Ben Lessy

Ben Lessy (born Benjamin Lesinsky; April 29, 1902 the long-time wife of his best friend and agent, Sammy Lewis. They were regulars at Los Angeles nightclubs Slapsy Maxie's and Billy Gray's Band Box. Lessy appeared in over 50 films and television episodes between 1938 and 1981. His first film role was in the two reel Cafe Rendezvous and his career ended with the Billy Wilder film Buddy Buddy (1981). On the small screen, he was frequently seen during the 1950s on the popular sitcom Make Room for Daddy, whose creator/star Danny Thomas dubbed Lessy "one of the greatest living generators of laughter". The Frank Sinatra Show, The NBC Comedy Hour, Juke Box Jury, The John Conte Show, The Woody Woodbury Show, and Merv Griffin. Other TV credits include Telephone Time (1957), The Jack Benny Program (1959–64: 3 episodes), The Cara Williams Show (1964–1965), The Gypsy Rose Lee Show, That Girl (1966), Petticoat Junction (1967), The New Andy Griffith Show (1971), and McMillan & Wife (1976).

Death Lessy died on October 30, 1992, aged 90 from natural causes. His remains are interred at Sholom Memorial Park in Sylmar, California.

Filmography

Second Chorus (1940) - Shaw's Second Manager (uncredited) Woman of the Year (1942) - Punchy (uncredited) For Me and My Gal (1942) - Dough Boy Dan (uncredited) Youth on Parade (1942) - Piano Player (uncredited) Thousands Cheer (1943) - Silent Monk Music for Millions (1944) - Kickebush Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945) - Himself Two Sisters from Boston (1946) - Rogetto - Olstrom's Valet (uncredited) Dark Delusion (1947) - Napoleon The Pirate (1948) - Gumbo The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) - Shorty Purple Heart Diary (1951) - Himself Just for You (1952) - Georgie Polansky Gypsy (1962) - Mervyn Goldstone It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) - George, the steward (uncredited) I'd Rather Be Rich (1964) - 1st Hunter (uncredited) Pajama Party (1964) - Fleegle That Funny Feeling (1965) - Charlie - Bartender That Darn Cat! (1965) - Drive-In Concessionaire (uncredited) The Last of the Secret Agents? (1966) - Harry The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967) - Indian Chief The Love Machine (1971) - Kenny Ditto Buddy Buddy (1981) - Barney Pritzig (final film role)