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Laszlo Benedek 1905 - 1992

Laszlo Benedek of Manhattan County, NY was born on March 5, 1905 in Budapest Hungary, and died at age 87 years old on March 11, 1992 in New York.

Laszlo Benedek

Manhattan County, NY

March 5, 1905

Budapest, Hungary

March 11, 1992

New York, New York, United States

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Laszlo Benedek Laszlo Benedek (1905 - 1992)

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Laszlo Benedek's History: 1905 - 1992

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Introduction

Laszlo Benedek Born March 5, 1905 in Budapest, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary] Died March 11, 1992 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA (undisclosed) Birth Name László Benedek Laslo Benedek was brought to Hollywood from Hungary--where he had been a writer, editor and photographer--by MGM, and his first few films were undistinguished programmers. His third, however, was quite a bit better: Death of a Salesman (1951), the screen version of Arthur Miller's classic play. Although trashed by critics at the time for, among other things, its "staginess" (Benedek said that he wanted to keep the work's theatricality intact), overlooked is the fact that Benedek drew out convincing, evocative performances from Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell, Fredric March and Mildred Dunnock. Benedek's next film, however, is the one he'll be remembered for: The Wild One (1953). This granddaddy of all biker flicks is amusingly tame--some might even say lame--by today's standards, but it caused quite a commotion in its day (it was banned in England and was railed against by conservative religious and social pressure groups in the US as yet one more example of how Hollywood was "corrupting the youth of America"). The film is actually not all that much, being rather slow-going and the "bikers" coming across more like bratty teenagers than dangerous rampaging hoods, but it struck a chord with young people and parents alike--for different reasons, of course--and was far and away the most successful film of Benedek's career. 'From 1976 to 1980, Mr. Benedek was chairman of the graduate film program at New York University's School of the Arts. In 1983, he became a visiting professor of film at the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Later, he taught at the Film Academy in Munich, Germany; at Rice University in Houston, and at Columbia University in New York City. ' By William H. Honan, NY Times, March 14, 1992 Spouse (2) Lacerta Weiss (25 February 1950 - ?) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Maria Rejto (23 June 1939 - 14 July 1948) ( divorced)
03/5

1905

Birthday

March 5, 1905

Birthdate

Budapest Hungary

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Hungarian director Laslo Benedek had a mother whose whole goal in life was to keep her age a secret. That even got her into trouble with the Communist Regime in Hungary because, as you know, Communists never laugh at themselves. One day his mother handed him her PASSPORT and said, "Go and take care of this for me." He could barely sustain his excitement and tried with all his might to keep a straight face. When he left the building, he ran around the corner and stopped, and peeked into her PASSPORT. He was crestfallen! According to her PASSPORT, Laslo's mother had given birth to him when she was 8 years old! So now then he had to tell some bureaucratic jerk, "If I am 65, how young could my mother be? And why would a woman in her 80's be a threat to this country for lying about her age?" But the jerk in uniform wasn't smiling or nodding.
Early Life & Education

He pursued a medical career at schools in Vienna and Berlin, paying for his education by working as an assistant cameraman.
Religious Beliefs

His family was a combination of Jewish and Catholic.
Professional Career

Golden Globe Awards for 'Laslo Benedek' 1956 Winner BEST MOTION PICTURE - FOREIGN LANGUAGE Sons, Mothers and A General West Germany, Laslo Benedek 1952 Winner BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE Death of a Salesman (1951) Filmography Director Song of Russia (1944) The Kissing Bandit (1948) Port of New York (1949) Death of a Salesman (1951) The Wild One (1953) Bengal Brigade (1954) Children, Mother, and the General (West Germany, 1955) Affair in Havana (1957) Recours en grâce (France, 1960) Malaga (1960) Namu, the Killer Whale (1966) Daring Game (1968) The Night Visitor (1971) Assault on Agathon (1975) Cinematographer The Mistress (1927) The Man Who Murdered (1931) A Precocious Girl (1934) Editor Temptation (1934) Antonia (1935)
03/11

