Benjamin Hendrickson

Benjamin Hendrickson (August 26, 1950 – July 3, 2006) was an American actor born in Huntington, New York. He trained at the Juilliard School as a member of its inaugural drama division class and was a founding member of John Houseman's The Acting Company. He is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Harold "Hal" Munson Jr., Chief of Detectives in the fictional town of Oakdale on the daytime soap opera As the World Turns.

Hendrickson's stage career spanned from 1973 to 1984 and encompassed a range of productions, among them Awake and Sing!, Strider, The Three Sisters, The Time of Your Life, and Edward II. He also appeared in The Elephant Man, assuming the title role in 1981 after previously serving as understudy to David Bowie in the part.

Before establishing himself on television, Hendrickson made early appearances on daytime programs including Another World, Texas, and Guiding Light, where he played the villainous Silas Crocker. His film work included originating the role of Frederick Chilton in the 1986 thriller Manhunter, a character subsequently portrayed by Anthony Heald in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Red Dragon (2002) and by Raúl Esparza in the television series Hannibal (2013–2015). Additional film credits include Dreams Don't Die (1982), Russkies (1987), Regarding Henry (1991), Consenting Adults (1992), and Spanking the Monkey (1994).

Hendrickson joined As the World Turns in October 1985, playing Hal Munson in what was initially conceived as a short-term role. The character's tenure expanded significantly after Hal became romantically involved with Margo, then played by Hillary B. Smith, and Hendrickson signed a longer-term contract. He continued in the role, with a brief interruption, until July 2006, accumulating more than twenty years in the part. In 2003, he received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance as Hal.

Hendrickson's body was discovered on July 3, 2006, at his home in Huntington, New York. Suffolk County Police ruled his death a suicide resulting from a gunshot wound to the head. Because As the World Turns taped episodes several weeks before broadcast, his final scenes aired on July 12, 2006, nine days after his death, with a dedication to him appearing at the episode's close. The show subsequently addressed the character's absence by having Hal Munson die in the line of duty in October 2006, and a July 5, 2006 TV Guide report confirmed the role would not be recast.