William Bendix
ActingAbout William Bendix
William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, best remembered in movies for the title role in the movie The Babe Ruth Story and for portraying clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker Chester A. Riley in radio and television's The Life of Riley. He also received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Wake Island (1942).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of William Bendix reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of William Bendix's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 42% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), William Bendix remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Ransom of Red Chief, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best William Bendix Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from William Bendix's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of William Bendix.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | Buzz Wanchek in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Movie Orgy | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Law of the Lawless | Sheriff Ed Tanner | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Young and the Brave | Sgt. Peter L. Kane (escaped POW) | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Boys' Night Out | Slattery | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Johnny Nobody | James Ronald Mulcahy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Rough and the Smooth | Reg Barker | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Ransom of Red Chief | Bill Driscoll | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Idol on Parade | Sergeant Major Lush | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Crashout | Van Morgan Duff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Dangerous Mission | Chief Ranger Joe Parker | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Blackbeard, the Pirate | Ben Worley | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Macao | Lawrence C. Trumble | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Detective Story | Det. Lou Brody | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Gambling House | Joe Farrow | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Kill the Umpire | Bill 'Two Call' Johnson | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Johnny Holiday | Sgt. Walker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Big Steal | Capt. Vincent Blake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Streets of Laredo | Wahoo Jones | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court | Sir Sagramore | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Life of Riley | Chester A. Riley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Cover Up | Larry Best | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | 10,000 Kids and a Cop | Cop | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Race Street | Barney Runson | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Where There's Life | Victor O'Brien | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Variety Girl | William Bendix | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Web | Lt. Damico | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | I'll Be Yours | Wechsberg | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Calcutta | Pedro Blake | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Two Years Before the Mast | First Mate Amazeen | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | White Tie and Tails | Larry Lundie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Blue Dahlia | Buzz Wanchek | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Dark Corner | Stauffer, a.k.a. Fred Foss | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Sentimental Journey | Donnelly - Uncle Don | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | A Bell for Adano | Sgt. Borth | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Don Juan Quilligan | Patrick Michael 'Don Juan' Quilligan | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Greenwich Village | Danny O'Mara | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Abroad with Two Yanks | Biff Koraski | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Lifeboat | Gus Smith | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Hostages | Underground leader | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | China | Johnny Sparrow | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Crystal Ball | Biff Carter | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Who Done It? | Detective Sgt. Brannigan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Glass Key | Jeff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Wake Island | Pvt. Aloysius K. "Smacksie" Randall | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Star Spangled Rhythm | Herman | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Woman of the Year | Pinkie Peters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Brooklyn Orchid | Timothy McGuerin | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | They Drive by Night | Driver Watching Pinball Game (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
William Bendix - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of William Bendix?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring William Bendix is "The Ransom of Red Chief" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has William Bendix acted in?
William Bendix has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by William Bendix?
Other notable films include "Los Angeles Plays Itself", "Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star", and "Lifeboat".