Literature and films *'' She: A History of Adventure'', an 1887 novel by H. Rider Hagga ...

'' (1911) * ''The Expert's Report'' (1911) .... The Oil Expert * '' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1912) (uncredited) .... Mr. Hyde (some scenes) * ''Her Ladyship's Page'' (1912) * ''East Lynne'' (1912) * ''The Poacher'' (1912) .... The Poacher * ''

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'' or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (or also ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the ...

'' (1912) .... Nicholas Nickleby * ''An Easy Mark'' (1912) .... The Crook * ''The Baby Bride'' (1912) .... The Bachelor * ''Dora Thorne'' (1912) .... Lord Rowland * ''Jilted'' (1912) .... The Fiancé * ''Her Secret'' (1912) .... The Loyal Sister's Husband * ''Why Tom Signed the Pledge'' (1912) .... Tom, the Deacon's Son * ''In Blossom Time'' (1912) * ''The Professor's Son'' (1912) .... The Professor * ''Out of the Dark'' (1912) * ''Under Two Flags'' (1912/I) * ''The Finger of Scorn'' (1912) .... The Drummer * ''The Portrait of Lady Anne'' (1912) .... Lady Anne's Suitor in 1912 * ''The Merchant of Venice'' (1912) .... Bassanio * ''Big Sister'' (1912) * ''The Wrecked Taxi'' (1912) * ''When a Count Counted'' (1912) .... The Young Law Clerk, Her Sweetheart * '' The Voice of Conscience'' (1912) .... Suitor * ''Letters of a Lifetime'' (1912) .... The Brother * ''The Warning'' (1912) .... The Father * ''Miss Robinson Crusoe'' (1912) .... The American * ''Dotty, the Dancer'' (1912) .... Mademoiselle Cleo * ''In a Garden'' (1912) .... The Quarrel Maker * ''The Ladder of Life'' (1912) .... The Poor Man, as an Adult * ''A Noise Like a Fortune'' (1912) .... The Young Farmer * ''In Time of Peril'' (1912) .... The Engineer * ''Miss Taku of Tokyo'' (1912) .... Jack, the Son * ''The Forest Rose'' (1912) * ''A Romance of the U.S.N.'' (1912) .... The Sailor * ''At Liberty—Good Press Agent'' (1912) .... The Press Agent * ''

Aurora Floyd ''Aurora Floyd'' (1863) is a sensation novel written by the prominent English author Mary Elizabeth Braddon. It forms a sequel to Braddon's highly popular novel ''Lady Audley's Secret'' (1862). Plot Aurora Floyd is the spoiled, impetuous, but ...

'' (1912) .... John Mellish, Aurora's Second Husband * ''Brains vs. Brawn'' (1912) .... Brawn/The Young Athlete * ''The Repeater'' (1912) .... Jack, the Repeater * ''The Star of Bethlehem'' (1912) .... Angel Gabriel * ''The Boomerang'' (1913/III) .... The Father * ''Sherlock Holmes Solves the Sign of the Four'' (1913) .... Sherlock Holmes * ''Just a Shabby Doll'' (1913) .... The Husband * ''King René's Daughter'' (1913) * ''Little Dorrit'' (1913) * ''The Girl of the Cabaret'' (1913) * ''The Medium's Nemesis'' (1913) * ''Robin Hood'' (1913) .... Alan-a-Dale * ''Moths'' (1913) .... Correze * ''The Children's Hour'' (1913) * ''He Couldn't Lose'' (1913) * ''Baby's Joy Ride'' (1913) * ''A Clothes-Line Quarrel'' (1913) * ''What Might Have Been'' (1913) * ''A Beauty Parlor Graduate'' (1913) * ''An Orphan's Romance'' (1913) * ''Pamela Congreve'' (1914) * ''Frou Frou'' (1914) .... Henri de Sartorys * ''Their Golden Wedding'' (1914) * ''The Runaway Princess'' (1914) * ''Coals of Fire'' (1914) * ''Her Love Letters'' (1914) * ''The Elevator Man'' (1914) * ''The Success of Selfishness'' (1914) * ''The Golden Cross'' (1914) * ''The Scientist's Doll'' (1914) * ''The Miser's Reversion'' (1914) * ''When Sorrow Fades'' (1914) * ''Repentance'' (1914) * ''The Musician's Daughter'' (1914) * ''The Infant Heart Snatcher'' (1914) * ''A Woman's Loyalty'' (1914) * ''Was She Right in Forgiving Him?'' (1914) * ''Rivalry'' (1914) * ''The Girl Across the Hall'' (1914) * ''The Man Without Fear'' (1914) * ''The Harlow Handicap'' (1914) .... Harry Allen * ''Harry's Waterloo'' (1914) * ''

Stronger Than Death ''Stronger Than Death'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society. It was initially released in Japan on March 7, 2000, with 11 tracks and in a blood red jewel case. It was released outside Japan almost a mont ...