1992

Death

March 11, 1992

Death date

Cancer

Cause of death

New York, New York United States
Death location

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Obituary

Laslo Benedek, 87, Film Director Known for 'Wild One,' Is Dead By WILLIAM H. HONAN Published: March 14, 1992 Laslo Benedek, a cameraman, screenwriter and director whose directing credits include "Death of a Salesman" (1951) and "The Wild One" (1953), died on Wednesday at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He was 87 years old and lived in Manhattan. He died after a short illness, said Tonda Marton, a friend. Mr. Benedek was born in Budapest. He pursued a medical career at schools in Vienna and Berlin, paying for his education by working as an assistant cameraman. Soon, his interest in movie making took precedence, and he worked as a film editor in France and as a screenwriter in England. In 1937 he wound up in Hollywood, where he performed a series of lesser jobs in the film industry until 1948, when he directed Frank Sinatra in a technicolor musical called "The Kissing Bandit." Chosen by Stanley Kramer The high point of Mr. Benedek's career came in 1951 when the producer Stanley Kramer assigned him to direct the screen version of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," with Fredric March as Willy Loman and Mildred Dunnock as his wife, Linda. Mr. Benedek received the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globe Award as best director of the year, and a nomination for best director from the Screen Director's Guild. Two years later, he directed "The Wild One," starring Marlon Brando. The film, about a gang of menacing motorcyclists, grew out of a terrifying encounter Mr. Benedek had with a similar gang when on a Sunday drive in California. Like many Hollywood filmmakers, he also worked in television, directing more than 75 shows, including episodes of "Rawhide" and "The Untouchables." From 1976 to 1980, Mr. Benedek was chairman of the graduate film program at New York University's School of the Arts. In 1983, he became a visiting professor of film at the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Later, he taught at the Film Academy in Munich, Germany; at Rice University in Houston, and at Columbia University in New York City. His companion was Danielle DeMers. He is survived by two daughters, Melinda Norton of Los Angeles and Barbara Rhodes of London.

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Laszlo Benedek lived 12 years longer than the average family member when died at the age of 87.

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25 Memories, Stories & Photos about Laszlo

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

07/08/2017

Laszlo Benedek, movie premiere

Laszlo Benedek was highly respected as a director for MGM motion pictures. It was Christmas Eve, and my twin brother sold me two tickets to the Big Apple Circus. I was having trouble finding someone to go with me, so I called Laszlo. "Laszlo, I have two front-row seats for the Big Apple Circus for tonight." "What! I am just getting over a cold, and I was sitting here crying! I felt so sorry for myself because my girlfriend is visiting her relatives, and my two daughters are thousands of miles away! THERE IS NOTHING I WOULD LOVE BETTER THAN TO GO TO THE BIG APPLE CIRCUS WITH YOU!!! I will even take you to my favorite restaurant after the show." I have to share with you that it was one of the best dates I ever had. It was a joyous, fun-filled night. Filled with gaiety and laughter and fine dining. Towards the end of the evening, he asked me why I didn't ask him out more often. I told him, "Because I never wanted you to say no." And he never did. Every date was memorable and wonderful. He died a year later.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

06/17/2020

My friend Laszlo had a great sense of humor and could make me laugh until tears were squirting out of my eyes.

I invited him to join me at an ice cream parlor in Greenwich Village (NYC) and he was so exciting to be with that i would constantly be doing things while we were conversing. I began doodling on the over-sized doilies. Then I folded down every other scallop on the doilies. Then since the ice cream sodas came with two straws I was making pressed designs on the straws. And this went on and on but it was totally subconscious! I even took the glass out of its holder. Then suddenly Laszlo exclaimed "You are a genius! (Huh?) Here I am a big shot Hollywood director and if someone asked me to come up with "business" for some girl to do at a table during a conversation, I couldn't come up with even HALF of what you just did!" I surveyed the mess I just created in front of me and I laughed until I cried. Then I needed some more napkins just to wipe my eyes and nose. Laszlo was laughing too.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/25/2020

Laszlo Benedek

Laszlo Benedek Director and Frederic March as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/25/2020

Laszlo Benedek

This is a photo of Frederic March as Willy Loman in DEATH OF A SALESMAN directed by Laszlo Benedek added by Amanda S. Stevenson on April 25, 2020.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/20/2020

Laszlo Benedek

Synopsis

Amateur film or rushes of British Film Iinstitute and National Film Theatre opening of History of cinema Exhibition. 25th anniversary of Sight And Sound.

