Ben Alexander (actor)


Nicholas Benton Alexander III was an American motion picture actor, who started out as a child actor in 1916. He is best remembered for his role as Officer Frank Smith in the Dragnet franchise.

Early life and career

A native of Goldfield, Nevada, Alexander was the son of Nicholas Benton Alexander Jr. and Elizabeth Hinkley.
After a number of silent films, he retired from screen work, but came back for the World War I classic, All Quiet on the Western Front, in which Alexander received good notices as an adult actor as "Kemmerich", the tragic amputation victim. Earnings from the film allowed him to attend Stanford University; however, three years later, in the midst of the Great Depression, he was forced to leave school for lack of funds.
He found a new career as a successful radio announcer in the late 1940s, including a stint on The Martin and Lewis Show. Alexander also acted on radio, playing Philip West in the 1939–40 soap opera Brenthouse on the Blue Network.
From October 1950 to January 1951, Alexander hosted Party Time at Club Roma, a nightly late-night television show on NBC described as "part Truth or Consequences-type stunt show and part talent contest".
In 1952, Jack Webb, actor-producer-director of Dragnet, needed a replacement for Barton Yarborough, who had played Detective Romero opposite Webb's Sgt. Joe Friday. Webb selected Alexander, but had to wait until he was available. A few actors filled in as Friday's partners until Alexander appeared in the newly created role of Officer Frank Smith, first in the radio series, then reprised the role in film and on television. The popular series ran until 1959. When Webb revived it in 1966, he wanted Alexander to rejoin him, but Alexander had just signed to play the role of Sgt. Dan Briggs on the weekly ABC series Felony Squad.

Other

Alexander owned and operated the Ben Alexander Ford car dealership in the Highland Park neighborhood of northeast Los Angeles, from around 1953 until his death in 1969, along with the Ben Alexander Ford car dealership in San Francisco, which was formed in 1959.
In the mid-1950s, Ben Alexander's Dream House Motel was located in Hollywood, near the corner of Yucca Street and Cahuenga Boulevard.
In 1960, Alexander was a semi-regular panelist on Ernie Kovacs' offbeat game show Take a Good Look, which he affectionately dubbed "as unrigged and unrehearsed and un-produced a show as ever hit the air.'" On April 19, 1960, and for roughly four years thereafter, he produced and hosted The Ben Alexander Show, a talent show airing on Oakland's KTVU TV. What made this program especially noteworthy—and profitable for its creator/host—was that Alexander was also the sponsor, via his auto dealership. Broadcast Magazine highlighted this seeming anomaly in its August 29 issue, exactly four months after the show's debut.
When a successful actor is also a successful businessman, that's unusual. When, as a businessman, he sponsors himself as a tv performer, that's rare. And when, the day after the opening broadcast, his business does three times its normal volume, that's news.

Death

On July 5, 1969, Alexander was found dead as the result of a massive heart attack in his Los Angeles home when his wife and children returned from a camping trip.
He was cremated.
For his contributions to the entertainment industry, Ben Alexander was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television, radio, and movies.

Filmography

Each Pearl a Tear The Little American - Bobby MooreWhat Money Can't Buy - ChildHearts of the World - The Boy's Littlest BrotherThe Lady of the Dugout - The Lady's SonThe Heart of Rachael - JimThe One Woman - BoyLittle Orphant Annie - OrphanThe Turn in the Road - BobThe White Heather - Donald CameronJosselyn's Wife - Tommy JosselynThe Hushed Hour - GondyThe Mayor of Filbert - CarrollTangled Threads - 'Sonny Boy' WayneThe Better Wife - Little DickThe Triflers - Rupert HolbrookThe Family Honor - Little Ben TuckerThe Notorious Mrs. Sands - ChildThrough Eyes of Men - Little BillyBlue Streak McCoy The Heart Line - The ChildIn the Name of the Law - Harry O'Hara - age 9, prologuePenrod and Sam - Penrod SchofieldThe Yankee Spirit Jealous Husbands - Bobbie Boy of Mine - Bill LatimerBarnum Junior Junior Partner A Self-Made Failure - SonnyDirty Hand Flaming Love - Benny KeenePampered Youth - George Minafer, as a childWildcat Willie The Shining Adventure - BennyThe Highbinders - Roy MarshallScotty of the Scouts - Scotty SmithFighting for Fame - Danny RyanTwo to One The Divine Lady - Young Lieutenant The Lunkhead - Ben - Billy's ChumAll Quiet on the Western Front - Franz KemmerichMany a Slip - Ted CosterIt's a Wise Child - Bill StantonAre These Our Children? - Nicholas 'Nick' CrosbySuicide Fleet - KidA Wise Child Mystery Ship High Pressure - Geoffrey WestonThe Wet Parade - Evelyn's Friend Tom Brown of Culver - Cpl. John ClarkeThe Vanishing Frontier - Lucien WinfieldAlias the Professor Mister Mugg Roadhouse Queen - Junior KnoxDaddy Knows Best - Billy ToddWhat Price Innocence? - Tommy HarrowThis Day and Age - Morry DoverStage Mother - Francis NolanOnce to Every Woman - JoeThe Most Precious Thing in Life - Gideon 'Gubby' GerhartThe Life of Vergie Winters - Barry PrestonFlirtation - DudleyGrand Old Girl - Tom MillerBorn to Gamble - Paul MathewsReckless Roads - Wade AdamsAnnapolis Farewell - AdamsSplendor - Western Union Messenger The Fire Trap - Bob FenderHearts in Bondage - EgglestonRed Lights Ahead - George WallaceShall We Dance - Evans - a Bandleader The Legion of Missing Men - Don CarterThe Outer Gate - Bob TerryWestern Gold - BartThe Life of the Party - Orchestra Leader The Spy Ring - Capt. Don MayhewRussian Dressing - Band Leader Bill FarradayMr. Doodle Kicks Off - Larry WeldonConvict's Code - Jeff PalmerBuries Alive - RileyThe Leather Pushers - Dan Brown, AnnouncerCriminals Within - Sgt. Paul, the TraitorDragnet - Officer Frank SmithMan in the Shadow - Ab Begley

Television

Party Time at Club Roma - HostDragnet - Officer Frank SmithThe Joseph Cotten Show, also known as On Trial The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford Take A Good Look - Himself / PanelistAbout Faces - Himself - HostBatman - Detective Beside Trash CanFelony Squad - Desk Sgt. Dan Briggs

Writer

  • ''Dragnet''