Victor Benoit
1876-1943
Canadian born silent actor Victor Benoit was born on this date in Ottawa, Ontario. Benoit was first a stage actor, and was known to be acting on Broadway by 1905. He remained active on Broadway until at least 1923. He appeared in his first film in 1913, a short entitled Baseball's Peerless Leader, a Pathé Frères film; and, in fact, the first few films that he made were for the French production house. He is probably best known, though, to appearing in Fox films with Theda Bara. By far and away, the most famous A Fool There Was (1915) (by the way, we are so very fortunate that the film survives, and as of the writing of this, is currently viewable on Amazon Prime). He also appeared in The Devil's Daughter with Bara, also from 1915 (unfortunately, this film apparently has not survived). Benoit appears to have been a Frank Powell favorite in the years 1915 and 1916. He quit acting in films in 1918, with Woman and Wife (1918) being his last film. He returned to the stage, only to retire in the 1920's. Benoit passed away on the the 16th of January in Newburgh, New York at the age of 66.
