Ben Murphy

Ben Murphy

Murphy in Alias Smith and Jones.
Born Benjamin Edward Murphy
(1942-03-06) March 6, 1942
Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.
Occupation actor
Years active 1967-2010
Spouse(s) Jeanne Davis (1978–81)

Benjamin Edward "Ben" Murphy (born March 6, 1942[1]) is an American actor.[2] He is known for his role in the ABC television series Alias Smith and Jones, co-starring as Kid Curry, first with Pete Duel and later with Roger Davis.

Early life

Ben Murphy was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Nadine (Steele) and Benjamin E. Castleberry. When his mother remarried in 1956, Ben was adopted by his stepfather, Patrick Henry Murphy.[3] Murphy grew up in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[1] An alumnus of Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois, he attended eight colleges before deciding to pursue an acting career.[1]

Career

Murphy appeared in a supporting role in The Name of the Game, a series featuring a rotating leading cast including Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack. Murphy played a semi regular role as 'Joseph Sample' assistant to Robert Stack's leading character 'Dan Farrell' in Stack's segments of the show. From 1971 to 1973, he starred in Alias Smith and Jones with Pete Duel (1971–72) and Roger Davis (1972–73). After Alias Smith and Jones, Murphy joined Lorne Greene in the 1973 ABC crime drama Griff. He played detective S. Michael "Mike" Murdock, assistant to Greene's character, Wade "Griff" Griffin, a Los Angeles retired police officer turned private eye. The series had some notable guest stars but folded after thirteen weeks.

Ben Murphy, Patricia Stich and Lorne Greene in Griff.

In the 1983–84 season, Murphy co-starred with Marshall Colt in the ABC drama series Lottery!. Murphy played Patrick Sean Flaherty, the man who informed lottery winners of their stroke of fortune, and Colt, formerly with James Arness on NBC's short-lived crime drama, McClain's Law, portrayed the Internal Revenue Service agent, Eric Rush, who made sure the winners pay the U.S. government up front.

In 1985, Murphy co-starred as department store heir, Paul Berrenger, on the short-lived drama, Berrenger's. His character was at odds with his former wife, Gloria (Andrea Marcovicci) and his own father, Simon (Sam Wanamaker) due to his romance with executive, Shane Bradley (Yvette Mimieux).

Murphy starred in his own series Gemini Man, in which he played a secret agent who could become invisible for 15 minutes a day through the use of a special wristwatch. However, the show did not run beyond a single season. Murphy has since appeared in guest-starring parts, including having been a murder suspect in CBS's Cold Case.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1967 The Graduate Shaving Student uncredited
1968 The Virginian Mike Bradbury 2 episodes
It Takes a Thief King Pineau Episode: "A Matter of Royal Larceny"
Yours, Mine, and Ours Larry
The Outsider Patrick Forrester Episode: "Tell It Like It Is... and You're Dead"
1968–71 The Name of the Game Joseph Sample 6 episodes
1969 The Thousand Plane Raid Lt. Archer
Anatomy of a Crime Patrick Forrester TV film
1970 Medical Center Jerry Lambert Episode: "His Brother's Keeper"
The Mod Squad Episode: "A Far Away Place So Near"
1971–73 Alias Smith and Jones Jed 'Kid' Curry (Thaddeus Jones) 50 episodes
1973 The Letters Joe Randolph TV film
Runaway! Les Reever TV film
Love, American Style segment "Love and the Postal Meeter"
197374 Griff Mike Murdoch
1974 Heatwave! Frank Taylor
This Is the West That Was Wild Bill Hickok
1975 Sidecar Racers Jeff Rayburn
Marcus Welby, M.D. Alan Peterson (1 Episode: "Four Plus Hot"
1976 Code Name-Minus One Sam Casey TV film
Gemini Man Sam Casey 11 episodes
Bridger Kit Carson
1979 Fantasy Island Billy Blake 2 episodes - 1979 and 1983
1979–80 The Chisholms Will Chisholm
1979–84 The Love Boat Gregory King 5 episodes
1980 Secret War of Jackie's Girls Buck TV film
1982 Trapper John, M.D. Ned Travers Episode: "Medicine Man"
Time Walker Prof. Douglas McCadden star
1983 Uncommon Valor Jim Merritt TV film
The Winds of War Warren Henry 7 episodes
Matt Houston Terry Noble Episode: "The Beverly Hills Social Club"
The Cradle Will Fall Dr. Richard Carroll
Lottery![2] Patrick Sean Flaherty
1984 Finder of Lost Loves David Carson Episode: "Losing Touch"
Hotel Robbie Joe Carson Episode: "Fantasies"
1985 Berrenger's Paul Berrenger 11 episodes
Gidget's Summer Reunion Ron Levering TV film
Scarecrow and Mrs. King Alan Chamberlin Episode: "A Lovely Little Affair"
Murder, She Wrote Scott Lodge Episode: "Reflections of the Mind"
1986 Stark: Mirror Image Steve Graves TV film
1988 Dirty Dozen, The Series Major Danko 6 episodes
1989 The Twilight Zone Jack Haines Episode: "Love Is Blind"
1990 Shades of L.A. Chuck Yellin Episode: "Shades of L.A."
1991 Life Goes On Jordan Parnell Episode: "Proms and Prams"
In the Heat of the Night Tom Dalton Episode: "The More Things Change"
1992 FBI: The Untold Stories Agt. Jack Simpson Episode: "Colonel Penn"
1994–95 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Ethan Cooper 3 episodes
1995 High Sierra Search and Rescue Roger Harmon Episode: "Past, Present"
1996 Silk Stalkings Senator Grant Hemmings Episode: "Family Values"
Baywatch Nights Robert Houston Episode: "Epilogue"
1997–2004 JAG Lt. Col. John Farrow
Captain Neilsen
3 episodes
Episode: "Ghosts of Christmas Past"
1998 Air America Cornelius Stratton Episode: "Hostage Situation"
1999 E! Mysteries and Scandals Himself Episode: "Peter Duel"
Pacific Blue Chief Frank Swerdlow Episode: "Swimming in the Dead Pool"
Seven Days Col. Seth Mattinger Episode: "HAARP Attack"
2000 Hanging Up Richard (scenes deleted)
2001 To Protect and Serve Officer Friendly
The District Congressman Phillip Hallett Episode: "Lost and Found"
2003 The Drew Carey Show Reverend Henderson Episode: "Two Girls for Every Boy"
Navy NCIS Capt. Veitch Episode: "Sub Rosa"
2004 Judging Amy Brad Vickers Episode: "My Little Runaway"
2005 Freezerburn General Dwight Rourke
2006 Cold Case Travis Whitman - 2006 Episode: "Debut"
The Uniform Motion of Folly Vincent
2007 McBride Semper Fi General Dwight Rourke TV film
2010 The Genesis Code Professor Campbell

References

External links

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