William Bendix

Burly supporting player with a broken nose and a raucous charm, sometimes as brutal killers but more often seen as a likable tough guy. A former minor league baseball player, Bendix landed one of his few leading roles in "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948). He was also memorable as Chester A. Riley in the radio and TV series, as well as the 1948 film version of, "The Life of Riley".

• Born:
  January 4, 1906 in New York, New York
• Died:
  December 14, 1964.
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Baseball player, Grocer

Significant Others

• Wife: . married for 37 years; survived him

Milestones

• 1939 Broadway debut in "The Time of Your Life"
• 1942 Hollywood debut in "The Brooklyn Orchid"
• Became member of New York Theater Guild
• First film appearance in a Vitagraph production aged 5