Martin Benjamin Benson (10 August 1918 – 28 February 2010) was a British

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

who appeared in films, theatre and television. He appeared in both British and Hollywood productions.

Early life

Benson was born in the East End of London, into a Jewish family, the son of a Russian-Jewish grocer and his Polish-Jewish 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

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Stationed in Cairo, Egypt, he and Arthur Lowe founded the

repertory company A repertory theatre is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom Annie Horniman founded the first modern repertory theatre in Manchester after withdrawing ...

Mercury Theatre in Alexandria.

Career

He is remembered for his role as the Kralaholme in the original London production of ''

The King and I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the chil ...

'', 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 ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1958), ''

Once More, with Feeling! ''Once More, with Feeling!'' is a 1960 British comedy film starring Yul Brynner and Kay Kendall in her final film appearance and directed and produced by Stanley Donen from a screenplay by Harry Kurnitz, based on his play. The film was relea ...

'' (1959), ''

Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * Ex ...

'' (1960), ''

Five Golden Hours ''Five Golden Hours'' is a 1961 Italian-British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and written by Hans Wilhelm, starring Ernie Kovacs, Cyd Charisse and George Sanders, and featuring Dennis Price and John Le Mesurier. Plot Aldo Bondi (Kovacs) ...

'' (1961), '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1964), ''

Pope Joan Pope Joan (''Ioannes Anglicus'', 855–857) was, according to legend, a woman who reigned as pope for two years during the Middle Ages. Her story first appeared in chronicles in the 13th century and subsequently spread throughout Europe. The s ...

'' (1972), ''

The Sea Wolves ''The Sea Wolves'' is a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven. The film, which is based on the 1978 book ''Boarding Party'' by James Leasor, is a fictionalised account of Operation Creek during the Second World War. In ...

'' (1980) and ''

Angela's Ashes ''Angela's Ashes: A Memoir'' is a 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author Frank McCourt, with various anecdotes and stories of his childhood. The book details his very early childhood in Brooklyn, New York, US but focuses primarily on his life ...

'' (1999). He also had an uncredited role in

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

's hit historical film, ''

Ivanhoe ''Ivanhoe: A Romance'' () by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in three volumes, in 1819, as one of the Waverley novels. Set in England in the Middle Ages, this novel marked a shift away from Scott’s prior practice of setting st ...

'', and in 1963 he acted in another historic film, as Ramos in ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

'' (which also starred

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

). Benson played both serious roles, such as Ali in ''

Killers of Kilimanjaro ''Killers of Kilimanjaro'' is a 1959 British CinemaScope adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Taylor, Anthony Newley, Anne Aubrey and Donald Pleasence for Warwick Films. The film was originally known as ''Adamson of A ...

'' (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 Oddjob (often written as "Odd Job") is a fictional character in the espionage novels and films featuring James Bond. He is a henchman to the villain Auric Goldfinger in the 1959 James Bond novel '' Goldfinger'' and its 1964 film adaptation, mak ...

in the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

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 ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televis ...

''. In the same year he played the recurring character the Duke de Medici in the children's adventure series ''

Sword of Freedom ''Sword of Freedom'' was a 1958 drama adventure series for a family audience. Like several of its predecessors (most notably ''The Adventures of Robin Hood''), it was produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and fitted into the same sw ...

''. In 1981 he appeared in the television production of ''

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' (sometimes referred to as ''HG2G'', ''HHGTTG'', ''H2G2'', or ''tHGttG'') is a comedy science fiction franchise created by Douglas Adams. Originally a 1978 radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4, it w ...

'', 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 Casualty may refer to: *Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster **Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare * The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...

'' in 2005.

Death

Benson died in his sleep on 28 February 2010, from natural causes.

Filmography

* ''

Suspected Person ''Suspected Person'' is a 1942 British drama film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring Clifford Evans, Patricia Roc and David Farrar. The film was made at Welwyn Studios by Associated British, one of the two leading British studios of ...

'' (1942) as minor role (uncredited) * '' The Blind Goddess'' (1948) as Count Stephan Mikla * '' But Not in Vain'' (1948) as Mark Meyer * ''Trapped by the Terror'' (1949) as Prison Governor * ''

Under Capricorn ''Under Capricorn'' is a 1949 British historical thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock about a couple in Australia who started out as lady and stable boy in Ireland, and who are now bound together by a horrible secret. The film is based on ...

