Paul Benedict - Actor Profile

Paul Benedict

Acting
Freshness: Jan 13, 2026
40Total Films
7.5 Highest Rated
Born: Sep 17, 1938
Birth Place: Silver City, New Mexico, United States

About Paul Benedict

Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 – December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and movies beginning in the 1960s. He was known for his roles as The Number Painter on the popular PBS children's show Sesame Street, and as the quirky English neighbor "Harry Bentley" on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. Often mistakenly credited as Charlie Bucket's school teacher (the uncredited role of Mr. Turkentine), in the cult classic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, who was actually played by David Battley. Description above from the Wikipedia article Paul Benedict, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Paul Benedict reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 40 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Comedy

The majority of Paul Benedict's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 38% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Paul Benedict remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Devil's Advocate, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Paul Benedict Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Paul Benedict's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Paul Benedict.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2008 Side by Each - Flop Similar →
2004 After the Sunset Night Shift Guard Average Similar →
2003 A Mighty Wind Martin Berg Hit Similar →
2000 Isn't She Great Prof. Brainiac Flop Similar →
1999 A Fish in the Bathtub Milo Hit Similar →
1997 The Devil's Advocate Walter Krasna (uncredited) Super Hit Similar →
1996 Waiting for Guffman Not Guffman Hit Similar →
1995 Guns & Lipstick Mickey Flop Similar →
1994 Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman Dr. Victor Loeb Flop Similar →
1993 Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's Malcolm Maltved Flop Similar →
1991 The Addams Family Judge Womack Hit Similar →
1990 Sibling Rivalry Dr. Plotner Flop Similar →
1990 The Freshman Arthur Fleeber Average Similar →
1989 Babycakes Magleby Hit Similar →
1988 The Chair Warden Edward Dwyer Flop Similar →
1988 Cocktail Finance Teacher Average Similar →
1988 Arthur 2: On the Rocks Fairchild Flop Similar →
1984 This Is Spinal Tap Tucker 'Smitty' Brown Hit Similar →
1984 The Lonely Guy Dr. Zook (voice) (uncredited) Average Similar →
1983 The Man with Two Brains Butler Average Similar →
1982 The Electric Grandmother Guido Fantoccini Hit Similar →
1981 Spinal Tap: The Final Tour Hotel Clerk Average Similar →
1980 Desperate Moves Cosmo Flop Similar →
1979 Billy in the Lowlands - Flop Similar →
1977 The Goodbye Girl Mark Hit Similar →
1977 The Making of 'The Goodbye Girl' Self Flop Similar →
1976 Bad Dog Owner Flop Similar →
1975 Smile Orren Brooks Average Similar →
1975 Mandingo Brownlee Hit Similar →
1975 Hustling Lester Traube Average Similar →
1974 The Front Page Plunkett Hit Similar →
1972 Up the Sandbox Dr. Beineke Average Similar →
1972 Jeremiah Johnson Reverend Lindquist Hit Similar →
1972 Deadhead Miles Hitchhiker Average Similar →
1971 The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Shots O'Toole Flop Similar →
1971 They Might Be Giants Chestnut Man Hit Similar →
1971 Taking Off Ben Lockston Hit Similar →
1971 Cold Turkey Zen Buddhist Average Similar →
1968 The Virgin President Rutherford Melon Hit Similar →
1965 The Double-Barrelled Detective Story Wells Fargo Ferguson Flop Similar →

Paul Benedict - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Paul Benedict?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Paul Benedict is "The Devil's Advocate" with a rating of 7.5/10.

How many movies has Paul Benedict acted in?

Paul Benedict has been featured in at least 40 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Paul Benedict?

Other notable films include "This Is Spinal Tap", "Jeremiah Johnson", and "The Front Page".