Dirk Benedict
Dirk Benedict ( born March 1, 1945 in Helena, Montana ), born Dirk Niewoehner, is an American actor, screenwriter and director. Benedict was known in German-speaking countries mainly through the television series Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team.
Life
Benedict grew up in rural White Sulphur Springs, Montana, the son of a lawyer. His father died when he was 18 years old. He arrived at Whitman College in Walla Walla (Washington) for the first time with acting in touch. During his first semester, he auditioned for the musical Show Boat and got the lead role of Gaylord Ravenal. In the same year he joined the fraternity " Phi Delta Theta " ( ΦΔΘ ). The following three years were marked by further musical productions. After completing his studies, Benedict began a two-year acting training under John Fernald, who had the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London passed 15 years.
Benedict then played repertory theater in Seattle and Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he, among others, Edmund in King Lear, the Tarleton in George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance, Ensign Pulver in Thomas Heggens Mister Roberts and starring in Neil Simon's comedy The Star- Spangled Girl played. An agent sent him to an audition, which to a supporting role in Abelard and Heloise - alongside Diana Rigg and Keith Michell - led on Broadway and was continued later in Los Angeles. Two weeks after the last performance on Broadway Benedict flew to Sweden and played his first film supporting role in Georgia, Georgia at the side of Diana Sands. The film is about conscientious objectors and based on the book by Maya Angelou.
Back in New York City replaced Keir Dullea in Benedict Leonard Gershes Broadway show Butterflies Are Free ( Butterflies are free ); here did the collaboration with Gloria Swanson. At the end of his New York engagement Benedict was given an offer to repeat his role in Hawaii - this time on the side of Barbara Rush. During his stay he Hawaii also appeared in a guest role in the television series Hawaii Five-O, which struck the producers of the psychological thriller Sssnake cobra; they occupied him for the lead role of their film. In his next role he played in madness - W a psychotic, his wife verprügelnden husband along side Twiggy, who celebrated her American film debut with this film.
In the television series Chopper One, he played a starring role, but he had his breakthrough in 1978 as Lieutenant Starbuck in the original version of the science fiction series Battlestar Galactica. Four years later he took over the role of Lieutenant Templeton ' Faceman The ' Peck in the action television series The A-Team. Originally, the figure of the actor Tim Dunigan should be played, but after the pilot, the producers finally decided to Benedict.
After the series ended, he returned in 1987 back to the theater and got the title role in Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Abbey Theatre. Both the piece and Benedicts performance were torn apart by the critics. In 2000 he wrote his first screenplay, Cahoots, with its film adaptation, he later was the director. Cahoots was shown at the Victoria Film Festival in Vancouver. 2006 Peter Thorwarth could win him the role of Douglas Burnett in the German film The golden age, which was only moderately successful in the cinema though. In the film, Benedict makes an impostor posing as a movie star.
From 3 to January 28, 2007 Benedict took part in the fifth season of the celebrity version of Big Brother in England. His entry into the "Big Brother house " was accompanied The A-Team of the theme song of the TV series and took place in a replica of the famous series from the black van. After a total of 26 days ended the controversial Season and Benedict took third place.
At the age of 26 years, Benedict learned the macrobiotic diet during the filming of Georgia, Georgia know in Sweden. This type of diet helped him later when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer according to own data.
From 1986 to 1995 Benedict was married to actress Toni Hudson, whom he had met during the filming of the A- Team episode Blood, Sweat and Cheers. Today he lives with his two sons, George and Roland, in Montana. 1998 Benedict learned that he another son named John (* 1968 ) which came from a youth relationship.