Richard Benedict

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.

Career 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.

Death 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.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1944 Winged Victory Drunken Seaman Uncredited 1945 See My Lawyer Joe Wilson 1945 A Walk in the Sun Private Tranella 1946 O.S.S. Bernay 1946 Somewhere in the Night Marine Desk Sergeant Uncredited 1946 Till the End of Time The Boy From Idaho 1946 Blue Skies Shirtless Soldier at White Christmas Camp Show Uncredited 1947 Backlash Detective Sergeant Tom Carey 1947 The Guilt of Janet Ames Joe Burton 1947 Seven Were Saved Sergeant Uncredited 1947 Crossfire Bill 1948 The Arizona Ranger Ranger Gills 1948 Race Street Sam 1948 Smart Girls Don't Talk Cliff Saunders 1949 Shockproof "Kid", Knife Wielder Uncredited 1949 Homicide Nick Foster 1949 City Across the River Gaggsy Steens 1949 Streets of San Francisco Henry Walker 1949 The Window Drunken Seaman Uncredited 1949 Omoo-Omoo, the Shark God Mate Richards 1949 Scene of the Crime Turk Kingby 1949 Post Office Investigator Louis Reese 1949 Angels in Disguise Miami 1950 Destination Big House Joe Bruno 1950 State Penitentiary Mike Gavin 1950 Triple Trouble Skeets O'Neil 1950 Rookie Fireman Al Greco 1951 Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison Tom McCain Uncredited 1951 Ace in the Hole Leo Minosa 1952 Okinawa Delgado 1952 Hoodlum Empire Silky Tanner 1952 Breakdown Harry "Punchy" Adams 1952 Woman in the Dark Gino Morello 1953 Jalopy Tony Lango 1953 The Juggler Police Officer Kogan 1953 Run for the Hills "Happy" Day 1953 Murder Without Tears "Candy Markwell" Martola 1953 Act of Love Pete 1955 The Big Tip Off Hood #1 1955 The Shrike Gregory, Male Nurse 1955 Spy Chasers Boris 1955 Wiretapper Romato 1956 He Laughed Last Big Dan's Hood Uncredited 1956 The Man Is Armed Lew "Mitch" Mitchell 1956 The Great Man Cab Driver Uncredited 1957 Spring Reunion Jim Uncredited 1957 Monkey on My Back Art Winch 1957 Beginning of the End Corporal Mathias 1957 The Midnight Story Pool Player Uncredited 1957 The Walter Winchell File Keeger Episode: The Decision 1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mike Season 4 Episode 3: "The Jokester" 1958 It! The Terror from Beyond Space Bob Finelli 1960 I'll Give My Life Corporal Burr 1960 Ocean's 11 "Curly" Steffans 1961 Ada Alabama Man Uncredited 1964 Mike and the Mermaid 1965 A Swingin' Summer Tom 1965 Winter A-Go-Go Director 1969 Impasse Owner / Bartender of Ugly American Uncredited 1972 Bloody Trail 1983 Disconnected Store Customer (final film role)