Ben Murphy

Biography: Born in Arkansas and raised in Memphis and Chicago, American actor Ben Murphy worked his way through college by driving a pie truck. Eventually he'd attend eight colleges, from the University of Illinois to the University of the Americas in Mexico City, where by his own admission his sole interests were acting and womanizing. A stint at the Pasadena Playhouse led to Murphy's first film role, a one line bit in The Graduate (1967). He was signed to a Universal contract in 1967, appearing in several of the studios' series, including as a semiregular hitch on The Name of the Game. When a midseason cancellation on ABC in 1970 required Universal to come up with a quickie replacement, the studio slapped together a derivation of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid titled Alias Smith and Jones, with Ben Murphy and Pete Deuel in the leads. Much was made at the time of Murphy's resemblance to Paul Newman (one of the stars of Butch Cassidy), though everyone involved with Alias Smith andBorn in Arkansas and raised in Memphis and Chicago, American actor Ben Murphy worked his way through college by driving a pie truck. Eventually he'd attend eight colleges, from the University of Illinois to the University of the Americas in Mexico City, where by his own admission his sole interests were acting and womanizing. A stint at the Pasadena Playhouse led to Murphy's first film role, a one line bit in The Graduate (1967). He was signed to a Universal contract in 1967, appearing in several of the studios' series, including as a semiregular hitch on The Name of the Game. When a midseason cancellation on ABC in 1970 required Universal to come up with a quickie replacement, the studio slapped together a derivation of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid titled Alias Smith and Jones, with Ben Murphy and Pete Deuel in the leads. Much was made at the time of Murphy's resemblance to Paul Newman (one of the stars of Butch Cassidy), though everyone involved with Alias Smith and Jones pooh-poohed the idea that Murphy's looks alone won him the part. After Smith and Jones left the air, Murphy tried his luck with feature films, with results ranging from the tolerable to the tepid: Heat Wave (1974), Sidecar Racers (1975) and Time Walker (1982) were typical titles in the Murphy manifest. He periodically returned to television, where work was more satisfying if not more secure. Ben Murphy was a regular on a whole slew of short-lived TV weeklies, including Griff (1973), The Gemini Man (1976) (for which Murphy dropped several pounds and, it is said, his highly abrasive attitude), The Chisholms (1979), The Winds of War (1983), Lottery$ (1984), Berrenger's (1985), and Dirty Dozen: The Series (1988). Expand

Ben Murphy's Scores

  • TV
Average career score: N/A
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of
  2. Mixed: 0 out of
  3. Negative: 0 out of
0 tv reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd Cold Case: Season 3 Jun 30, 2013 Travis 8.5
tbd Judging Amy: Season 5 Sep 23, 2003 Brad Vickers tbd
tbd The Drew Carey Show: Season 8 Sep 9, 2002 Rev. Henderson tbd
tbd The District: Season 2 Sep 29, 2001 Congressman Phillip Hallett tbd
tbd JAG: Season 5 Sep 21, 1999 Captain Roy Nielsen tbd
tbd JAG: Season 4 Sep 22, 1998 Lt. Com. John Farrow tbd
tbd Silk Stalkings: Season 5 Sep 17, 1995 Grant tbd
tbd Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: Season 3 Sep 24, 1994 Actor tbd
tbd Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: Season 1 Jan 1, 1993 Actor 8.8
tbd In the Heat of the Night: Season 5 Oct 1, 1991 Tom Dalton tbd
tbd Life Goes On: Season 2 Sep 16, 1990 Jordan Parnell tbd
tbd The Twilight Zone (1985): Season 3 Sep 14, 1988 Actor tbd
tbd The Twilight Zone (1985): Season 3 Sep 14, 1988 Actor tbd
tbd Murder, She Wrote: Season 2 Sep 29, 1985 Scott Lodge tbd
tbd The Love Boat: Season 9 Sep 28, 1985 Nathan Paul tbd
tbd The Love Boat: Season 8 Sep 22, 1984 Recurring Role / Brandon Sommerville tbd
tbd The Love Boat: Season 7 Oct 8, 1983 Recurring Role / Matthew Saver tbd
tbd The Love Boat: Season 6 Oct 2, 1982 Recurring Role / Gregory King tbd
tbd The Love Boat: Season 2 Sep 16, 1978 Recurring Role / Paul Dunbar tbd
tbd Alias Smith and Jones: Season 3 Sep 16, 1972 Thaddeus Jones / Jed "Kid" Curry / Kid Curry/Thaddeus Jones tbd
tbd Love, American Style: Season 4 Sep 5, 1972 Actor tbd
tbd Alias Smith and Jones: Season 2 Sep 16, 1971 Thaddeus Jones / Jed "Kid" Curry / Kid Curry/Thaddeus Jones tbd
tbd Alias Smith and Jones: Season 1 Jan 5, 1971 Thaddeus Jones / Jed "Kid" Curry / Actor / Kid Curry/Thaddeus Jones tbd