Roy Castle in attendance. Sound interview of director Anthony Asquith by woman about British films. Professional mute of John Mills arriving. London Film Festival 1957. Interview about why there are to be no British feature films screened. Quinn and talk on Terminus.
New National Film Theatre. Bishop of Southwark. Lord Salisbury? Laying foundation stone and inserting a time capsule with film magazines and a film of the coronation (great!)
Silent section on Celia Johnson with schoolboy enthusiast film makers. Roger Manvell. Prize giving.
Laszlo Benedek at National Film Theatre. Queue to get into cinema. Benedek gives a speech. David Lean in the audience.
ROGER MANVELL DEDICATION.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

02/15/2020

Laszlo Benedek

The Wild One with Marlon Brando, Mary Murphy and Laszlo Benedek as Director.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

07/08/2017

Frank Sinatra and Laszlo Benedek

A photo of Laszlo Benedek directing Frank Sinatra in "The Kissing Bandit."

Date & Place: 1948

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

07/08/2017

Liv Ullmann and Laszlo Benedek

A photo of Liv Ullmann in THE NIGHT VISITOR directed by Laszlo Benedek.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

07/08/2017

Max Von Sydow

A photo of Max Von Sydow who was directed by Laszlo Benedek in "The Night Visitor."

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

07/08/2017

Laszlo Benedek

A photo of Laszlo Benedek

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Laszlo Benedek's Family Tree & Friends

Laszlo Benedek's Family Tree

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Laszlo Benedek Mar 5, 1905 - Mar 11, 1992

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Other Biographies

Other Laszlo Benedek Biographies

Benedek, Laszlo (Jan 3, 1912 - Sep 7, 2010)

Other Benedek Family Biographies

Benedek, Jozsef (Mar 8, 1918 - Sep 21, 2004) Benedek, Selma (Jun 5, 1933 - Mar 25, 1996) Benedek, Vilma (Mar 31, 1920 - Jan 30, 2010) Benedek, George (Dec 19, 1938 - Mar 2, 2006) Benedek, Csaba (Feb 28, 1916 - Sep 1976) Benedek, Olga (Aug 17, 1925 - Apr 3, 2005) Benedek, Nicholas (Sep 29, 1918 - Nov 11, 1997) Benedek, Eleanor (Aug 18, 1926 - Mar 11, 2010) Benedek, Laszlo (Jan 3, 1912 - Sep 7, 2010) Benedek, Katalin (Dec 6, 1910 - Aug 8, 2000)

Benedek, Paul (Jun 6, 1901 - Jan 1981) Benedek, Eva (Jan 19, 1926 - Jan 8, 2009) Benedek, Sophie (Aug 2, 1913 - Aug 5, 2001) Benedek, Helen (Oct 18, 1906 - Oct 2, 1992) Benedek, Nicholas (Jan 1, 1887 - Jul 1969) Benedek, Edward (Dec 14, 1916 - Sep 29, 2005) Benedek, Viola (Sep 26, 1907 - Jul 1983) Benedek, Margaret (Jul 20, 1894 - Aug 1981) Benedek, Nicholas (Nov 2, 1901 - Oct 1977) Benedek, Charles (Mar 20, 1916 - Nov 11, 2003)

About the AncientFaces Community

Laszlo Benedek 1905 - 1992

Laszlo Benedek's History: 1905 - 1992

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Early Life & Education

Religious Beliefs

Professional Career

Death

Obituary

25 Memories, Stories & Photos about Laszlo

Laszlo Benedek's Family Tree & Friends

Laszlo Benedek's Family Tree

Laszlo's Friends

Other Laszlo Benedek Biographies

Other Benedek Family Biographies