Joseph S. Camp Jr. (born April 20, 1939) is a motion picture director and writer who is best known as the creator and director of the ''

Benji Benji is a fictional character created by Joe Camp. He has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s. It is also the title of the first film in the ''Benji'' franchise. Benji is a small, lovable mixed-breed dog with an un ...

'' films, as well as ''

Hawmps! ''Hawmps!'' is a 1976 American Western slapstick film about a United States Cavalry experiment to introduce camels into the service in the western United States, specifically Texas. The cast included James Hampton, Christopher Connelly and Sl ...

'' and ''

The Double McGuffin ''The Double McGuffin'' is a 1979 American mystery film written and directed by Joe Camp. The film stars Ernest Borgnine and George Kennedy. Elke Sommer and NFL stars Ed 'Too Tall' Jones and Lyle Alzado also appear in smaller roles. The film al ...

''. Camp resides in

Bell Buckle, Tennessee Bell Buckle is a town in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 500 at the 2010 census. The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bell Buckle Historic District. Geography Bell Buckle is ...

with his wife Kathleen. They previously owned property in Valley Center, California. Camp is also known for his work with horses. He owns, and has trained, five horses who lived with him at his Valley Center Ranch. He has written a book about his experiences with horses, ''The Soul of a Horse''. His autobiography, ''Underdog: How One Man Turned Hollywood Rejection into the Worldwide Phenomenon of Benji'' (published 1993) —republished as ''Benji and Me '' in 2000—covers more than just his experience making "Dog" movies. Joe Camp is also the author of The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd, a 2008 book that tells his story of discovery after he and his wife bought their first horses. He owns a production company, Mulberry Square Productions, and had a minority interest in the film studio, Filmdallas Pictures.

Filmography

*''

'' (1974) *''

'' (1976) *''

For the Love of Benji ''For the Love of Benji'' is a 1977 family film, directed and written by Joe Camp. It is the sequel to the original film, featuring Benji, and the second film in the Benji series, released on June 10, 1977. It is the first Benji film to star B ...

'' (1977) *''

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story ''Benji's Very Own Christmas Story'' is a 1978 American Christmas television special featuring Benji the dog and is one of two such ''Benji'' specials to have been nominated for an Emmy Award. Patsy Garrett and Cynthia Smith reprise their respect ...

'' (TV short 1978) *''

'' (1979) *''

Oh! Heavenly Dog ''Oh! Heavenly Dog'' is a 1980 American fantasy comedy film written by Rod Browning and stars Benjean, billed here as Benji (she was the daughter of Higgins (dog), Higgins, who originated the role of Benji), Chevy Chase, Jane Seymour (actress), J ...

'' (1980) *''

Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince ''Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince'' is a live-action children's science fiction television series created by Joe Camp, the creator of the ''Benji'' film series. The series was produced by Hanna-Barbera and Mulberry Square, and it aired Saturday morn ...

'' (TV series 1983) *''

Benji the Hunted ''Benji the Hunted'' is a 1987 American adventure drama film directed and written by Joe Camp and produced by Ben Vaughn. It is the fourth film in the Benji series. The film is about Benji trying to survive in the wilderness and looking after the ...

'' (1987) *'' Benji: Off the Leash!'' (2004)

References

External links

*
About Joe and Kathleen Camp
1939 births Living people American male screenwriters Writers from St. Louis People from Bell Buckle, Tennessee Film directors from Tennessee Screenwriters from Missouri Screenwriters from Tennessee {{US-film-director-1930s-stub