Background
He was born Harold J. Mann. To Alice Julian and Samuel Mann.
He was born Harold J. Mann. To Alice Julian and Samuel Mann.
He attended Princeton University for two years, and was a member its football team
He then joined the American Ambulance Corporation in France for six months at the height of World War I. Upon return and after the Selective Service Acting of 1917, he enlisted and served as a private in the United States Army Air Service (632 Aeronautical Sq, 144 Aeronautical Sq, Sq I Kelly Field, Sq C Gerstner Field. Flying School Detachment). Benedict then went to Hollywood and pursued different jobs until his starting role in William Wellman"s movie Cupid"s Fireman (1923) at Fox Film Corporation.
His first major role came later opposite Harold Lloyd in The Freshman / College Days (1925) as the Campus Cad.
He continued to appear with Lloyd and other prominent silent era stars in the 1920s During World World War II and throughout the 1940s, he appeared in more than 130 movies, where he was limited to utility roles in all but three. During this time, in an interview published in the Prescott Evening Courier, he and Howard R. Philbrick (Chief Casting Executive) explain the challenges faced by some 7000 extras in 1940 Hollywood.
In later stages of his career, he extended his work to television, appearing as a regular in such series as the Four Star Playhouse (1956). His last performance was in the movie Houseboat (1958).
He died at 12:05 am January 1, 1968, in Bellaire General Hospital in Houston, Texas, due to myocardial infarction after a history of arteriosclerosis and rheumatic heart disease.