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Paul Benedict, 70; actor at home in TV sitcoms, modern and classical dramas
Boston Globe ^ | 12/04/08 | Ed Siegel

Posted on 12/04/2008 10:21:59 AM PST by Borges

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."

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
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1 posted on 12/04/2008 10:21:59 AM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

One of those “I never realized” reactions...


2 posted on 12/04/2008 10:24:34 AM PST by kenavi
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To: Borges

Ah, from the Jeffersons.


3 posted on 12/04/2008 10:25:43 AM PST by Travis T. OJustice (Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.)
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To: Borges

Geez, the guy was everywhere. Rest in Peace.


4 posted on 12/04/2008 10:25:47 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Travis T. OJustice

You’ll be missed, Mr. Bentley. RIP.


5 posted on 12/04/2008 10:28:21 AM PST by ScottinVA (Gloucester County, VA -- Standing for America! 63% for McCain-Palin on 4 Nov)
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To: Borges

That’s sad...I loved that guy on The Jeffersons.


6 posted on 12/04/2008 10:29:24 AM PST by opus86
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To: Borges

A fabulous actor and human being. He will be missed.


7 posted on 12/04/2008 10:30:15 AM PST by i_dont_chat
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To: Borges

Dear God...if You have a house painter up there, tall guy wearing a long coat and a bowler, and he says “I’m gonna paint a 9”...let him.


8 posted on 12/04/2008 10:32:04 AM PST by RichInOC (Obama/Biden '08: "We Are Not Ruled By Murderers, But Only--By Their Friends."--Rudyard Kipling)
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To: Borges

If you are going to go, Martha’s Vineyard is not a bad pick at all. RIP. Paul Benedict.


9 posted on 12/04/2008 10:32:42 AM PST by GOP Poet
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He was also the "Mad Painter" on Sesame Street. I don't know why I never made the connection to Mr. Bentley till many years later.
10 posted on 12/04/2008 10:34:14 AM PST by PrinterEagle
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To: RichInOC

You beat me to it by a couple minutes.


11 posted on 12/04/2008 10:35:45 AM PST by PrinterEagle
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To: Borges

I first remember seeing Benedict on Sesame Street when I was a very little kid. He was “The Mad Painter”, and did these skits where he taught numbers through painting. I remember one in particular where he crashed a picnic and painted numbers in ketchup and mustard on slices of bread.

RIP, Mr Benedict, and thank you for all the laughs.


12 posted on 12/04/2008 10:35:50 AM PST by DemforBush (Millions of conservatives have got your back, Sarah!)
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To: PrinterEagle

Whoops, ya beat me to it.

Great minds, and all that. :-)


13 posted on 12/04/2008 10:36:33 AM PST by DemforBush (Millions of conservatives have got your back, Sarah!)
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To: Borges

He also was in the movie, “Jeremiah Johnson.”


14 posted on 12/04/2008 10:36:42 AM PST by ScottinVA (Gloucester County, VA -- Standing for America! 63% for McCain-Palin on 4 Nov)
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To: opus86

Yeah, he was great in the Jeffersons.

RIP Paul Benedict.


15 posted on 12/04/2008 10:37:06 AM PST by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: DemforBush

That was Stockard Channing in the Picnic scene w/ the Mad Painter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQGtEd40OFU


16 posted on 12/04/2008 10:39:53 AM PST by PrinterEagle
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To: PrinterEagle

I believe he was the judge in an “Addams Family” movie as well.


17 posted on 12/04/2008 10:42:53 AM PST by icwhatudo
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To: PrinterEagle

Stockard Channing, huh? Now if she wasn’t the girl most likely to ...


18 posted on 12/04/2008 10:45:05 AM PST by fortunate sun (Proud Palinista!)
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To: Borges
My absolute fave Paul Benedict character was Arthur Fleeber (the drama teacher) in “The Freshman”!!! Brilliant!
19 posted on 12/04/2008 10:51:48 AM PST by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: icwhatudo

He also was in the first “Goodbye Girl” with Richard Dreyfus and Marsha Mason. He played that weird director who wanted to gay-out Shakespeare’s Richard III.


20 posted on 12/04/2008 10:51:48 AM PST by Ranger Drew
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