William Bendix - Definition and Overview

William Bendix (January 14, 1906 - December 14, 1964) was an American film actor.

Bendix was born in New York City, and made his film debut in 1942, having worked as a grocer until the Great Depression. He played in supporting roles in dozens of Hollywood films, usually as a soldier, gangster or detective. Probably his best-known role was as Sir Sagramore opposite Bing Crosby in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949), in which he took part in the famous trio, "Busy Doing Nothing". On television he played Chester Riley in "The Life of Riley." Bendix died in Los Angeles of pneumonia.