Born: May 19, 1906 – Died: February 24, 2007
Bruce Bennett, born as Herman Brix in Tacoma, Washington, embarked on a remarkable journey from Olympic athlete to Hollywood stardom. His parents, notably his father Anton Heinrich Brix, instilled in him a drive that led him to a silver medal in shot put at the 1928 Olympics. This athleticism paved the way for his initial foray into the film industry.
Early Life and Career
Bennett's early life was marked by his athletic prowess, leading him to the 1928 Olympics. He initially pursued a career in sports before a shoulder injury rerouted his path to acting. He made his professional debut in the film industry with a role in "The New Adventures of Tarzan" (1935), where he portrayed Tarzan. This role showcased his unique blend of physicality and charisma, making him a natural fit for action-packed roles.
His first major success came with the character of Cody in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948), a role that solidified his status in Hollywood. This film, along with others like "Mildred Pierce" (1945) and "Sahara" (1943), highlighted his versatility and ability to captivate audiences. His performance in these films earned him critical acclaim and a lasting legacy in the industry.
Bennett's personal life was as eventful as his career. He married Jeannette Cannon Braddock on January 21, 1933, and they had two children, including Christina Braddock Brix. Beyond acting, he was known for his reclusive nature, rarely giving interviews. However, he did engage with the public later in life, participating in signings and interviews, including a biography by Mike Chapman in 2001.
Bennett's impact on Hollywood is undeniable. His transition from an Olympic athlete to a leading man in Hollywood is a testament to his talent and versatility. His roles in films like "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" have left an indelible mark on the industry, making him a true icon of his era. His ability to reinvent himself, from sports to acting, and his contributions to classic Hollywood cinema, have cemented his place in the annals of film history.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Laat de dokter maar schuiven | John Vandenberk |
| 1973 | The Clones | Clone Lab Assistant |
| 1972 | Deadhead Miles | Johnny Mesquitero |
| 1971 | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (TV Series) | S.A.C. Myers |
| 1970–1971 | Lassie (TV Series) | Bert Daniels | Bert |
| 1970 | Lassie: Well of Love (TV Movie) | Bert Daniels |
| 1968 | Daktari (TV Series) | Charlie Rone | Ed Caldwell |
| 1967 | The Virginian (TV Series) | Silas Graham |
| 1958–1965 | Perry Mason (TV Series) | Reve Watson | Malone | Matt Lambert ... |
| 1965 | Branded (TV Series) | Archie Fletcher |
| 1965 | Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series) | Gen. Adams |
| 1961 | The Outsider | Gen. Bridges |
| 1961 | The Case of the Dangerous Robin (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1960 | The Fiend of Dope Island | Charlie Davis |
| 1960 | Laramie (TV Series) | Tom Creighton |
| 1959 | The Alligator People | Dr. Eric Lorimer |
| 1959 | The Cosmic Man | Dr. Karl Sorenson |
| 1957–1959 | Whirlybirds (TV Series) | Walter Meredith | Don Long |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) | Arnold Santly |
| 1958 | Rescue 8 (TV Series) | Riley Jackson |
| 1958 | The Texan (TV Series) | Jim Caldwell |
| 1958 | Flaming Frontier | Capt. Jim Hewson |
| 1958 | Panic! (TV Series) | Gil Nolan |
| 1958 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) | Clyde Bender |
| 1957 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Lt. Col. Steven Granville |
| 1953–1957 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Dean Graham | Ben Archer | Dr. Grant |
| 1957 | West Point (TV Series) | Chris's father |
| 1955–1957 | Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) | Dr. Sheldon Thorpe | General Frank Terrance | Major Sorenson ... |
| 1956 | Three Violent People | Commissioner Harrison |
| 1956 | Love Me Tender | Maj. Kincaid |
| 1956 | Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer | Daniel Boone |
| 1956 | Crossroads (TV Series) | Reverend Newman C. Hogle |
| 1956 | The Three Outlaws | Charlie Trenton |
| 1956 | The Bottom of the Bottle | Brand |
| 1956 | Hidden Guns | Stragg |
| 1955 | Robbers' Roost | 'Bull' Herrick |
| 1955 | The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series) | Peter Triton |
| 1955 | Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) | Professor Woodhead |
| 1955 | Strategic Air Command | Gen. Espy |
| 1955 | The Big Tip Off | Bob Gilmore |
| 1954 | With This Ring (Short) | Fred Miller |
| 1954 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | Judge Paul Maston |
| 1954 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) | Abe Lincoln |
| 1954 | Dragonfly Squadron | Dr. Stephen Cottrell |
| 1954 | Stories of the Century (TV Series) | William Clarke Charles Quantrill |
| 1952–1954 | The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) | Dr. Norman Allen | Harry Ames |
| 1953–1954 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) | Dan Summers | Bill Stewart | Stewart |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) | Seth Ranson |
| 1953 | Dream Wife | Charlie Elkwood |
| 1952 | Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | Sudden Fear | Steve Kearney |
| 1951 | Angels in the Outfield | Saul Hellman |
| 1951 | The Last Outpost | Col. Jeb Britton |
| 1951 | The Great Missouri Raid | Cole Younger |
| 1950 | The Second Face | Paul Curtis |
| 1950 | Shakedown | David Glover |
| 1950 | Mystery Street | Dr. McAdoo |
| 1949 | Undertow | Det. Charles Reckling |
| 1949 | Without Honor | Fred Bandle |
| 1949 | The Doctor and the Girl | Dr. Alfred Norton |
| 1949 | The House Across the Street | Matthew Keever |
| 1949 | Task Force | McCluskey |
| 1949 | The Younger Brothers | Jim Younger |
| 1948 | Smart Girls Don't Talk | Marty Fain |
| 1948 | Silver River | Stanley Moore |
| 1948 | To the Victor | Henderson |
| 1948 | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre | Cody |
| 1947 | Dark Passage | Bob |
| 1947 | Cheyenne | Ed Landers |
| 1947 | Nora Prentiss | Dr. Joel Merriam |
| 1946 | The Man I Love | San Thomas |
| 1946 | A Stolen Life | Jack R. Talbot |
| 1945 | Danger Signal | Dr. Andrew Lang |
| 1945 | Mildred Pierce | Bert Pierce |
| 1944 | I'm from Arkansas | Bob Hamline |
| 1944 | U-Boat Prisoner | Archie Gibbs |
| 1943 | There's Something About a Soldier | Frank Molloy |
| 1943 | Sahara | Waco Hoyt |
| 1943 | Frontier Fury | Clem Hawkins (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The More the Merrier | FBI Agent Evans |
| 1943 | Murder in Times Square | Supai George |
| 1942 | Underground Agent | Lee Graham |
| 1942 | Sabotage Squad | Lieutenant John Cronin |
| 1942 | Atlantic Convoy | Capt. Morgan |
| 1942 | Submarine Raider | 1st Officer Russell |
| 1942 | Tramp, Tramp, Tramp! | Tommy Lydel |
| 1942 | Sappy Birthday (Short) | Unseen Man on Telephone (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Honolulu Lu | Skelly |
| 1941 | Three Girls About Town | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1941 | The Officer and the Lady | Bob Conlon |
| 1941 | Two Latins from Manhattan | Federal Agent |
| 1941 | Dutiful But Dumb (Short) | Soldier in General's Office (uncredited) |
| 1941 | So Long Mr. Chumps (Short) | Prison Guard | Truck Driver (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Phantom Submarine | Paul Sinclair |
| 1940 | The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date | Scotty |
| 1940 | A Bundle of Bliss (Short) | Jean's Husband (uncredited) |
| 1940 | West of Abilene | Frank Garfield |
| 1940 | No Census, No Feeling (Short) | Football Player #20 (uncredited) |
| 1940 | So You Won't Talk | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Glamour for Sale | Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Spook Speaks (Short) | Mordini's Former Assistant (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Before I Hang | Dr. Paul Ames |
| 1940 | The Secret Seven | Pat Norris |
| 1940 | How High Is Up? (Short) | Workman with Leaky Lunchpail (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Girls of the Road | Officer Sullavan |
| 1940 | His Bridal Fright (Short) | Cell Guard (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Taming of the Snood (Short) | Detective (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Babies for Sale | Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Boobs in the Woods (Short) | Park Ranger (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady | McManus - Motorcycle Cop |
| 1940 | Island of Doomed Men | Hazen - Guard (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Escape to Glory | Ship's gunnery officer |
| 1940 | The Man from Tumbleweeds | Prison Warden (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Man with Nine Lives | State Trooper (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Blazing Six Shooters | Geologist Winthrop |
| 1940 | The Heckler (Short) | Ole Margarine (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Five Little Peppers at Home | Jim - King's Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Convicted Woman | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Cafe Hostess | Budge |
| 1939 | Invisible Stripes | Rich Man (uncredited) |
| 1939 | My Son Is Guilty | Lefty |
| 1939 | Blondie Brings Up Baby | Mason's Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Five Little Peppers and How They Grew | Tom - King's Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Daredevils of the Red Circle | Tiny Dawson (as Herman Brix) |
| 1938 | Hawk of the Wilderness | Lincoln Rand Jr | Kioga (as Herman Brix) |
| 1938 | The Fighting Devil Dogs | Lieutenant Frank Corby (as Herman Brix) |
| 1938 | Land of Fighting Men | Fred Mitchell (as Herman Brix) |
| 1938 | The Lone Ranger | Bert Rogers (as Herman Brix) |
| 1937 | Amateur Crook | Jimmy Baxter (as Herman Brix) |
| 1937 | Danger Patrol | Joe (as Herman Brix) |
| 1937 | Sky Racket | Eric Lane - Agent 17 (as Herman Brix) |
| 1937 | Million Dollar Racket | Lawrence 'Larry' Duane (as Herman Brix) |
| 1937 | Flying Fists | Hal "Chopper' Donovan, aka Hal Smith (as Herman Brix) |
| 1937 | Blake of Scotland Yard | Adolph - Henchman with eyepatch (uncredited) |
| 1936 | A Million to One | Johnny Kent (as Herman Brix) |
| 1936 | Silks and Saddles | Jimmy Shay (as Herman Brix) |
| 1936 | Two Minutes to Play | Martin Granville (as Herman Brix) |
| 1936 | Shadow of Chinatown | Martin Andrews (as Herman Brix) |
| 1935 | The New Adventures of Tarzan | Tarzan (as Herman Brix) |
| 1934 | Student Tour | Hercules - Crewman (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Death on the Diamond | Man on Ticket Line (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Treasure Island | Man at Tavern (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Riptide | Man at Cannes Bar (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Lazy River | Sailor (uncredited) |
| 1934 | You Can't Buy Everything | Bank Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Meet the Baron | Train Passenger (uncredited) |
| 1933 | College Humor | Student (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Madison Square Garden | Wrestler (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Movie Crazy | Dinner Guest (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Million Dollar Legs | Klopstokian Athlete (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Touchdown! | Football Player (uncredited) |
General:
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
