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.
Filmography
Cast Credits
Mark, I Love You
Character: Mr. Powell
MOVIE • 1980
Ghost Story
Character: Mr. Parker
TV • 1972
The Rookies
Character:
TV • 1972
Move
Character: Prescott
MOVIE • 1970
Impasse
Character:
MOVIE • 1969
Hawaii Five-O
Character: Sol the Bartender
TV • 1968
Ironside
Character:
TV • 1967
Tallahassee 7000
Character:
TV • 1961
Miami Undercover
Character:
TV • 1961
The Roaring 20's
Character:
TV • 1960
Surfside 6
Character:
TV • 1960
Surfside 6
Character: Harry Noonan
TV • 1960
Ocean's Eleven
Character: "Curly" Steffans
MOVIE • 1960
I'll Give My Life
Character:
MOVIE • 1960
Hawaiian Eye
Character: Eddie Coyle
TV • 1959
Hawaiian Eye
Character: Mike Armin
TV • 1959
Man with a Camera
Character:
TV • 1958
Peter Gunn
Character:
TV • 1958
It! The Terror from Beyond Space
Character: Bob Finelli
MOVIE • 1958
Josette of New Orleans
Character: Vic
MOVIE • 1958
Crew
Crew Credits
Doctors' Private Lives
Role: Director
TV • 1979
Man from Atlantis
Role: Director
TV • 1977
The Oregon Trail
Role: Director
TV • 1977
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
Role: Director
TV • 1977
Code R
Role: Director
TV • 1977
Quincy, M.E.
Role: Director
TV • 1976
Charlie's Angels
Role: Director
TV • 1976
Matt Helm
Role: Director
TV • 1975
Joe Forrester
Role: Director
TV • 1975
S.W.A.T.
Role: Director
TV • 1975
Police Woman
Role: Director
TV • 1974
Born Free
Role: Director
TV • 1974
Big John Morrison
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1973
Police Story
Role: Director
TV • 1973
The Rookies
Role: Director
TV • 1972
The Partners
Role: Director
TV • 1971
Alias Smith and Jones
Role: Director
TV • 1971
Night Gallery
Role: Director
TV • 1970
Dan August
Role: Director
TV • 1970
Medical Center
Role: Director
TV • 1969