Ben Alexander

Ben Alexander

Deceased · Born: May 26, 1911 · Died: Jul 5, 1969

Personal Details

BornMay 26, 1911 Goldfield, Nevada, USA
Spouse
  • Lesley Smith

    ( Feb 26, 1950 to Jul 5, 1969 )
  • Elizabeth Robb

    ( Jul 23, 1941 to Dec 31, 1969 )

Biography

Ben Alexander's illustrious career in the entertainment industry commenced in 1915, when he began landing roles in films directed by esteemed directors such as Cecil B. DeMille and D.W. Griffith. As he matured, he progressed from playing child roles to assuming juvenile leads and supporting parts in sound films, with a notable appearance in the groundbreaking film All Quiet on the Western Front, released in 1930.

However, as his acting career began to slow down in the mid-1930s, Alexander discovered a new passion in radio announcing, which ultimately became a successful and fulfilling career. It wasn't until much later, when he was already semi-retired, that producer Jack Webb sought him out to play the role of his detective partner in the iconic TV series Dragnet, which premiered in 1951.

Years later, Alexander reprised his detective persona in the TV series The Felony Squad, starring alongside Howard Duff, in 1966.

Career

{"id":32663,"title":"Los Angeles Plays Itself","year":"2004","character":"Officer Frank Smith in Dragnet (archive footage)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/los-angeles-plays-itself","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2slnj6ikm1j0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2slnj6ikm1j0.jpg"},"released":1}
2004
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Los Angeles Plays Itself as Officer Frank Smith in Dragnet (archive footage)
{"id":103831314,"title":"The Felony Squad","year":1966,"character":"Desk Sgt. Dan Briggs","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-felony-squad","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831314.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831314.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
The Felony Squad
The Felony Squad as Desk Sgt. Dan Briggs
{"id":66498,"title":"Man in the Shadow","year":"1957","character":"Ab Begley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/man-in-the-shadow","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66498.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66498.jpg"},"released":1}
1957
{"id":67491,"title":"Dragnet","year":"1954","character":"Officer Frank Smith","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/dragnet-1954","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67491.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67491.jpg"},"released":1}
1954
Dragnet
Dragnet as Officer Frank Smith
{"id":10521,"title":"Dragnet","year":1951,"character":"Frank Smith","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/dragnet-1951","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10521.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10521.jpg"},"released":1}
1951
Dragnet
Dragnet as Frank Smith
{"id":71662,"title":"Criminals Within","year":"1941","character":"Sgt. Paul","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/criminals-within","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_71662.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_71662.jpg"},"released":1}
1941
Criminals Within
Criminals Within as Sgt. Paul
{"id":187485,"title":"The Leather Pushers","year":"1940","character":"Dan Brown, Announcer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-leather-pushers","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187485.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187485.jpg"},"released":1}
1940
The Leather Pushers
The Leather Pushers as Dan Brown, Announcer
{"id":72199,"title":"Convict's Code","year":"1939","character":"Jeff Palmer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/convicts-code-1939","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_72199.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_72199.jpg"},"released":1}
1939
Convict's Code
Convict's Code as Jeff Palmer
{"id":72222,"title":"Buried Alive","year":"1939","character":"Riley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/buried-alive-1939","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_72222.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_72222.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":72761,"title":"Mr. Doodle Kicks Off","year":"1938","character":"Larry Weldon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/mr-doodle-kicks-off","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_72761.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_72761.jpg"},"released":1}
1938
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off as Larry Weldon
{"id":73250,"title":"Western Gold","year":"1937","character":"Bart","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/western-gold","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_73250.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_73250.jpg"},"released":1}
1937
{"id":73225,"title":"The Outer Gate","year":"1937","character":"Bob Terry","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-outer-gate","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_73225.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_73225.jpg"},"released":1}
The Outer Gate
The Outer Gate as Bob Terry
{"id":73224,"title":"The Legion of Missing Men","year":"1937","character":"Don Carter","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-legion-of-missing-men","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_73224.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_73224.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":96789,"title":"Shall We Dance","year":"1937","character":"Evans (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/shall-we-dance-1937","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/3n49s4dbql90.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/3n49s4dbql90.jpg"},"released":1}
Shall We Dance
Shall We Dance as Evans (uncredited)
