Benny Rubin: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Slimkim (talk | contribs)
51 edits
→‎Radio and television: Added a show he acted in.
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
→‎top: birth name per 1910 census
 
(46 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Actor and comedian}}
{{Short description|American actor and comedian (1899–1986)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Benny Rubin
| name = Benny Rubin
| image = Stooge027 bennyrubin.jpg
| image = Naughty_Baby_lobby_card_2.jpg
| caption = Rubin, circa 1920s
| caption = Rubin (center-right) in ''[[Naughty Baby (film)|Naughty Baby]]'' (1928)
| birth_name =
| birth_name = Benjamin Rubin
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1899|2|2}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1899|2|2}}
| birth_place = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|7|15|1899|2|2}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|7|15|1899|2|2}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]]
| resting_place = Hillside Memorial Park
| years_active = 1928–1981
| years_active = 1928–1981
| occupation = [[Actor]], [[Comedian]]
| occupation = Actor, comedian
| academyawards =
| spouse = Mary Bolt (1927–1934)
| goldenglobeawards =
| baftaawards =
| emmyawards =
| spouse = Mary Bolt (1927–1986)
| awards =
| awards =
| Partial Filmography = Love in the Rough 1929
}}
}}


'''Benny Rubin''' (February 2, 1899 – July 15, 1986) was an American comedian and film actor. Born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]], Rubin made more than 200 radio, film and television appearances over a span of 50 years.
'''Benjamin Rubin''' (February 2, 1899 – July 15, 1986) was an American comedian and film actor. Born in [[Boston]], Rubin made more than 200 radio, film and television appearances over a span of 50 years.


==Career==
==Radio and television==
In 1929, Rubin went to Hollywood, where he began working as a supporting actor in films and began developing his ethnic characters. His film debut was in ''Naughty Baby''.<ref name=obit/>
⚫
Rubin was known for his ability to imitate many dialects, as was evident when he was a panelist on the joke-telling radio series, ''[[Stop Me If You've Heard This One]]''. Benny Rubin also provided the voice for [[Joe Jitsu]] throughout the television cartoon series, ''[[The Dick Tracy Show]]''. In 1963, he played the second Indian Chief on an episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”


Rubin was known for his ability to imitate many dialects. He performed in vaudeville with routines that included "English That's Different".<ref>{{cite news |title=Benny Rubin at Loew's State |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/100695055 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 27, 1933 |page=11 |id={{ProQuest|100695055}} |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref>
⚫
On radio, he played Professor Kropotkin on ''[[My Friend Irma (radio-TV)|My Friend Irma]]'',{{r|rp|page1=245}} was a co-host of ''Only Yesterday'',{{r|rp|page1=261}} and was a member of the cast of ''[[The Bickersons]]''.<ref name=rp>Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4513-4}}. P. 37.</ref>


⚫
Rubin demonstrated his dialect talents as a panelist on the joke-telling radio series, ''[[Stop Me If You've Heard This One]]''. He also provided the voice for [[Joe Jitsu (Dick Tracy)|Joe Jitsu]] throughout the television cartoon series, ''[[The Dick Tracy Show]]''. In 1963, he played the second Indian Chief on an episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
⚫
He made frequent guest appearances on both the radio and television versions of ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]''. A popular bit included Jack asking a series of questions that Rubin would answer with an ever-increasing irritated, "I don't know!" followed by the punchline. In later years he made many bit appearances, sometimes uncredited, for instance in a number of [[Jerry Lewis]] features. He also guest appeared in an episode on the television series ''[[The Joey Bishop Show (sitcom)|The Joey Bishop Show]]'' as the hypnotist, Max Collins.

⚫
On radio, he played Professor Kropotkin on ''[[My Friend Irma (radio-TV)|My Friend Irma]]'',{{r|rp|page1=245}} was a co-host of ''Only Yesterday'',{{r|rp|page1=261}} and was a member of the cast of ''[[The Bickersons]]''.<ref name=rp>{{cite book| last=Terrace| first=Vincent| year=2015| title=Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows| publisher=McFarland & Company| isbn=978-0-7864-4513-4| page=37| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EhOBCgAAQBAJ&q=rubin| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

⚫
He made frequent guest appearances on both the radio and television versions of ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]''. A popular bit included Jack asking a series of questions that Rubin would answer with an increasingly irritated, "I don't know!" followed by the punchline. In later years he made many bit appearances, sometimes uncredited, for instance in a number of [[Jerry Lewis]] features. He also guest appeared in an episode on the television series ''[[The Joey Bishop Show (sitcom)|The Joey Bishop Show]]'' as the hypnotist, Max Collins.