'' (1914) * ''Gold'' (1914) * ''The Mettle of a Man'' (1914) * ''The Harvest of Regrets'' (1914) * ''The Trail of the Love-Lorn'' (1914) * ''The Rescue'' (1914/I) * ''Zudora'' (1914) .... John Storm * ''Mrs. Van Ruyter's Stratagem'' (1914) * ''Graft vs. Love'' (1915) * ''The Heart of the Princess Marsari'' (1915) * ''Daughter of Kings'' (1915) * ''The Girl of the Sea'' (1915) * ''A Freight Car Honeymoon'' (1915) * '' The Country Girl'' (1915) .... Belville, Phyllis' Lover * ''Madame Blanche, Beauty Doctor'' (1915) .... Bob; Madame Blanche * ''His Two Patients'' (1915) .... The Doctor * ''When the Fleet Sailed'' (1915) * ''When Hungry Hamlet Fled'' (1915) * ''Helen's Babies'' (1915) * ''The Scoop at Bellville'' (1915) * ''The Man Inside'' (1916) .... Hunter * ''The Path of Happiness'' (1916) .... Merrill Day, the Intruder * ''The Doll Doctor'' (1916) * ''Mignonette'' (1916) * ''Held for Damages'' (1916) * ''Through Flames to Love'' (1916) * ''The Capital Prize'' (1916) * ''Her Wonderful Secret'' (1916) * ''A College Boomerang'' (1916) * ''The Heart Wrecker'' (1916) * ''Peggy and the Law'' (1916) * ''The Clever Mrs. Carter'' (1916) * ''The Little Grey Mouse'' (1916) .... Jack Stanley * ''Love's Masquerade'' (1916) * ''The Angel of the Attic'' (1916) * ''The Girl Who Didn't Tell'' (1916) * ''

The Mischief Maker ''The Mischief Maker'' is a 1916 American silent comedy-drama film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring June Caprice, Harry Benham and John Reinhardt.Solomon p.236 Cast * June Caprice as Effie Marchand * Harry Benham as Al Tourney * John ...

'' (1916) .... Al Tourney * ''Pamela's Past'' (1916) * ''Toto of the Byways'' (1916) * ''Souls United'' (1917) * ''When Thieves Fall Out'' (1917) * ''

The Dancer's Peril ''The Dancer's Peril'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent romance film directed by Travers Vale and starring Alice Brady, Philip Hahn and Harry Benham. Its plotline features the Ballets Russes, then appearing in a show by the Shubert Brothers, ...

'' (1917) .... Richard Moraino * ''The Warfare of the Flesh'' (1917) .... Frank Gregory * ''When You and I Were Young'' (1917) .... Artist * ''

The Last of the Carnabys ''The Last of the Carnabys'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by William Parke and starring Gladys Hulette, William Parke Jr., and Eugenie Woodward.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 71 Cast * Gladys Hulette as L ...

'' (1917) .... Johnn Rand * ''Putting the Bee in Herbert'' (1917) .... Herbert Macklin * '' The Outsider'' (1917) .... Donald Lyttleton * ''The Victim'' (1917) .... Undetermined Role * ''

Convict 993 ''Convict 993'' is a lost 1918 silent film directed by William Parke and starring Irene Castle. It was distributed by the Pathé Exchange Company. Cast *Irene Castle - Roslyn Ayre *Warner Oland - Dan Mallory *Helene Chadwick - Neva Stokes *Harry ...

'' (1918) .... Rodney Travers * ''

Cecilia of the Pink Roses ''Cecilia of the Pink Roses'' is a lost 1918 American silent drama film directed by Julius Steger and starring and produced by Marion Davies in her second feature film. It was distributed by Select Pictures. It was based on the novel by Katheri ...

'' (1918) .... Harry Twombly * ''The Love Craze'' (1918)

1920s

* '' The Prey'' (1920) .... James Calvin * '' For Love or Money'' (1920) .... John T. Hamilton * ''

The Dangerous Paradise ''The Dangerous Paradise'' is a 1920 American silent comedy drama film directed by William P. S. Earle and starring Louise Huff, Harry Benham, and Ida Darling.Matthew Kennedy. ''Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory: Hollywood's Genius Bad Boy''. Ter ...

'' (1920) .... Norman Kent * '' Polly With a Past'' (1920) .... Clay Cullum * ''

Hush Money Hush money is a term for an arrangement in which one person or party offers another an attractive sum of money or other enticement, in exchange for remaining silent about some illegal, stigmatized, or shameful behavior, action, or other fact abo ...

'' (1921) .... Bishop Deems * ''The Road to Arcady'' (1922) .... John T. Hamilton * '' Your Best Friend'' (1922) .... Robert Meyers * ''

The Town That Forgot God ''The Town That Forgot God'' is a 1922 American drama film directed by Harry F. Millarde and written by Paul Sloane. The film stars Ben Grauer, Warren William, Jane Thomas, Harry Benham, Edwin Denison and Grace Barton. The film was released o ...

'' (1922) .... Harry Adams

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Benham, Harry 1884 births 1969 deaths Male actors from Chicago American male film actors American male silent film actors Male actors from Indiana Actors from Sarasota, Florida People from Valparaiso, Indiana 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male singers