Pour out some tea on the curb for Mr. Bentley
December 5, 2008 8:41 AM Subscribe
Paul Benedict, who was best known as the affable English neighbor Harry Bentley on the sitcom "The Jeffersons," has died at age 70.
I remember him primarily as the painter on Sesame Street and (via my mom) teaching me what acromegaly was. (That man looks like he as acromegaly," She says. "What's that" my four year old self replies. "Acromegaly is . . . )
posted by MasonDixon at 8:49 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by MasonDixon at 8:49 AM on December 5, 2008
Also well remembered as the Mad Painter on Sesame Street.
posted by anastasiav at 8:50 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by anastasiav at 8:50 AM on December 5, 2008
So, are only George and Lionel left?
posted by doctorschlock at 8:53 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by doctorschlock at 8:53 AM on December 5, 2008
I think Florence (Marla Gibbs) is still around.
posted by MasonDixon at 8:57 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by MasonDixon at 8:57 AM on December 5, 2008
And we're still waiting for the real Mort Guffman...
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posted by Madamina at 8:57 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by Madamina at 8:57 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
He was my favorite part of The Jeffersons. Classy, charismatic, funny man. And the Spinal Tap cameo above is classic.
The world's a little less funny.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:00 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
The world's a little less funny.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:00 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by Smart Dalek at 9:02 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:02 AM on December 5, 2008
I saw him everywhere, but I never knew his name.
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posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:02 AM on December 5, 2008
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posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:02 AM on December 5, 2008
Oh man, I forgot all about those Mad Painter sketches!
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posted by bitteroldman at 9:05 AM on December 5, 2008
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posted by bitteroldman at 9:05 AM on December 5, 2008
I first read that as Pope Benedict. But I didn't think he was in The Jeffersons.
posted by gman at 9:05 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by gman at 9:05 AM on December 5, 2008
I came SO close to posting this last night with the title "Why the Long Face?"
posted by yhbc at 9:15 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by yhbc at 9:15 AM on December 5, 2008
So, are only George and Lionel left?
Only one Lionel is still living.
posted by Knappster at 9:16 AM on December 5, 2008
Only one Lionel is still living.
posted by Knappster at 9:16 AM on December 5, 2008
If it makes you feel any better, Abe Vigoda is still alive as I write this.
posted by ardgedee at 9:25 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 9:25 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well, might as well tell everyone now...
the best sex dream I EVER, EVER had featured Paul Benedict.
Make of that what you will.
posted by tristeza at 9:58 AM on December 5, 2008
the best sex dream I EVER, EVER had featured Paul Benedict.
Make of that what you will.
posted by tristeza at 9:58 AM on December 5, 2008
I watched Jeremiah Johnson (twice! weed is a helluva drug) last week and said "Hey, it's that guy!" to my dog.
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posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:03 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:03 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's really strange how 'The Jeffersons' and other television shows affected us. We had these strange television characters come into our homes every week and we became accustomed to them like old friends. In their passing, their person and their fictitious character dies with them. Sometimes we miss them more than our real friends.
posted by doctorschlock at 10:08 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by doctorschlock at 10:08 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by Halloween Jack at 10:31 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:31 AM on December 5, 2008
I cannot believe I never put it together that the English guy from The Jeffersons and the crazy painter guy from Sesame Street were the same person. And this is how I find out.
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posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 10:43 AM on December 5, 2008
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posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 10:43 AM on December 5, 2008
Mr. Benedict was also funny in Goodbye Girl directing Richard Dreyfuss to do a very swishy Richard III in an off-off-Broadway production.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:12 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 12:12 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
I hope he finds his reward in a king leisure bed in Heaven.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:45 PM on December 5, 2008
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:45 PM on December 5, 2008
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posted by longsleeves at 12:52 PM on December 5, 2008
posted by longsleeves at 12:52 PM on December 5, 2008
I bet Bentley was a fun character to write for. He was always doing crazy things to the exasperation of George.
posted by Eekacat at 1:23 PM on December 5, 2008
posted by Eekacat at 1:23 PM on December 5, 2008
Never seen those Mad Painter sketches before!
One of those guys you felt sure would be great to know IRL.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:32 PM on December 5, 2008
One of those guys you felt sure would be great to know IRL.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 1:32 PM on December 5, 2008
It's really strange how 'The Jeffersons' and other television shows affected us.
I once met the sister of "Larry" on Three's Company. I couldn't have been more startstruck if it had been Katherine Hepburn.
posted by Joe Beese at 2:37 PM on December 5, 2008
I once met the sister of "Larry" on Three's Company. I couldn't have been more startstruck if it had been Katherine Hepburn.
posted by Joe Beese at 2:37 PM on December 5, 2008
I hope where he is now, there's always somebody to walk on his back.
posted by evilcolonel at 3:54 PM on December 5, 2008
posted by evilcolonel at 3:54 PM on December 5, 2008
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posted by mikelieman at 4:04 PM on December 5, 2008
posted by mikelieman at 4:04 PM on December 5, 2008
It's really strange how 'The Jeffersons' and other television shows affected us.
I think there's a group consciousness aspect of there only being 6 channels on TV, and therefore we were saturated with the content. Man, I watched a LOT of I Dream of Jeannie, Gilligan's Island and M*A*S*H.
But the trifecta of TV will always be: The Odd Couple -> The Honeymooners -> The Twilight Zone.
posted by mikelieman at 4:07 PM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
I think there's a group consciousness aspect of there only being 6 channels on TV, and therefore we were saturated with the content. Man, I watched a LOT of I Dream of Jeannie, Gilligan's Island and M*A*S*H.
But the trifecta of TV will always be: The Odd Couple -> The Honeymooners -> The Twilight Zone.
posted by mikelieman at 4:07 PM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
After the Jeffersons went off the air, I remember Paul Benedict in a neat little character part as Matthew Broderick's film school professor in the movie, The Freshman. I seem to remember Benedict's character turning into a drooling fanboy when he finds out the Matthew Broderick is working for Jimmy the Toucan (played by Marlon Brando), the alleged inspiration for Don Corleone in the Godfather.
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posted by jonp72 at 8:21 PM on December 5, 2008
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posted by jonp72 at 8:21 PM on December 5, 2008
Well, might as well tell everyone now...
the best sex dream I EVER, EVER had featured Paul Benedict.
Not exactly my cup of English breakfast tea, mind you, but I seem to remember Mr. Bentley getting a lot of play back on the Jeffersons. That boy had some serious game.
posted by jonp72 at 8:24 PM on December 5, 2008
the best sex dream I EVER, EVER had featured Paul Benedict.
Not exactly my cup of English breakfast tea, mind you, but I seem to remember Mr. Bentley getting a lot of play back on the Jeffersons. That boy had some serious game.
posted by jonp72 at 8:24 PM on December 5, 2008
Gonna paint a seven on the gates of Heaven...
posted by darkstar at 9:43 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by darkstar at 9:43 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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He picked me and a friend up hitch-hiking on Martha's Vinyard in like 1990. Very gracious guy.
posted by mert at 10:14 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
He picked me and a friend up hitch-hiking on Martha's Vinyard in like 1990. Very gracious guy.
posted by mert at 10:14 PM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by gman at 8:43 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]