Paul Benedict (Mr. Bentley) Dies at 70

[Zoneboy]

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In an acting troupe that included Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Al Pacino, the person who stood out more than any other in the Theatre Company of Boston during the 1960s was Paul Benedict. The long-jawed actor who found a touch of menace in the most comic parts and a touch of the absurd in the most serious roles, was found dead Monday at 70 of unknown causes on Martha's Vineyard.

Mr. Benedict, who also acted locally with the American Repertory Theatre, would have his own share of success on television and in the movies, playing the English neighbor Harry Bentley on the CBS series "The Jeffersons" from 1975 to 1985. He also appeared in the Christopher Guest comedies "This Is Spinal Tap," "Waiting for Guffman," and "A Mighty Wind."

His long face was, in part, a result of acromegaly, a pituitary disorder that was first diagnosed by an audience member, an endocrinologist, at one of his Theatre Company performances.

Theatre Company founder David Wheeler, who directed Mr. Benedict there and at ART and remained a close friend, recalled the joy he spread. "From the point he came into the theater, it was one continuous round of laughter," Wheeler said yesterday. "My wife, Bronia, would always ask him to tell her a joke before he got off the phone, and then break up in laughter."

As an actor, Mr. Benedict "could do so much with his voice and body," Wheeler added. "He could do any kind of comedy from the knockabout and outrageous to more subtle and verbal roles. . . . He found the characters."

Mr. Benedict grew up in Boston and attended Suffolk University. After that, he told The New York Times in a 1990 interview, he "walked into the center of Boston, to a local theater, the Charles Playhouse. They said they needed a janitor and they'd pay 15 bucks a week. I said I'd take it. . . . Within a year I was building sets and running the box office."

He became a regular at the Theatre Company of Boston from 1963 to 1968 before moving to New York. He loved Martha's Vineyard, though, where he had a summer home. (He was renting the place where his body was found.) ART founder Robert Brustein recalled yesterday that unlike his neighbors, Mr. Benedict did not try to get rid of the many raccoons in the neighborhood.

"He had this wonderful devotion to the Vineyard, where he collected raccoons and fed them," Brustein said.

Mr. Benedict and Brustein often appeared in readings together at the Vineyard Playhouse. While he acknowledged Mr. Benedict's "long run" on television, Brustein said that didn't capture his gifts as an actor, which were best shown in classical and modern plays.

"He excelled in mystery, the mystery of the character," Brustein said. "He was very good about withholding the obvious, who this man [character] was. He was a very good Pinter actor and a very good Beckett actor for that reason. The unspoken, the pauses between the words, are more important than the words themselves. He had that face, those deep-set eyes and enigmatic smile. I would have cast him in anything."

His last ART performance was in May 2007, in Pinter's "No Man's Land." He played Hirst, a character facing his mortality. "It didn't matter that it was a part made famous by Ralph Richardson," said Wheeler, who directed the show. "He was undaunted."

He was also good. "Benedict infuses Hirst with complexity and pleasingly baffling ambiguity," Globe critic Louise Kennedy wrote. "If we never know quite who this man is, we still can't stop thinking about him."

In the Times interview, Mr. Benedict expressed no bitterness over being typecast as an oddball. What he said of playing the pompous Professor Fleeber in the film, "The Freshman," could describe his approach to all his roles: "I try to make each of the characters different. I think the trick is to cement in the reality, to make it logical and real to yourself. Once there's a reality, I think you can make it as crazy as you want it to be."

Mr. Benedict leaves a brother, Charles of Newton.

[Zoneboy]

A wonderful actor who was an intregal part of The Jeffersons' cast. The Bentley character was one of my favorites and Paul played the role to perfection. Here he is as the Mad Painter from Sesame Street.

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Paul

[TripperFan]

I got a kick out of his character too. Took me a bit of a while but once I got used to him I really liked him.

Rest in Peace. At least it sounds as though he went quickly (probably a heart attack).

[catlover79]

He seemed like such a nice guy.

[Scoobiedoo30]

R.I.P.

[MikeLutton]

he like the 7th member to pass away from this show not many cast members left expect 3 rip mr bentley u wil be missed

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by MikeL

he like the 7th member to pass away from this show not many cast members left expect 3 rip mr bentley u wil be missed

Zara Cully, Roxie Roker, Isabell Sanford, Franklin Cover, Mike Evans and now Paul Benedict. This leaves Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs, Damon Evans, Berlinda Tolbert and Ned Wertimer still alive from the main cast.

[waichingliu81]

this comes as an absolute shock to me. he was great on the jeffersons and i liked him as mr bentley. so sad he passed away

[MikeLutton]

i know henry jefferso gone to but he dont count since he was never on the show it sure lost lot great cast in its time

nr whitendale is gone 2 georges friend lee roy mr bently going be missed this is total shock to me he was good on there

[MikeLutton]

i know henry jefferso gone to but he dont count since he was never on the show it sure lost lot great cast in its time

nr whitendale is gone 2 georges friend lee roy mr bently going be missed this is total shock to me he was good on there

[80sTrivia]

So sad to hear of his passing... he was always so hilaroud on The Jeffersons...

[Benno123]

Sad news, indeed. RIP

[Mr. Television]

My funniest memories of Mr. Bentley was when he always had George walking on his back. Paul was one of the funniest character actors of all time and a great part of the Jeffersons family. He will be missed.

[MikeLutton]

almos forgot bout that and odd i watched on tv land o jeffersons return of mr bentley it was good george tried get him his apt back and kept going back n fourth to the new neighbor such good episode bently certenley created a really good charry there he sure be missed

[GARFIELDKOOL]

That is so sad. I loved Mr. Bentley. We will miss you! It seems like the cast of the Jeffersons is dropping since Isabelle passed in 04. You had Franklin Cover and Mike Evans in 06, this is getting scary.