{"id":83247,"title":"The Life of the Party","year":"1937","character":"Orchestra Leader","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-life-of-the-party","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_83247.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_83247.jpg"},"released":1}
The Life of the Party
The Life of the Party as Orchestra Leader
{"id":83277,"title":"Red Lights Ahead","year":"1936","character":"George Wallace","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/red-lights-ahead","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_83277.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_83277.jpg"},"released":1}
1936
Red Lights Ahead
Red Lights Ahead as George Wallace
{"id":96840,"title":"Grand Old Girl","year":"1935","character":"Tom Miller","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/grand-old-girl","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_96840.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_96840.jpg"},"released":1}
1935
Grand Old Girl
Grand Old Girl as Tom Miller
{"id":73998,"title":"The Fire-Trap","year":"1935","character":"Bob Fender","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-fire-trap","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_73998.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_73998.jpg"},"released":1}
The Fire-Trap
The Fire-Trap as Bob Fender
{"id":74197,"title":"Flirtation","year":"1934","character":"Dudley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/flirtation","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74197.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74197.jpg"},"released":1}
1934
Flirtation
Flirtation as Dudley
{"id":74299,"title":"The Life of Vergie Winters","year":"1934","character":"Barry Preston","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-life-of-vergie-winters","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74299.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74299.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":74706,"title":"Stage Mother","year":"1933","character":"Francis Nolan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/stage-mother","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74706.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74706.jpg"},"released":1}
1933
Stage Mother
Stage Mother as Francis Nolan
{"id":74511,"title":"This Day and Age","year":"1933","character":"Morry Dover","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/this-day-and-age","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74511.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74511.jpg"},"released":1}
This Day and Age
This Day and Age as Morry Dover
{"id":74529,"title":"What Price Innocence?","year":"1933","character":"Tommy Harrow","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/what-price-innocence","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74529.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74529.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":74904,"title":"High Pressure","year":"1932","character":"Geoffrey Weston","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/high-pressure","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74904.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74904.jpg"},"released":1}
1932
High Pressure
High Pressure as Geoffrey Weston
{"id":75059,"title":"The Wet Parade","year":"1932","character":"Evelyn's Friend (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-wet-parade","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_75059.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_75059.jpg"},"released":1}
The Wet Parade
The Wet Parade as Evelyn's Friend (uncredited)
{"id":75373,"title":"Are These Our Children","year":"1931","character":"Nicholas 'Nick' Crosby","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/are-these-our-children","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_75373.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_75373.jpg"},"released":1}
1931
Are These Our Children
Are These Our Children as Nicholas 'Nick' Crosby
{"id":75487,"title":"Suicide Fleet","year":"1931","character":"Kid","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/suicide-fleet","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_75487.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_75487.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":4464,"title":"All Quiet on the Western Front","year":"1930","character":"Franz Kemmerich","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/all-quiet-on-the-western-front","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7s5at45r39r0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7s5at45r39r0.jpg"},"released":1}
1930
{"id":75829,"title":"The Divine Lady","year":"1929","character":"Young lieutenant","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-divine-lady","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_75829.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_75829.jpg"},"released":1}
1929
The Divine Lady
The Divine Lady as Young lieutenant
{"id":221216,"title":"Hearts of the World","year":"1918","character":"The Boy's Littlest Brother","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hearts-of-the-world","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_221216.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_221216.jpg"},"released":1}
1918
Hearts of the World
Hearts of the World as The Boy's Littlest Brother
{"id":122281,"title":"The Little American","year":"1917","character":"Bobby Moore","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-little-american","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_122281.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_122281.jpg"},"released":1}
1917
The Little American
The Little American as Bobby Moore
{"id":87767,"title":"Hollywood My Home Town","year":"1965","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hollywood-my-home-town","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_87767.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_87767.jpg"},"released":1}
1965