[[File:Feetball by Benny Rubin Brunwick 4606.jpg|thumb|Phonograph record of "Feetball" [[monologue]] on [[Brunswick Records]] ([[Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company]])]]
[[File:Feetball by Benny Rubin Brunwick 4606.jpg|thumb|Phonograph record of "Feetball" [[monologue]] on [[Brunswick Records]] ([[Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company]])]]
Line 44: Line 43:
The ''Stop Me If You've Heard This One'' Permabook featured a two-page foreword by Tinney, a one-page introduction by Bower, 66 pages of jokes by Bower, 85 pages of jokes by Tinney and 82 pages of jokes by Lehr. Under the heading, "P.S.", Rubin only had space for four jokes on two pages, as explained, "Benny Rubin was added to our show just before press time."
The ''Stop Me If You've Heard This One'' Permabook featured a two-page foreword by Tinney, a one-page introduction by Bower, 66 pages of jokes by Bower, 85 pages of jokes by Tinney and 82 pages of jokes by Lehr. Under the heading, "P.S.", Rubin only had space for four jokes on two pages, as explained, "Benny Rubin was added to our show just before press time."


In 1972, Rubin published his autobiography, ''Come Backstage with Me''.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Come-Backstage-Me-Benny-Rubin/dp/0879720409/ Rubin, Benny. ''Come Backstage with Me''. Bowling Green University Popular Press, 1972.]</ref>
In 1972, Rubin published his autobiography, ''Come Backstage with Me''.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Xk4AAAAIAAJ&q=Come+Backstage+With+Me| last=Rubin| first=Benny| title=Come Backstage with Me| publisher=Bowling Green University Popular Press| year=1972| isbn=978-0-8797-2040-7}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On March 26, 1927, Rubin married actress Mary O'Brien. They had a daughter and were divorced in 1934.<ref>{{cite news |title=Benny Rubin divorced |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/101171396 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=April 24, 1934 |page=27 |id={{ProQuest|101171396}} |via=ProQuest |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Rubin was the one disliked by [[The Three Stooges]] in the filming of ''[[Income Tax Sappy]]'' (1954), where he didn't like working with them. {{Incomprehensible inline|date=November 2021|reason=It likely means he didn’t like working with 3 Stooges, but the wording is unreadable}}

Rubin appeared in a total of six Three Stooges short subjects. Since three of them occurred after the one mentioned above, he seems to have been able to put aside any real dislike he had for the team. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://threestooges.net/cast/actor/257 | title=Cast Member : Benny Rubin }}</ref>


==Death==
Rubin died of a [[heart attack]] in [[Los Angeles, California]] on July 15, 1986.
Rubin died of a [[heart attack]] at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in [[Los Angeles]] on July 15, 1986.<ref name="obit">{{cite news |title=Benny Rubin, an Actor And Vaudeville Comic |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/111099192 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=July 17, 1986 |page=D 21 |id={{ProQuest|111099192}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref> He is interred in [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]] in [[Culver City, California|Culver City]].<ref>{{cite book| title=Distinguished Residents of Hillside Memorial Park| page=80| year=2011| url=https://www.hillsidememorial.org/images/DRbook2011-1.7.16.pdf| publisher=Hillside Memorial Park}}</ref>


== Partial filmography ==
== Selected filmography ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Naughty Baby (film)|Naughty Baby]]'' (1928)
* ''[[Naughty Baby (film)|Naughty Baby]]'' (1928) - Benny Cohen
* ''[[Marianne (1929 musical film)]]'' (1929)
* ''[[Sunny Skies (film)|Sunny Skies]]'' (1930)
* ''[[Sunny Skies (film)|Sunny Skies]]'' (1930)
*''[[Crazy House (1930 film)]]''
* ''Crazy House'' (1930)
* ''[[Hot Curves]]'' (1930)
* ''[[Hot Curves]]'' (1930)
* ''[[Love in the Rough]]'' (1930)
* ''[[Leathernecking]]'' (1930)
* ''[[Leathernecking]]'' (1930)
* ''[[Julius Sizzer]]'' (1931) short film
* ''[[The March of Time (film)|The March of Time]]'' (1930) - Himself
* ''[[Dumb Dicks]]'' (1932) short film
* ''[[Julius Sizzer]]'' (1931, Short)
* ''[[Guests Wanted]]'' (1932) short film
* ''[[Dumb Dicks]]'' (1932, Short)
* ''[[Guests Wanted]]'' (1932, Short)
* ''[[The Girl Friend (film)|The Girl Friend]]'' (1935)
* ''[[The Girl Friend (film)|The Girl Friend]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Sunday Night at the Trocadero]]'' (1937) short film
* ''[[Sunday Night at the Trocadero]]'' (1937, Short)
* ''[[The Headleys at Home]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Fighting Mad (1939 film)|Fighting Mad]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Fighting Mad (1939 film)|Fighting Mad]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Zis Boom Bah]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Zis Boom Bah]]'' (1941)
Line 70: Line 81:
* ''[[The Errand Boy]]'' (1961)
* ''[[The Errand Boy]]'' (1961)
* ''[[Pocketful of Miracles]]'' (1961)
* ''[[Pocketful of Miracles]]'' (1961)
* ''[[Woody Woodpecker filmography|Science Friction]]'' (1963)
* ''[[A House Is Not a Home (film)|A House Is Not a Home]]'' (1964)
* ''[[A House Is Not a Home (film)|A House Is Not a Home]]'' (1964)
* ''[[That Funny Feeling]]'' (1965)
* ''[[That Funny Feeling]]'' (1965)
Line 78: Line 90:
* ''[[The Shaggy D.A.]]'' (1976)
* ''[[The Shaggy D.A.]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Coma (1978 film)|Coma]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Coma (1978 film)|Coma]]'' (1978)
* ''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]'' (posthumously released in 2018; scenes filmed in 1974–75)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


