Ben Lyon

Ben Lyon (February 6, 1901 – March 22, 1979) was an American film actor and a studio executive at 20th Century-Fox who later acted in British radio, films and TV.

Early life and career

Lyon was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Alvine W. (Wiseberg) and Ben Lyon, a travelling salesman. His family was Jewish. Lyon entered films in 1918 after a successful appearance on Broadway opposite Jeanne Eagels. He attracted attention in the highly successful film Flaming Youth (1923) and steadily developed into a leading man. He was successfully paired with some of the leading actresses of the silent era, including Pola Negri, Gloria Swanson, Colleen Moore, Barbara La Marr, Viola Dana, Anna Q. Nilsson, Mary Astor and Blanche Sweet. In 1925, a writer for Photoplay wrote of him, "Girls, Ben Lyon looks harmless but we have reliable information that he's irresistible, so watch your step. Besides he's a mighty fine actor and if the ladies must fall in love with him he can't help it."

Lyon in I Cover the Waterfront (1933)He had success as an actor in the 1930 film Hell's Angels. The film was a major success and brought Jean Harlow to prominence, but Lyon's performance as a heroic World War I aviator was also highly regarded. For the next decade he was constantly in demand, but his popularity began to wane by the early 1940s. By the mid 1940s he was working for 20th Century-Fox. On July 17, 1946, he met a young aspiring actress named Norma Jeane Dougherty. After his first meeting with her, he stated that she was "Jean Harlow all over again!" He organized a color screen test for the actress, renamed her, and finally signed her as Marilyn Monroe to her first studio contract.

He also appeared in an episode of Starlight. No episodes are known to survive. He was a comedian in that show.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in March 1963, when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

Military service Lyon served as a pilot in the 322nd Pursuit Squadron in the early 1930s. During World War II he served as a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Air Forces Special Services.

Personal life and death Lyon married actress Bebe Daniels in June 1930. They had two children, daughter Barbara in 1931 and an adopted son Richard. In an issue of the contemporary magazine Radio Pictorial, Bebe explained how she saw Richard peering through the railings at a London orphanage and instantly thought "A brother for Barbara". Daniels suffered a severe stroke in 1963 and withdrew from public life. She suffered a second stroke in late 1970. She died at the couple's London home in March 1971.

On April 1, 1972, Lyon married the actress Marian Nixon, whom he had known since the 1920s. They remained married until his death.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ben Lyon has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1724 Vine Street.

Jill Allgood lived with Bebe and Ben Lyon for many years in their large apartment at Dolphin Square, London. Bebe and Ben Lyon were the godparent to Allgood's niece, Suzanne Allgood.

Filmography

Year Film Role Director Notes 1918 The Transgressor 1919 Open Your Eyes Harold Connors Gilbert P. Hamilton 1921 The Heart of Maryland Bob Telfair Tom Terriss Lost film 1923 The Custard Cup Dick Chase Herbert Brenon Lost film Potash and Perlmutter Boris Andrieff Clarence G. Badger Lost film Flaming Youth Monty Standish John Francis Dillon Incomplete, one reel survives 1924 Painted People Don Lane Clarence G. Badger Lost film The White Moth Douglas Morley Maurice Tourneur Wine of Youth Lynn Talbot King Vidor Lily of the Dust Lt. Prell Dimitri Buchowetzki Lost film Wages of Virtue Marvin Allan Dwan Lost film So Big Dirk DeJong Charles Brabin Lost film 1925 One Way Street Bobby Austin John Francis Dillon Lost film The Necessary Evil Frank Jerome George Archainbaud Lost film Winds of Chance Pierce Phillips Frank Lloyd The Pace That Thrills Danny Wade Webster Campbell Lost film The New Commandment Billy Morrow Howard Higgin Lost film Bluebeard's Seven Wives John Hart / Don Juan Hartez Alfred Santell Lost film 1926 The Reckless Lady Ralph Hilliwe Howard Higgin Lost film The Savage Danny Terry Fred C. Newmeyer Lost film The Great Deception Cyril Mansfield Howard Higgin Lost film Prince of Tempters Francis Lothar Mendes 1927 The Perfect Sap Herbert Alden Howard Higgin Lost film High Hat Jerry James Ashmore Creelman The Tender Hour Wally McKenzie George Fitzmaurice Dance Magic Leach Norcutt Victor Halperin Lost film For the Love of Mike Mike Frank Capra Lost film Dancing Vienna Jonny Conzaga Frederic Zelnik Lost film 1929 The Air Legion Dave Bert Glennon All Faces West Mathew Raymond K. Johnson The Quitter Neal Abbott Joseph Henabery The Flying Marine Steve Moran Albert S. Rogell 1930 Lummox Rollo Farley Ray Lissner Alias French Gertie Jimmy Hartigan George Archainbaud Hell's Angels Monte Rutledge Howard HughesJames Whale What Men Want Kendall James Ernst Laemmle A Soldier's Plaything Georgie Michael Curtiz 1931 The Hot Heiress 'Hap' Harrigan Clarence G. Badger Misbehaving Ladies Phil Hunter William Beaudine Indiscreet Tony Blake Leo McCarey Aloha Jimmy Bradford Albert S. Rogell My Past Robert 'Bob' Byrne Roy Del Ruth Night Nurse Mortie William A. Wellman Bought Nick Amory Archie Mayo Her Majesty, Love Fred von Wellingen William Dieterle Compromised Sidney Brock Ben Silvey Lost film 1932 Lady with a Past Guy Bryson E. J. Babille The Big Timer Cooky Bradford Edward Buzzell Week Ends Only Jack Williams Alan Crosland By Whose Hand? Jimmy Benjamin Stoloff The Crooked Circle Brand Osborne H. Bruce Humberstone Hat Check Girl Buster Collins Sidney Lanfield 1933 Girl Missing Henry Gibson Robert Florey I Cover the Waterfront H. Joseph 'Joe' Miller James Cruze The Women in His Life Roger McKane George B. Seitz 1934 I Spy Wally Sawyer Allan Dwan Crimson Romance Bob Wilson David Howard Lightning Strikes Twice Steven 'Steve' Brewster Ben Holmes 1935 Together We Live Max Willard Mack Navy Wife Dr. Peter Milford Allan Dwan Frisco Waterfront Glenn Burton Arthur Lubin 1936 Dancing Feet Peyton Wells Joseph Santley Down to the Sea Steve Londos Lewis D. Collins Treachery on the High Seas Johnny Hammond Emil-Edwin Reinert 1938 Stardust Royal Harley Melville W. Brown 1939 I Killed the Count Bernard Froy Frederic Zelnik Confidential Lady Jim Brent Arthur B. Woods Lost film 1941 Hi Gang! Her Other Half Marcel Varnel 1942 This Was Paris Butch, Sydney Chronicle Reporter John Harlow 1943 The Dark Tower Phil Danton John Harlow 1954 Life with the Lyons Himself Val Guest 1955 The Lyons in Paris Ben Val Guest