{{short description|American actor}} {{Infobox person |name = Ben Lessy |image = Benlessey.jpg |caption = In ''Second Chorus'' (1940) |birth_name = Benjamin Lesinsky |birth_date = {{birth date|1902|04|29}} |birth_place = New York City, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1992|10|30|1902|04|29|mf=y}} |death_place = Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |resting_place = Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California, U.S. |years_active = 1933–1981 |occupation = Actor; Comedian |spouse = }} '''Ben Lessy''' (born '''Benjamin Lesinsky''';<ref name="wilson">Wilson, Scott (2016). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=7-DgDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA439 Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.]''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 439. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-7992-4}}.</ref> April 29, 1902<ref name="hess">Hess, Earl J.; Dabholcar, Pratibha, A. (2014). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Pn3EAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA215 The Cinematic Voyage of THE PIRATE: Kelly, Garland, and Minnelli at Work]''. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. p. 215. {{ISBN|978-0-8262-2022-6}}.</ref><ref name="wilson"/> – October 30, 1992<ref name="hess"/><ref name="wilson"/>) was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor.
==Early life== He was born in New York City.<ref name="wilson"/>
==Career== Lessy was known for a nightclub act done with Patti Moore,<ref name="moore & lessy">[https://www.newspapers.com/image/745931760/?clipping_id=158586277 "Patti Moore, Ben Lessy Team Started in Early 40's"]. ''The Victorville Press''. October 3, 1957. p. 14. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> the long-time wife of his best friend and agent, Sammy Lewis.{{Citation needed |date=November 2024}} They were regulars at Los Angeles nightclubs Slapsy Maxie's and Billy Gray's Band Box.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/101058912/?clipping_id=158634213 "Night Club Notes"]. ''The Cincinnati Enquirer''. December 4, 1955. Sec. 3, p. 9. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref><ref>The Rounder (May 30, 1953). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-mirror/158630805/ "Nite-Life; The Wild Goose Hangs High"]. p. 15. Retrieved November 7, 2024. See also: *The Rounder (December 24, 1953). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-mirror/158631065/ "Nite-Life; Holiday Shows Are Tops"]. p. 11. *[https://www.newspapers.com/image/693838707/?clipping_id=158631293 "Comedians Patti Moore and Ben Lessy"]. ''Los Angeles Mirror''. January 23, 1954 </ref><ref>Kearns, Audrey (August 21, 1958). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news/158630957/ "Nikabob Offers Prizes for Recipes; Kirkwood's Center Opens Sunday; Spotlighted"]. ''Los Angeles Evening Citizen News''. p. 17. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> Lessy appeared in over 50 films and television episodes between 1938 and 1981. His first film role was in the two reel ''Cafe Rendezvous'' (1938) and his career ended with the Billy Wilder film ''Buddy Buddy'' (1981).<ref name="hess"/> Other credits include ''Music for Millions'' (1944), ''Dark Delusion'' (1947) (the last entry in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Dr. Kildare series),''The Pirate'' (1948) (Lessy's 9th, and final film during his seven years at MGM{{Citation needed |date=November 2024}}),''The Jackie Robinson Story'' (1950), ''Just for You'' (1952), ''Gypsy'' (1962), ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' (1963), ''Pajama Party'' (1964), ''That Darn Cat!'' (1965), and ''The Love Machine'' (1971).<ref>[https://catalog.afi.com/Person/18807-Ben-Lessy "Ben Lessy Filmography"]. American Film Institute. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> On the small screen, he was frequently seen during the 1950s on the popular sitcom ''Make Room for Daddy'', whose creator/star Danny Thomas dubbed Lessy "one of the greatest living generators of laughter".<ref name="moore & lessy"/> Lessy also did a number of variety and talk show spots alongside nightclub partner Moore; these include Ed Sullivan's ''Toast of the Town'',<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/127790811/?clipping_id=158591074 "Today's Best TV Programs Previewed"]. ''The Des Moines Register''. April 25, 1954. p. 21-M. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The Frank Sinatra Show'',<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/158590796/ "Highlights: Television Today"]. ''The Washington Evening Star''. January 29, 1952. p. B-17. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The NBC Comedy Hour'',<ref>Bird, Bill (November 16, 1952). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pasadena-independent/158590740/ "Bill Bird Reporting (Continued from page twelve)"]. ''The Pasadena Independent''. p. S-14. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref><ref>Ames, Walter (May 27, 1956). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/158590207/ "This Week's TV: GOP and Democrat Chiefs to Discuss Favorite Subjects"]. ''Los Angeles Times''. pt. IV, p. 11. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''Juke Box Jury'',<ref>Rich, Allen (May 23, 1953). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-times/158590459/ "Listening Post and TV Review"]. ''San Fernando Valley Times''. p. 24. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The John Conte Show'',<ref>Vernon, Terry (June 18, 1956). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent/158590365/ "TV Tele-Views"]. ''The Long Beach Independent''. p. 30. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The Woody Woodbury Show'',<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant/158590079/ "TV Previews"]. ''The Hartford Courant''. October 15, 1968. p. 33. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> and ''Merv Griffin''.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent/158596972/ "Television Log"]. ''The Long Beach Independent''. March 29, 1971. p. C-18. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> Other TV credits include ''Telephone Time'' (1957),<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee/158603874/ "TV Key Preview"]. ''The Fresno Bee''. November 17, 1957. p. 7-A. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The Jack Benny Program'' (1959–64: 3 episodes),<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-star/158603514/ "Watch for These"]. ''Norfolk Ledger-Star''. November 2, 1963. p. TV-8. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal/158604951/ "TV's Best Bets for Today"]. ''The Wisconsin State Journal''. January 14, 1964. Sec. II, p. 9. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The Cara Williams Show'' (1964–1965),<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/158605929/ "Wednesday, Nov. 11"]. ''The Cincinnati Post''. November 7, 1964. p. TV-8. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/158606430/ "Wednesday, March 24, 1965"]. ''Chicago Tribune''. March 20, 1965. p. TV-13. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The Gypsy Rose Lee Show'',<ref>[https://archive.org/details/vintage-tv-guides/TV%20Guide%201967-02-11%20Northern%20CA/page/n55/mode/2up?q=%22Ben+Lessy%22 "Monday, February 15, 1967; Afternoon"]. ''TV Guide''. February 11—17, 1965. p. A-36. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''That Girl'' (1966), ''Petticoat Junction'' (1967),<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal/158597458/ "Hotel Turned Into Hoosegow"]. ''The Ithaca Journal''. February 11, 1967. p. S-13. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> ''The New Andy Griffith Show'' (1971),<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen/158607169/ "Tucson Television"]. ''Tucson Daily Citizen''. January 15, 1971. p. 26. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref> and ''McMillan & Wife'' (1976).<ref> USA Sitcoms ComedyZZ (May 10, 2024). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaHWakxRKfs&t=5577s "McMillan and Wife | Season 05 | Episode 06 - Greed"]. YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2024.</ref>
==Death== Lessy died on October 30, 1992, aged 90 from natural causes. His remains are interred at Sholom Memorial Park in Sylmar, California.<ref name="wilson"/>
==Filmography== {{div col|colwidth=26em}} *''Second Chorus'' (1940) - Shaw's Second Manager (uncredited) *''Woman of the Year'' (1942) - Punchy (uncredited) *''For Me and My Gal'' (1942) - Dough Boy Dan (uncredited) *''Youth on Parade'' (1942) - Piano Player (uncredited) *''Thousands Cheer'' (1943) - Silent Monk *''Music for Millions'' (1944) - Kickebush *''Her Highness and the Bellboy'' (1945) - Himself *''Two Sisters from Boston'' (1946) - Rogetto - Olstrom's Valet (uncredited) *''Dark Delusion'' (1947) - Napoleon *''The Pirate'' (1948) - Gumbo *''The Jackie Robinson Story'' (1950) - Shorty *''Purple Heart Diary'' (1951) - Himself *''Just for You'' (1952) - Georgie Polansky *''Gypsy'' (1962) - Mervyn Goldstone *''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' (1963) - George, the steward (uncredited) *''I'd Rather Be Rich'' (1964) - 1st Hunter (uncredited) *''Pajama Party'' (1964) - Fleegle *''That Funny Feeling'' (1965) - Charlie - Bartender *''That Darn Cat!'' (1965) - Drive-In Concessionaire (uncredited) *''The Last of the Secret Agents?'' (1966) - Harry *''The Fastest Guitar Alive'' (1967) - Indian Chief *''The Love Machine'' (1971) - Kenny Ditto *''Buddy Buddy'' (1981) - Barney Pritzig (final film role) {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0504398|Ben Lessy}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lessy, Ben}} Category:1902 births Category:1992 deaths Category:Male actors from New York City Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male comedians Category:20th-century American male actors Category:Comedians from New York City Category:20th-century American comedians