Line 104: Line 116:
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish American comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Jewish male comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Comedians from Boston]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]

Latest revision as of 19:10, 29 March 2024

Benny Rubin
Rubin (center-right) in Naughty Baby (1928)
Born
Benjamin Rubin

(1899-02-02)February 2, 1899
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, 1986(1986-07-15) (aged 87)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1928–1981
SpouseMary Bolt (1927–1934)

Benjamin Rubin (February 2, 1899 – July 15, 1986) was an American comedian and film actor. Born in Boston, Rubin made more than 200 radio, film and television appearances over a span of 50 years.

Career[edit]

In 1929, Rubin went to Hollywood, where he began working as a supporting actor in films and began developing his ethnic characters. His film debut was in Naughty Baby.[1]

Rubin was known for his ability to imitate many dialects. He performed in vaudeville with routines that included "English That's Different".[2]

Rubin demonstrated his dialect talents as a panelist on the joke-telling radio series, Stop Me If You've Heard This One. He also provided the voice for Joe Jitsu throughout the television cartoon series, The Dick Tracy Show. In 1963, he played the second Indian Chief on an episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

On radio, he played Professor Kropotkin on My Friend Irma,[3]: 245  was a co-host of Only Yesterday,[3]: 261  and was a member of the cast of The Bickersons.[3]

He made frequent guest appearances on both the radio and television versions of The Jack Benny Program. A popular bit included Jack asking a series of questions that Rubin would answer with an increasingly irritated, "I don't know!" followed by the punchline. In later years he made many bit appearances, sometimes uncredited, for instance in a number of Jerry Lewis features. He also guest appeared in an episode on the television series The Joey Bishop Show as the hypnotist, Max Collins.

Phonograph record of "Feetball" monologue on Brunswick Records (Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company)

According to Jack Benny's autobiography, Sunday Nights at Seven, he once cast Rubin to portray a Pullman porter. Although Rubin could do a convincing African-American dialect, the producer insisted he looked "too Jewish" for the part. As a result, Benny ended up giving the part to Eddie Anderson, and the porter character soon evolved into the famous "Rochester Van Jones".

He had a memorable turn in the Gunsmoke episode "Dr Herman Schultz M.D.", in which he played a physician who used his mesmeric skills to steal money.

He appeared in a 1961 episode of The Tab Hunter Show.

In 1968, he appeared on Petticoat Junction as Gus Huffle, owner of the Pixley movie theater, in the episode "Wings". (The episode title is in direct reference to the 1927 silent movie Wings starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen, who also appear in the episode as themselves.) Then, in 1969, he appeared again (credited as the "man patient") in the episode: "The Ballard of the Everyday Housewife".

Books[edit]

Jokes by Lew Lehr, Cal Tinney, Roger Bower and Rubin were collected in Stop Me If You've Heard This One (1949), a Permabook published by Garden City Publishing. Permabooks were designed with an unusual format of a paperback bound with stiff cardboard covers (with a "special wear-resistant finish") to simulate the look and feel of a hardcover book, and the company had previously published Best Jokes for All Occasions, edited by Powers Moulton.

The Stop Me If You've Heard This One Permabook featured a two-page foreword by Tinney, a one-page introduction by Bower, 66 pages of jokes by Bower, 85 pages of jokes by Tinney and 82 pages of jokes by Lehr. Under the heading, "P.S.", Rubin only had space for four jokes on two pages, as explained, "Benny Rubin was added to our show just before press time."

In 1972, Rubin published his autobiography, Come Backstage with Me.[4]

Personal life[edit]

On March 26, 1927, Rubin married actress Mary O'Brien. They had a daughter and were divorced in 1934.[5]

Rubin was the one disliked by The Three Stooges in the filming of Income Tax Sappy (1954), where he didn't like working with them. [incomprehensible]

Rubin appeared in a total of six Three Stooges short subjects. Since three of them occurred after the one mentioned above, he seems to have been able to put aside any real dislike he had for the team. [6]

Death[edit]

Rubin died of a heart attack at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on July 15, 1986.[1] He is interred in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City.[7]

Selected filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Benny Rubin, an Actor And Vaudeville Comic". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 17, 1986. p. D 21. ProQuest 111099192. Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ "Benny Rubin at Loew's State". The New York Times. May 27, 1933. p. 11. ProQuest 100695055. Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (2015). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  4. ^ Rubin, Benny (1972). Come Backstage with Me. Bowling Green University Popular Press. ISBN 978-0-8797-2040-7.
  5. ^ "Benny Rubin divorced". The New York Times. April 24, 1934. p. 27. ProQuest 101171396. Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "Cast Member : Benny Rubin".
  7. ^ Distinguished Residents of Hillside Memorial Park (PDF). Hillside Memorial Park. 2011. p. 80.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benny Rubin.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benny_Rubin&oldid=1216211672"