'' (1949) as Man Carrying Shrunken Head (uncredited) * ''

The Adventures of PC 49 ''The Adventures of PC 49'' is a 1949 British crime film directed by Godfrey Grayson, starring Hugh Latimer (actor), Hugh Latimer, John Penrose (actor), John Penrose and Annette D. Simmonds.Chibnall & McFarlane p.241 It is also known by the subt ...

'': Investigating the Case of the Guardian Angel (1949) as Skinny Ellis * ''

I'll Get You for This ''I'll Get You for This'' (released in the US as ''Lucky Nick Cain'') is a 1951 British thriller film, thriller film by Joseph M. Newman starring George Raft, Coleen Gray, and Enzo Staiola. It was made from an adaptation by George Callahan and ...

'' (1951) as Frankie Sperazza * ''

Assassin for Hire ''Assassin for Hire'' is a 1951 British crime film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Sydney Tafler, Ronald Howard and Katharine Blake. Its plot follows a contract killer who becomes stricken with remorse when he is led to believe he ...

'' (1951) as Catesby * ''

Night Without Stars ''Night Without Stars'' is a 1951 British black-and-white dramatic thriller film, starring David Farrar, Nadia Gray and Maurice Teynac. The screenplay was written by Winston Graham based upon his eponymous 1950 novel. The film was directe ...

'' (1951) as White Cap * '' The Dark Light'' (1951) as Luigi * ''

Hotel Sahara ''Hotel Sahara'' is a 1951 British war comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Peter Ustinov and David Tomlinson. It was produced and co-written by George Hambley Brown. Plot The Hotel Sahara, situated in a desert oasi ...

'' (1951) as Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Mystery Junction ''Mystery Junction'' is a 1951 British crime film directed by Michael McCarthy (film director), Michael McCarthy and starring Sydney Tafler and Barbara Murray.Judgment Deferred ''Judgment Deferred'' is a 1952 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Joan Collins, Hugh Sinclair, Helen Shingler and Abraham Sofaer. The film is a remake of the director's earlier film, ''Doss House'' (1933). Production The ...

'' (1952) as Pierre Desportes * ''

The Frightened Man ''The Frightened Man'' is a 1952 British crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Dermot Walsh, Barbara Murray and Charles Victor. It is also known by the alternative title of ''Rosselli and Son'' and was shot at Twickenham and Riverside ...

'' (1952) as Alec Stone * '' Wide Boy'' (1952) as Rocco * ''

'' (1952) as Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

The Gambler and the Lady ''The Gambler and the Lady'' is a 1952 British crime film directed by Patrick Jenkins and Sam Newfield and starring Dane Clark, Kathleen Byron and Naomi Chance. It was made by Hammer Films. Plot An American gambler, Forster (Clark), aspires to ...

'' (1952) as Tony - Pat's Dance Partner * '' Top of the Form'' (1953) as Cliquot * '' Wheel of Fate'' (1953) as Riscoe * ''

Recoil Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the rearward thrust generated when a gun is being discharged. In technical terms, the recoil is a result of conservation of momentum, as according to Newton's third law the force requ ...

'' (1953) as Farnborough * '' Always a Bride'' (1953) as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) * '' Black 13'' (1953) as Bruno * '' Escape by Night'' (1953) as Guillio * '' You Know What Sailors Are'' (1954) as Agrarian Officer (uncredited) * '' West of Zanzibar'' (1954) as Dhofar * '' Knave of Hearts'' (1954) as Art (uncredited) * ''

Passage Home ''Passage Home'' is a 1955 British drama film directed by Roy Ward Baker. Plot Captain "Lucky" Ryland (Peter Finch) is about to retire. He has a flashback of several years to a voyage on a merchant ship which he was captaining from South Americ ...

'' (1955) as Gutierres * '' Doctor at Sea'' (1955) as Head Waiter (uncredited) * ''

Soho Incident ''Soho Incident'', released in the United States as ''Spin a Dark Web'', is a 1956 British film noir directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Faith Domergue and Lee Patterson.

'' (aka ''Spin a Dark Web'') (1956) as Rico Francesi * ''

23 Paces to Baker Street ''23 Paces to Baker Street'' is a 1956 American DeLuxe Color mystery thriller film directed by Henry Hathaway. It was released by 20th Century Fox and filmed in Cinemascope on location in London. The screenplay by Nigel Balchin was based on the 19 ...

