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Jay Benedict

Jay Benedict

Actor · Died April 4, 2020, aged 68 · Burbank, California, USA

Jay Benedict (April 11, 1951 – April 4, 2020) was an American actor who spent most of his life and career in the United Kingdom. He was frequently cast as American characters in British films and television programmes. He was best known for his television roles as Doug Hamilton in the soap opera Emmerdale, and as Captain/Major John Kieffer in the detective drama Foyle's War, in the episodes "Invasion" and "All Clear". He also played Russ Jorden, Newt's father, in the special "Extended Edition" of the film Aliens. Benedict was born in Burbank, California. He moved to Europe with his family in the 1960s, and spent most of his working life in England. He was of half German descent. His theatrical credits include The Rocky Horror Show in the Kings Road in the early 1970s, Harold Pinter's production of Sweet Bird of Youth, The Reverend Lee in The Foreigner and Riccardo in Franco Zeffirelli's production of Filumena in which he played opposite Pierce Brosnan in the latter's first stage role, and Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, in a touring production of "One Day at a Time". In 2013, he appeared opposite Steven Berkoff and Andree Bernard in the world premiere of the former's one act play An Actor's Lament at The Berkoff Performing Arts Centre at Alton College, followed by a second performance at The Sinden Theatre, Homewood School, Tenterden in Kent, two nights at The Maltings Theatre & Cinema in Berwick-upon-Tweed and then a three-week run at the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In May 2014, it was revived with a short run at the Theatre Royal, Margate with a further one-week run scheduled at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, in September 2014. In August 2014, he returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the world premiere of Terry Jastrow's The Trial of Jane Fonda, playing World War II veteran Archie Bellows. He also appeared widely on television, most notably as Frank Crowe in an episode of the BBC's award-winning 2003 television miniseries Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, John E. Jones III in Nova's Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial, Alan Kalanak in the 2001 Christmas Special edition of Jonathan Creek and Yves Houdet in Thames Television's mini-series of Angus Wilson's Anglo-Saxon Attitudes. Other television appearances include Lilyhammer as Agent Becker, Queen Victoria's Men (Lord Melbourne), Sharpe's Honour (General Verigny), Bergerac (Martin Colley), Death Train (Halloran), Harnessing Peacocks (Eli Drew) and Only Love (Roger). He provided the voice for Shiro Hagen in Star Fleet, the English adaptation of the Japanese X-Bomber. His first film role, at the age of 11, was in the 1963 Tony Saytor film La Bande à Bobo. In 1977, he played Deak in the Tosche Station scenes in Star Wars, which were deleted from the film before release. Subsequent film appearances include The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (Didier le Clair), Icon (Carey Jordan), The White Knight (Turkish Ambassador), The Russia House (Spikey), Saving Grace (the MC), Rewind and The Dark Knight Rises (Rich Twit). In 2003 he was third lead in Vicente Aranda's version of Carmen, playing Don Prospero. ... Source: Article "Jay Benedict" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 11, 1951
Died
April 4, 2020 (aged 68)
From
Burbank, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are Jay Benedict's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Survival
18%
Self
16%
Power
16%
Morality
11%
Ideas
10%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role
  • Mentoras Dr. Aaron Michaels in Mansquito (2005)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Absurd
4
Contemplative
3
Melancholic
4
Thrilling
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jay Benedict's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay Benedict's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hostile(2017)

    as Wounded Man

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Madame(2017)

    as Dr. Schwiman

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Holy Lands(2017)

    as Doctor Schwimann

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Two Is a Family(2016)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • I.T.(2016)

    as Detective Unrein

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • London Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Phone Voice (voice)

  • The Gamechangers(2015)

    as Reporter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Moonwalkers(2015)

    as Colonel Dickford

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Cilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ed Sullivan

  • The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared(2013)

    as French Foreign Minister

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • 400 Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Stadium Technician

  • The Dark Knight Rises(2012)

    as Rich Twit

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Lilyhammer(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent Becker

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Page Eight(2011)

    as Master of the College

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Judge John Jones

  • The Apocalypse Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Rayli

  • Djihad! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Dr McKenzie

  • The Maidens' Conspiracy(2006)

    as Turkish Ambassador

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Mansquito(2005)

    as Dr. Aaron Michaels

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Nature Unleashed: Earthquake(2005)

    as Mr. Reed

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Icon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Carey Jordan

  • Secret Agents(2004)

    as L'Américain

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Crowe

  • Carmen(2003)

    as Prospero

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain John Kieffer · as Major John Kiefer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Hotel! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Vice President

  • Saving Grace(2000)

    as Master of Ceremonies

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • RKO 281(1999)

    as Darryl Zanuck

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • S Club 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Joni's Boyfriend

  • Only Love(1998)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Lexx(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Vet

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Double Team(1997)

    as Brandon

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Beaumarchais the Scoundrel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as L'homme en gris

  • Sharpe's Honour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as General Verigny

  • The Patriots(1994)

    as NSA Colleague

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Genghis Cohn(1993)

    as Dr. Burkhardt

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Sharpe(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Verigny

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Detonator(1993)

    as Halloran

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Anglo Saxon Attitudes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Yves Houdet

  • Shining Through(1992)

    as Wisecracker in War Room

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Maigret(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as M. Crosby

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • 2Point4 Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob

  • The Russia House(1990)

    as Spikey

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Dark Obsession(1989)

    as Joe Dimandino

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Hostage of Europe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Captain Henry Fox

  • Un métier de seigneur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Austin

  • The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission(1985)

    as Didier Le Clair

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Where Is Parsifal?(1984)

    as Luke

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Lonely Lady(1983)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Number 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as DC Edwards

  • Victor/Victoria(1982)

    as Guy Langois

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as S.E.D.

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Colley

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Oppenheimer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as SED

  • Licensed to Love and Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Mad Professor

  • Hanover Street(1979)

    as Cpl. Daniel Giler

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Tycoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Robert Gergen

  • Come Back, Little Sheba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Brice

  • Laurence Olivier Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Bruce

  • Yanks Go Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 6 episodes · as Private Floyd Tutt

  • La bande à Bobo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1963 to 2018; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Double Team (1997)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

Holy Lands (2017)

Midcredits 55th

Most popular right now

Double Team (1997)

Film career

19632018

Peak 2016 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting60 of 60: 60 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s17 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s13 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
799909

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jay Benedict's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 26th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

The Lonely Lady (1983)

79th percentile spread · 75% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 47/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 66, detractors 30. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jay Benedict's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 69 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles23–68 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jay Benedict work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay Benedict's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Vicente Aranda shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers