Ben Welden
Ben Welden was an American character actor who played a wide variety of Damon Runyon-type gangsters in various movies and television shows.
Early years
Welden was born in Toledo, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Career
Welden's film debut occurred in the British production The Man from Chicago. After freelancing for several years, he signed with Warner Bros. in 1937.
Short, balding and somewhat rotund, Welden often literally played a "heavy", frequently in a somewhat comical or slightly dim-witted way, offsetting the sinister nature of his character's actions. Among his roles in this vein was as a goon in The Big Sleep, and as a smart-mouth tavern owner in The Roaring Twenties.
Fans of Adventures of Superman remember him well. He appeared in eight episodes, always as a different character and yet really the same character, in a way. His best-known Superman episode might be "Flight to the North", in which he tries to outwit a country-bumpkin type. In 1966, he acted in episodes 47 and 48 of Batman featuring Vincent Price as Special Guest Villain "Egghead". He also played a supporting role in the Three Stooges short, "Three Dark Horses."
He appeared in six episodes of The Lone Ranger. He continued to work in television until 1966.
Personal life
After retiring from the screen, Welden owned a confection company called Nutcorn, located in Beverly Hills.
Death
Welden died at age 96 on October 17, 1997, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Filmography
The Man from Chicago - Ted Big Business - Fenchurch77 Park Lane - SinclairThe Missing Rembrandt - Pinkerton Agent The Innocents of Chicago - Spike GuinanTin Gods - Cyrus P. SchroederHis Lordship - Washington Roosevelt LincolnBorn Lucky - HarrimanHis Grace Gives Notice - Michael CollierThis Is the Life - Two Gun MullinsMannequin - Chris DempsonThe Pride of the Force - Tony CarlottiThe Medicine Man - Joe GarbelTheir Night Out - CrookSend 'em Back Half Dead - MustaphaPuppets of Fate Mr. Quincey of Monte Carlo - Grover JonesHome, Sweet Home - SantosGeneral John Regan - BillingThe Black Abbot - Charlie MarshThe River Wolves - Flash LawsonThe Fire Raisers - Bellini - Stedding's Henchman The Man Who Changed His Name - Jerry MullerAunt Sally - CasinoGay Love - BenThe Big Splash - CrookThe Triumph of Sherlock Holmes - Ted BaldingAnnie, Leave the Room! - RaisinsRoyal Cavalcade - BusinessmanDeath on the Set - FreshmanAlibi Inn - SaundersAdmirals All - Adolph KlotzThe Mystery of the Mary Celeste - Boas 'Sailor' HoffmanCome Out of the Pantry - TrampTrust the Navy - ScarThe Improper Duchess - MacabeThe Avenging Hand - Slug Clarke She Knew What She Wanted - ChesterThe Man Who Could Work Miracles - San Francisco Reporter Hot News - Slug WilsonWestbound Mail - Steve HickmanThe Great Barrier - JoeMaytime - Student The King and the Chorus Girl - First Waiter Marked Woman - Charlie DelaneyKid Galahad - Buzz BarettAnother Dawn - Victor Romkoff - Tobacco Tycoon Confession - Defense AttorneyThat Certain Woman - Headwaiter Harry Aqueilli Varsity Show - HammerBack in Circulation - Sam ShermanLove Is on the Air - 'Nicey' FergusonAlcatraz Island - 'Red' CarrollThe Great Garrick - Blacksmith at Turk's Head The Last Gangster - Bottles Bailey The Duke Comes Back - BarneyMissing Witnesses - Frank WagnerLove and Hisses - Bugsy City Girl - Blake's Valet Happy Landing - Manager Skating RinkPrison Nurse - GaffneyMystery House - Gerald FrawleyThe Saint in New York - Boots PapinoffAlways Goodbye - 1st New York Taxi DriverCrime Ring - NateGateway - Motorboat Man Smashing the Rackets - Whitey ClarkTenth Avenue Kid - Marty DaytonTime Out for Murder - Lefty Straight, Place and Show - PromoterThe Night Hawk - Otto MillerUp the River - Coach Larkin Little Orphan Annie - Spot McGeeThe Girl Downstairs - Policeman Federal Man-Hunt - GoldieStand Up and Fight - Foreman The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt - JenksPardon Our Nerve - Captain of Waiters I Was a Convict - Rocks HenrySergeant Madden - Henchman StemmyBoys' Reformatory - Mike HearnRose of Washington Square - TobyFugitive at Large - Convict The Star Maker - Joe GimlickHollywood Cavalcade - AgentThe Roaring Twenties - Tavern Proprietor The Earl of Chicago - Silky's Driver Wolf of New York - Owney McGillOutside the Three-Mile Limit - Lefty ShoresTear Gas Squad - Sully, Rocks' Partner Passport to Alcatraz - BenderSouth of Pago Pago - GrimesCity for Conquest - CobbThe Strawberry Blonde - Reluctant Convict Dental Patient Mr. District Attorney - Monk Westman Knockout - PelkyMen of Boys Town - SuperintendentStrange Alibi - DurkinI'll [Wait for You (film)|I'll Wait for You] - Dr. AndersonManpower - Al HurstNine Lives Are Not Enough - Moxie KarperFiesta - Policeman Dangerously They Live - EddieAll [Through the Night (film)|All Through the Night] - SmittyA Close Call for Ellery Queen - WatchmanBullet Scars - Pills DavisMaisie Gets Her Man - Percy PoddHighways by Night - Tony Delewese Secrets of the Underground - Henchman JoeStand by for Action - Chief Quartermaster RankinHere Comes Elmer - Louis BurchThe Fighting Seabees - Yump LumkinThe Desert Hawk - Omar, the BeggarShadows in the Night - Nick KallusCircumstantial Evidence - KennyIt's in the Bag! - Monty - BookieThe Missing Corpse - 'Slippery Joe' ClaryMidnight Manhunt - Hotel Manager Follow That Woman - Joe Cinderella Jones - Truck Driver Dangerous Business - Moxie Anna and the [King of Siam (film)|Anna and the King of Siam] - Third Judge The Last Crooked Mile - HaynesThe Big Sleep - Pete, Mars' flunky Angel on My Shoulder - Shaggsy Mr. Hex - Bull LagunaThe Man I Love - Jack Atlas Sinbad the Sailor - Commoner Hit Parade of 1947 - Mr. French Too Many Winners - Gil Madden / Theodore RossFiesta - Policeman Little Miss Broadway - Cash MonahanBlackmail - Bartender Killer Dill - Big Nick MoronieThe Pretender - MickieHeading for Heaven - SamHere Comes Trouble - Rankin The Noose Hangs High - Stewart Trapped by Boston Blackie - Louis The Dude Goes West - Porgy Jinx Money - Benny the MeatballThe Vicious Circle - ConstableThe Babe Ruth Story - Bartender Lady at Midnight - Willie GoldSmart Girls Don't Talk - Nelson Clark A Song Is Born - MonteMy Dear Secretary - Bookie Appointment with Murder - Martin MinecciFighting Fools - Lefty ConlinImpact - Moving Van HelperSearch for Danger - GregorySorrowful Jones - Big Steve's BodyguardThe Doctor and the Girl - Patient Prison Warden - Yardbird with Cards Mary Ryan, Detective - Sammy Tough Assignment - SniffyTell It to the Judge - Augie Riders in the Sky - DaveThe Threat - Tony Anzio Buccaneer's Girl - TomThe Jackie Robinson Story - Tough Lodge Member in Stands On the Isle of Samoa - Nick LeachThe Desert Hawk - Mokar The Misadventures of Buster Keaton - Sam My True Story - Buzz EdwardsThe Lemon Drop Kid - Singing SollyTales of Robin Hood - Friar TuckMask of the Avenger - Tavern Loafer The Lady and the Bandit - Barkeep in Pub Rhubarb - Oily Moe - Bookie Night Stage to Galveston - Arresting Patrolman Captain Pirate - Martinique Policeman Tropical Heat Wave - Abbot Three Dark Horses - Jim DiggerAll Ashore - Hugo - BartenderThunder Bay - Fisherman The Veils of Bagdad - Stout Wrestler Killers from Space - Pilot - Tar Baby 2The Steel Cage - Mike, Convict Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki - Shorty Bates - Kidnapper The Adventures of Captain Africa - OmarThe Benny Goodman Story - Sammy - Primo's 1st Henchman Hidden Guns - Ben PeabodyHollywood or Bust - Boss Spook Chasers - ZiggieNight Passage - Pete The Crooked Circle - Ring Announcer