'' (1956) as Pillings * ''

'' (1956) as Kralahome * ''

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

'' (1957) as Mr. Darius * '' Doctor at Large'' (1957) as Maharajah of Rhanda * ''

Interpol The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO; french: link=no, Organisation internationale de police criminelle), commonly known as Interpol ( , ), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and cri ...

'' (1957) as Captain Varolli * ''

The Flesh Is Weak ''The Flesh Is Weak'' is a 1957 British film directed by Don Chaffey. It stars John Derek and Milly Vitale. Distributors Corporation of America released the film in the USA as a double feature with ''Blonde in Bondage''. Plot Tony Giani is a S ...

'' (1957) as Angelo Giani * ''

Man from Tangier ''Man from Tangier'' (released in the United States as ''Thunder over Tangier'') is a 1957 British crime film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Robert Hutton (actor), Robert Hutton, Lisa Gastoni and Martin Benson (actor), Martin Benson. Pl ...

'' (1957) as Voss * ''

Windom's Way ''Windom's Way'' is a 1957 British thriller film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Peter Finch and Mary Ure. Made in Eastman Color, it is set during the Malayan Emergency. Premise Dr Alec Windom is a British doctor who works in a village ...

'' (1957) as Samcar, Rebel Commander (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) as Smith * ''

Sea of Sand ''Sea of Sand'' (released in the US as ''Desert Patrol'') is a 1958 British war film starring Richard Attenborough, John Gregson and Michael Craig (actor), Michael Craig. The film, which was directed by Guy Green (filmmaker), Guy Green, is abou ...

'' (1958) as German Half-track Officer (uncredited) * ''

The Two-Headed Spy ''The Two-Headed Spy'' is a 1958 British spy thriller film directed by Andre DeToth and starring Jack Hawkins, Gia Scala, Erik Schumann and Alexander Knox. The film, which has elements of film noir and is set in the Second World War, was based o ...

'' (1958) as Gen. Wagner * ''

Make Mine a Million ''Make Mine a Million'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Lance Comfort, starring Arthur Askey, Sid James, and Bernard Cribbins. The film parodies the stuffiness of the 1950s BBC and the effect of television advertising in the era. It wa ...

'' (1959) as Chairman * ''

'' (1959) as Ali * ''

Dial 999 (TV series) ''Dial 999'' is a British television series that ran for one series of 38 episodes from 1958 to 1959. The series was a co-production between ITV (TV channel), ITV contractor ABC Weekend TV, and American television producer Ziv Television Programs ...

'' (''

Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and Intelligence (information gathering), intelligence in Policing in the United Kingdom, British, Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, ...

''), episode 13) (1959) as Waymac (filmed 1958) * ''

'' (1960) as Luigi Bardini * ''

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

'' (1960) as George Alexander * ''

Sands of the Desert ''Sands of the Desert'' is a 1960 British adventure comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Charlie Drake in his first lead role in a feature film, Peter Arne, Sarah Branch and Raymond Huntley. Premise Charlie Sands, a Briti ...

'' (1960) as Selim * ''The Gentle Trap'' (1960) as Ricky Barnes * ''

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver ''The 3 Worlds of Gulliver'' is a 1960 Eastmancolor Columbia Pictures fantasy film loosely based upon the 1726 novel ''Gulliver's Travels'' by Jonathan Swift. The film stars Kerwin Mathews as the title character, June Thorburn as his fiancée Eli ...

'' (1960) as Flimnap * ''

'' (1960) as Mordekai * '' Gorgo'' (1961) as Dorkin * ''

'' (1961) as Enrico * ''

A Matter of WHO ''A Matter of WHO'' is a 1961 British comedy thriller film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Terry-Thomas as a World Health Organization employee trying to trail the source of a deadly virus. It also featured Julie Alexander, Sonja Zieman ...

'' (1961) as Rahman * ''

The Silent Invasion ''The Silent Invasion'' is a low budget 1962 British film. Plot During WW II, a German garrison is stationed in the small French town of Mereux. French local Maria falls in love with German captain Eric Von Strafen. However, the romance comes to ...

'' (1962) as Borge * ''

Satan Never Sleeps ''Satan Never Sleeps '' (also known as ''The Devil Never Sleeps'') is a 1962 American drama romance war film directed by Leo McCarey, his final film, in which he returns to the religious themes of his classics '' Going My Way'' (1944) and ''The Be ...

