Horatio Curtis Benton (August 26, 1885 – September 14, 1938) was an American actor and screenwriter for silent films and early talkies.

Curtis Benton
Benton in 1916
Born
Horatio Curtis Benton

(1885-08-26)August 26, 1885
DiedSeptember 14, 1938(1938-09-14) (aged 53)
Occupation(s)actor, Boxer
Years active
  • 1915–1917, 1931–1937 (actor)
  • 1922–1929 (writer)

Biography

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Born in Toledo, Ohio, Benton, attended Vanderbilt University and embarked upon a stage career in 1903, appearing with Robert Hilliard in A Fool There Was, and two seasons with Cohan and Harris' company where he played parts in The Fortune Hunter, Broadway Jones, and others. His film career included supporting roles in The Pursuit Eternal (1915), Conscience (1915) (which he also wrote), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916), Jealousy (1916), The Siren (1917), Fireman, Save My Child (1932) and Kid Galahad (1937).[1][2][3] His writing credits include The Uninvited Guest (1924), It Is the Law (1924), and The Phantom Bullet (1926). In his later years he was a boxing announcer at the Hollywood Stadium.

Death

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He died in Hollywood in 1938 after a six-months illness.[4]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Actor Writer Note
1915
The Story the Silk Hats Told No Yes Short film
Everygirl Love Yes No
The Mystery of the Man Who Slept Jack Christie Yes No
The Honor of the Ormsbys Varden Yes No
The Girl Who Had a Soul undetermined role Yes No
A Witch of Salem Town The Governor Yes No
The Pursuit Eternal Stanlon Leeds Yes No
Conscience undetermined role Yes Yes
The Wrong Label Detective Farnum Yes No Short film
Not a Lamb Shall Stray The Husband Yes No
Capital Punishment No Yes
1916
Madame Cubist Tom Decker Yes No
The Strength of the Weak Tom Dare Yes No
Scorched Wings Robert Blair Yes No Short film
The Girl Who Feared Daylight Bruce Hilton Yes No
Just Kitty George Jennings Yes No
The Devil's Image James Mortimer Yes No
A Stranger in His Own Home Percival Green Yes No
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned Land Yes No
Jealousy Roland Carney Yes No
1917
The Siren undetermined role Yes No
1922
The Fast Freight No Yes
1923
Mighty Lak' a Rose No Yes
1924
Half-A-Dollar-Bill No Yes
The Uninvited Guest No Yes
It Is the Law No Yes
1925
Sporting Life No Yes
1926
The Phantom Bullet No Yes
The Runaway Express No Yes
1927
Down the Stretch No Yes
The Sunset Derby No Yes
The Life of Riley No Yes
Clancy's Kosher Wedding No Yes
1928
Bachelor's Paradise No Yes
United States Smith No Yes
A Dumb Waiter No Yes Short film
Freedom of the Press No Uncredited
A Jim Jam Janitor No Yes Short film
1929
Clunked on the Corner No Yes
A Close Shave No Yes
1931
Slide, Speedy, Slide Radio Announcer Yes No Short film, uncredited
The Pottsville Palooka Yes No
Local Boy Makes Good Announcer at Track Meet Yes No uncredited
1932
Fireman, Save My Child! Radio Announcer Yes No
High Speed Car Racing Announcer Yes No uncredited
The Animal Kingdom Radio Announcer Yes No voice role, uncredited
1933
Thru Thin and Thicket, or Who's Zoo in Africa Yes No Short film
1934
Manhattan Melodrama Announcer Yes No uncredited
1935
Don't Bet on Blondes Announcer of Caprice Race Yes No
1936
It Had to Happen Radio Announcer Yes No
Cain and Mabel Fight Radio Announcer Yes No
Three Men on a Horse Racetrack Announcer Yes No voice role, uncredited
1937
Kid Galahad Announcer Yes No uncredited, final film role



References

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  1. ^ Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual. New York: Motion Picture News, Inc. 1917. p. 40.
  2. ^ Truitt, Evelyn Mack (1983). Who Was Who on Screen. New York: R.R. Bowker Co. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-8352-1578-7.
  3. ^ Ragan, David (1992). Who's Who in Hollywood. New York: Facts on File. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-8160-2011-9.
  4. ^ "Fight Announcer at Hollywood Claimed". The San Bernardino Sun. Associated Press. September 16, 1938.
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