Biography
Richard "Pepe" Benedict (born Riccardo Benedetto, January 8, 1920 – April 29, 1984) was an Italian-American television and film actor and director. He was born in Palermo, Italy. He appeared in dozens of television programs and movies from the 1940s to the 1960s, most notably Ace in the Hole (1951), directed by Billy Wilder. Benedict appeared with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in the 1960 movie Ocean's 11 as one of the 11 men who rob five Las Vegas casinos on the same night. He also played the commander of the Mars rescue ship in the 1958 B sci-fi movie It! The Terror from Beyond Space. Benedict's television appearances included Adventures of Superman, The Lone Ranger, Perry Mason, Zorro, Dragnet, Peter Gunn and Hawaii Five-O. His directing credits included Impasse, an adventure film starring Burt Reynolds. He died of a heart attack at Studio City, Los Angeles, on April 29, 1984, and was interred in Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery, in the Churchyard section. He was the father of three children, including actor Nick Benedict.
Movies & TV Shows
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Ace in the Hole (1951) — Leo Minosa
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Ocean's Eleven (1960) — "Curly" Steffans
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Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) — Mike
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Crossfire (1947) — Bill
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Hawaii Five-O (1968) — Sol the Bartender
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Perry Mason (1957) — Steve Daniels
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It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) — Bob Finelli
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The Window (1949) — Murdered Seaman (Uncredited)
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Somewhere in the Night (1946) — Marine Desk Sergeant
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Ironside (1967)
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Adventures of Superman (1952) — Tony Gambini
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A Walk in the Sun (1945) — Pvt. Tranella
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Shockproof (1949) — 'Kid', Knife Wielder (Uncredited)
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Beginning of the End (1957) — Cpl. Mathias
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The Lone Ranger (1949) — Bert Ronson
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Dragnet (1951)
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The Midnight Story (1957) — Pool Player (uncredited)
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Disconnected (1984) — Store Customer (Uncredited)
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Peter Gunn (1958)
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Scene of the Crime (1949) — Turk Kingby
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The Rookies (1972)
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The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) — Briscoe
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Backlash (1947) — Detective Sergeant Tom Carey
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Race Street (1948) — Sam
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Till the End of Time (1946) — Soldier with "the shakes"
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The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947) — Joe Burton
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O.S.S. (1946) — Robert Bouchet, Tech Sgt., A.U.S. / Albert Bernardi
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Hoodlum Empire (1952) — Silky Tanner
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Smart Girls Don't Talk (1948) — Cliff Saunders
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Impasse (1969)
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The Juggler (1953) — Police Officer Kogan
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The Man Is Armed (1956) — Lew 'Mitch' Mitchell
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Homicide (1949) — Nick Foster
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Highway Patrol (1955)
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Hawaiian Eye (1959) — Eddie Coyle
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City Across the River (1949) — Gaggsy Steens
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Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951)
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Act of Love (1953) — Pete
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Ghost Story (1972) — Mr. Parker
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Wiretapper (1955) — Romato
Directed
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Get Smart (1965) — Director
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Mission: Impossible (1966) — Director
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Charlie's Angels (1976) — Director
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Hawaii Five-O (1968) — Director
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Quincy, M.E. (1976) — Director
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Combat! (1962) — Director
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Night Gallery (1970) — Director
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The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) — Director
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Man from Atlantis (1977) — Director
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Ironside (1967) — Director
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S.W.A.T. (1975) — Director
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The Fugitive (1963) — Director
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The Invaders (1967) — Director
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Mannix (1967) — Director
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The Virginian (1962) — Director
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Alias Smith and Jones (1971) — Director
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Police Woman (1974) — Director
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I Spy (1965) — Director
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The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977) — Director
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The High Chaparral (1967) — Director
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The Rookies (1972) — Director
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12 O'Clock High (1964) — Director
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Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) — Director
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Police Story (1973) — Director
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Laredo (1965) — Director
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Medical Center (1969) — Director
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Impasse (1969) — Director
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Lawman (1958) — Director
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Hawaiian Eye (1959) — Director
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Bronco (1958) — Director
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Run for Your Life (1965) — Director
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Dan August (1970) — Director
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Matt Helm (1975) — Director
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N.Y.P.D. (1967) — Director
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The Outsider (1968) — Director
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Joe Forrester (1975) — Director
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Winter A-Go-Go (1965) — Director
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Surfside 6 (1960) — Director
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The Oregon Trail (1977) — Director
- The Partners (1971) — Director