'' (1962) as Kuznietsky * ''

Village of Daughters ''Village of Daughters'' is a 1962 British comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Eric Sykes, Scilla Gabel, John Le Mesurier, Grégoire Aslan, Graham Stark, and Warren Mitchell Warren Mitchell (born Warren Misell; 14 January 1 ...

'' (1962) as 1st Pickpocket * '' Captain Clegg'' (1962) as Mr. Rash (innkeeper) * ''I tre nemic'' (1962) as Prof. Otto Kreutz * ''

The Fur Collar ''The Fur Collar'' is a 1962 British thriller film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring John Bentley, Martin Benson and Philip Friend. Plot A man wearing a fur-collared coat is shot on his arrival in Paris. A British journalist is co ...

'' (1962) as Martin Benson * ''

'' (1963) as Ramos * ''

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

'' (1964) as Da Silva * ''The Secret Door'' (1964) as Edmundo Vara * '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1964) as Maurice * '' Behold a Pale Horse'' (1964) as Priest * '' Goldfinger'' (1964) as Mr. Solo * '' The Secret of My Success'' (1965) as Rex Mansard * ''

A Man Could Get Killed ''A Man Could Get Killed'' is a 1966 American adventure comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and Cliff Owen, shot on various locations in Portugal and starring James Garner, Melina Mercouri, Sandra Dee, Anthony Franciosa, and Robert Coote. Film ...

'' (1966) as Politanu * ''

The Magnificent Two ''The Magnificent Two'' is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Morecambe and Wise in the third and final of their 1960s trio of films. Plot Two British Action Man travelling salesmen are sent to the South American co ...

'' (1967) as President Diaz * ''

Battle Beneath the Earth ''Battle Beneath the Earth'' is a 1967 British sci-fi thriller film starring Kerwin Mathews. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film also features character actor Ed Bishop. Plot Scientist Arnold Kramer believes that rogue elements o ...

'' (1967) as Gen. Chan Lu * ''

'' (1972) as Lothair * '' Tiffany Jones'' (1973) as Petcek * ''

The Omen ''The Omen'' is a 1976 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner and written by David Seltzer. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and the United States, it stars Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Spencer ...

'' (1976) as Father Spiletto * ''

Mohammad, Messenger of God ''The Message'' ( ar, الرسالة, italic=yes, ''Ar-Risālah'', ''The Message''; originally known as ''Mohammad, Messenger of God'') is a 1976 Islamic epic drama film directed and produced by Moustapha Akkad, chronicling the life and times ...

'' (1976) as Abu-Jahal * ''Al-risâlah'' (1976) as Kisra * ''

Jesus of Nazareth Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

'' (1977, TV mini-series) as Pharisee * ''

Meetings with Remarkable Men ''Meetings with Remarkable Men, autobiographical in nature, is the second volume of the ''All and Everything'' trilogy written by the Greek-Armenian spiritual teacher G. I. Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff started working on the Russian manuscript in 1927, ...

'' (1979) as Dr. Ivanov * '' The Human Factor'' (1979) as Boris * ''

'' (1980) as Mr. Montero * ''

Sphinx A sphinx ( , grc, σφίγξ , Boeotian: , plural sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, the sphinx has the head of a woman, the haunches of ...

'' (1981) as Muhammed * ''

Young Toscanini ''Young Toscanini'' (original title: ''Il giovane Toscanini'') is a 1988 Italian-French biographical drama film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring C. Thomas Howell and Elizabeth Taylor. Premise The film charts the early career and rom ...

'' (1988) as Comparsa (uncredited) * '' Capstick's Law'' (1989) as maitre d'hotel * ''

The Camomile Lawn ''The Camomile Lawn'' is a 1984 novel by Mary Wesley beginning with a family holiday in Cornwall in the last summer of peace before the Second World War. When the family is reunited for a funeral nearly fifty years later, it brings home to them ...

'' (1992) as Pauli Erstweiler * ''

'' (1999) as Christian Brother

References

External links

*
Obituary in ''The Times''

– Daily Telegraph obituary {{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Martin 1918 births 2010 deaths Royal Artillery officers English Ashkenazi Jews English male film actors English male television actors English male stage actors Jewish English male actors English people of Russian-Jewish descent English people of Polish-Jewish descent Male actors from Buckinghamshire Male actors from London People from Markyate British Army personnel of World War II