Ben Murphy was wonderful in 'Alias.' However, after Pete Duel's untimely death he never got on another hit series that I know of. That death effectively ruined Ben's career unless one of you knows differently.
"Be sure you're right, then go ahead!"
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Thank you for the info on Ben's career. He got work, but none of those series did anything except to provide him some money to live on for awhile. I know for a fact from a fan club he went home to Arkansas to live with his mother. Perhaps she was ill, the fan club president didn't say. It was a Pete Duel fan club very well run. I was in it from '88 into '90's. It may still be going.
Ben's best chance for a genuine career would have been a 6 or 7 year run on AS&J. That show was a solid hit and was gaining in popularity when Pete did his thing, unless of course he was murdered which is a theory held by some of his friends. Many famous personalities and famed actors of the time took parts on the show. Count the famous people in The Men that Corrupted Hadleyburg, one of the most outstanding episodes. Even Dave Garroway, famed as the first host of the Today show, was in that episode.
As far as your quotation goes, well logic is great, but it only goes so far and then there is an end to it and then that is the beginning of faith. One has to step out into faith to have an authentic life. Movies are fun or informing, but real life is far more interesting.
"Be sure you're right, then go ahead!"
Ben's career ruined? I don't think it's fair - actually, I guess the word would be "appropriate" - to blame a show's cancellation - or an actor's failure to get a part in the first place - for ruining his career. Despicable public outbursts (Mel Who?), repeated altercations with the press/paps, capital murder, an ugly divorce - those types of things might do it, though.
If an actor has 50 hours of prime time TV footage out there, he's had a damn good shot at getting "noticed!" Don't get me wrong, I adored the show/Ben, and thought he was still gorgeous in an episode (or three or four?) of JAG, as a love interest of Catherine Bell, but I wouldn't say he's an "incredible actor." A lot of dumb luck seems to be involved in the Who Gets To Be a $tar!! game.
I'd hardly call 67 acting credits a "ruined" career. Especially for a man
whose first break was a bit part in 1967's "The Graduate" as "Shaving Student" uncredited) and also was in one of the best Mini-Series ever made "The WInds Of War".
Roger Davis didn;t esflourish either (42 acting credits) but as any professional actor will tell you,you either will be "the toast of the town or "the taste of the day".
The only other thing i can add is,obviously,Ben and Roger were victim's of the well known Hollywood prejudice of "typecasting". Which is too bad,they both did some Grade A acting in the show. As did Pete Duel.
MAN! One dream's come true,ready for another.
(MR.) happipuppi13 *arf,man!*!
Was looking at other credits last night and saw one from NCIS - suddenly realised that exact episode was halfway through playing on TV! Recorded what was left to be sure I got a good look - but man, I would not have recognised him at all... Even the voice was so different...
"Wait till they get a load of me!"
But who knows, without Alias Smith and jones he might never have had a hit series at all. there are lots of actors who are really only known for one starring role and who never again have a big hit. Acting is a very overcrowded profession.
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