William Bendix

William Bendix
Bendix in 1960
Born	(1906-01-14)January 14, 1906 New York City, U.S
Died	December 14, 1964(1964-12-14) (aged 58) Los Angeles, California, U.S
Resting place	San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles
Occupation(s)	Film, radio, television actor
Years active	1936–1964
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Theresa Stefanotti ​ ​ (m. 1927⁠–⁠1964)​
Children	2

William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, who typically played rough, blue-collar characters. He is best remembered for his role in Wake Island, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also portrayed the clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker Chester A. Riley in both the radio and television versions of The Life of Riley, and baseball player Babe Ruth in The Babe Ruth Story. Bendix was a frequent co-star of Alan Ladd, the two appearing in ten films together; both actors coincidentally died in 1964.