Paul Benedict
American actor known for The Jeffersons and Sesame Street roles.
Filippino Lippi · Public domain
Paul Bernard Benedict (September 17, 1938 – December 1, 2008) was an American actor whose television and film career began in 1965. He is best remembered for two recurring television roles: the English translator Harry Bentley, the Jeffersons’ neighbor on the CBS sitcom, and the Number Painter on PBS’s *Sesame Street*.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, to a journalist mother and a doctor father, Benedict grew up in Massachusetts. He graduated from Boston College High School and Suffolk University, then served in the U.S. Marine Corps. His distinctive oversized jaw and nose were partly due to acromegaly, first diagnosed by an endocrinologist who spotted him in a stage production.
After college, Benedict acted with the Theatre Company of Boston alongside Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Al Pacino. Norman Lear cast him as a Zen Buddhist in the 1971 film *Cold Turkey*, beginning a long collaboration. Benedict played Harry Bentley on *The Jeffersons* from its 1975 debut through its 1985 finale, though his appearances were limited in later seasons. The character was a polite English bachelor who worked as a U.N. translator and lived next door; a running joke involved his dull stories about England. On *Sesame Street*, he was the recurring Number Painter.
His film roles included the father of a runaway in Miloš Forman’s *Taking Off* (1971), a food vendor in *They Might Be Giants* (1971), Reverend Lindquist in *Jeremiah Johnson* (1972), Plunkett in *The Front Page* (1974), and a slave trader in *Mandingo* (1975). He played a stage director in *The Goodbye Girl* (1977), a butler in *The Man With Two Brains* (1983), and a hotel clerk in *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984). Later films included *Arthur 2: On the Rocks* (1988) as a butler, *Cocktail* (1988) as a professor, *The Freshman* (1990) as a film school professor, and *The Addams Family* (1991) as a judge. He also appeared in the mockumentary *Waiting for Guffman* (1996), an episode of *Between the Lions*, and *A Different World*. His final television role was a 2002 guest spot on *The Drew Carey Show*.
Benedict was an accomplished stage actor. He performed on Broadway in *Hughie* (1996) with Al Pacino and in *The Music Man* (2000–2001). Off-Broadway, he appeared in *It’s Only a Play* (1986) and directed *Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune* and *The Kathy and Mo Show*, which won an Obie.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Paul Bernard Benedict
- Birth Place
- Silver City, New Mexico, U.S.
- Birth Date
- 1938-09-17
- Death Date
- 2008-12-01
- Death Place
- Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Education
- Suffolk University
- Known For
- The Jeffersons / Sesame Street
- Occupation
- Actor
- Years Active
- 1965–2008
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Paul Benedict was born in Silver City, New Mexico, the son of Alma Marie (née Loring), a journalist, and Mitchell M. Benedict, a doctor. He grew up in Massachusetts, where he graduated from Boston College High School and Suffolk University, and served a tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. His oversized jaw and large nose were partially attributed to acromegaly; he was first diagnosed with it by an endocrinologist who saw Benedict in a theatrical production.
Benedict began acting at the Theatre Company of Boston and performed with Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino. Norman Lear cast him as a Zen Buddhist in Cold Turkey, completed in late fall 1969 but not released until February 1971. He was best known for his role as Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons, playing the well-mannered English bachelor from the series' inception in 1975 until its end in 1985. He also played the recurring character The Number Painter on Sesame Street.
His film roles included the father of a fugitive teen runaway in Taking Off (1971), Reverend Lindquist in Jeremiah Johnson (1972), a slave trader in Mandingo (1975), and the patiently eccentric butler in The Man With Two Brains (1983). He appeared in the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984) as Tucker Smitty Brown, and later in Waiting for Guffman (1996). His final television appearance was a guest spot on The Drew Carey Show in 2002.
Reader's Guide
Paul Benedict's significance lies in his distinctive character work across television and film, particularly his long-running role as Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons, which made him a familiar face to millions of viewers. His portrayal of the polite, slightly eccentric English translator who lived next door to the Jeffersons provided a recurring counterpoint to George Jefferson's gruffness, and the character's gradual friendship with George became a subtle arc over the series' run. On Sesame Street, his Number Painter brought a gentle, whimsical presence to children's television.
Benedict's film career included memorable supporting roles in notable films of the 1970s and 1980s, often playing authority figures or eccentric characters. His work in mockumentaries like This Is Spinal Tap and Waiting for Guffman showcased his comedic timing. Beyond screen work, he was an accomplished theater actor, appearing on Broadway multiple times, including in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie with Al Pacino, and in The Music Man. He also directed Off-Broadway, including the original production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune. His legacy is that of a versatile character actor who brought warmth and quirkiness to a wide range of roles.
Did You Know?
- Benedict's oversized jaw and large nose were partially attributed to acromegaly, first diagnosed by an endocrinologist who saw him in a theatrical production.
- He was awarded a posthumous Elliot Norton Award by the Boston Theater Critics Association in 2009.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paul Benedict?
Paul Benedict was an American actor born in Silver City, New Mexico in 1938, whose on-screen career ran from 1965 until his death in 2008. He is best remembered for two beloved recurring television characters: the Jeffersons' English-translator neighbor Harry Bentley and the Number Painter on Sesame Street.
What roles is Paul Benedict most famous for?
He is widely recognized for playing Harry Bentley, the Jefferson family's British translator and neighbor, on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. His other iconic role was the Number Painter on PBS's Sesame Street, where he appeared in recurring segments teaching numbers to young viewers.
How did Paul Benedict's appearance relate to acromegaly?
Benedict had a notably enlarged jaw and nose, features that were partly the result of acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone. Rather than hiding his distinctive look, he leaned into it, which helped make his characters instantly memorable to audiences.
What was Paul Benedict's background before he started acting?
Before his screen career, Benedict grew up in Massachusetts, attended Boston College High School and Suffolk University, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. His parents were a journalist and a physician, and he was born in Silver City, New Mexico in 1938.
When and where did Paul Benedict die?
Paul Benedict passed away on December 1, 2008, in Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. He was 70 years old at the time of his death.
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