Ted Beniades

Theodore Cleanthis Beniades was born on November 17, 1922, in New York City, the son of Greek immigrants Mary and Cleanthis Beniades. He grew up in the Bronx. On March 1, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and served until his discharge in September 1944. Following his military service, he pursued formal training at the Dramatic Workshop in New York, which launched his career as a character actor across stage, film, and television.

Beniades maintained an active Broadway presence from 1950 to 1970, appearing in a range of productions that included South Pacific, Wonderful Town, Fanny, Golden Boy, and The Garden of Sweets, among others. His stage work established him as a versatile performer capable of sustaining a career across two decades of American theater.

Beyond the stage, Beniades built a substantial screen career. He appeared in the films The Odd Couple, Serpico, and The Next Man, and earned particular recognition for his role as the undercover police officer Seidelbaum in Brian De Palma's Scarface. His television credits included recurring and guest appearances on Dark Shadows, N.Y.P.D., The Jackie Gleason Show, Kojak, The Andros Targets, and The Equalizer.

Beniades died on October 24, 2014, at the age of 91.