Dr. Beineke in "Up the Sandbox"

December 4, 2008
It was through Benedict's character, Dr. Beineke, that Margaret Reynolds was allowed to experience perhaps the most exciting fantasy sequence in "Up the Sandbox." Streisand and Benedict went on location to East Africa to shoot scenes where their characters went on a quest to discover the cherished secret of painless child birth. The fantasy finds Dr. Beineke and Margaret Reynolds among a native tribe of Samburu warriors consisting mostly of women. Viewed by the tribe as unworthy infiltrators, Margaret and the good doctor quickly find their lives in peril. The fantasy ends and the tribal secret remains just that.

Paul Benedict's most notable role was not portrayed on the big screen. For several seasons during the 1970s and 80s, Benedict was a regular on "The Jeffersons" playing the part of Mr. Bentley opposite Sherman Helmsley and Isabel Sanford (who had a part in "Up the Sandbox" as well). Mr. Bentley became one of those iconic television characters that seemed to resonate with viewers, immortalizing Benedict in the annals of television sitcom history in the process.

Benedict's career was a bit more substantive than just playing Mr. Bentley. In 1972, he was directed by Sydney Pollack in the film, "Jeremiah Johnson." In 1993, he directed the Broadway play, "Any Given Day" starring Sada Thompson and Lisa Eichhorn. In 1996, Benedict found himself on the Broadway stage, co-starring with Al Pacino in Eugene O'Neill's two character drama, "Hughie."

Benedict was one of those character actors who was just fun to watch. To borrow the line from "Up the Sandbox" in which someone refers to Benedict's Dr. Beineke character, I like his style.