# Sam Benedict

Sam Benedict is an American legal drama that aired on NBC from September 1962 to March 1963. The series was created and executive produced by E. Jack Neuman, and produced by William Froug. The series starred Edmond O'Brien in the title role, with Richard Rust as his assistant Hank Tabor, and Joan Tompkins as his secretary Trudy Wagner.
The character Sam Benedict is based on real-life lawyer Jake Ehrlich, who served as technical consultant for the series. According to Hal Erickson in his 2009 Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows, "Beyond his salty delivery of lines and bulldozer courtroom demeanor, Sam Benedict shared with Jake Ehrlich an up-from-poverty background (including a short stint as a prizefighter!), and a sincere empathy for underdog clients."

## Guest stars

* Inger Stevens
* Vera Miles
* Fred Aldrich
* Elizabeth Ashley
* Phyllis Avery
* Larry Blyden
* Anthony Call
* Spencer Chan
* Sidney Clute
* Fred Coby
* Hazel Court
* Yvonne Craig
* Howard Duff
* Ross Elliott, four episodes as Marty Rhodes
* Stefan Gierasch
* Sam Gilman
* Gloria Grahame
* Ellen Holly
* Marsha Hunt
* Diana Hyland
* Jean Inness
* Ray Kellogg
* Nancy Kelly
* Jess Kirkpatrick
* Otto Kruger
* Elizabeth MacRae
* Joyce Meadows
* Burgess Meredith
* Gary Merrill
* John Nolan
* Richard O'Brien
* Maria Palmer
* Michael Parks
* Joseph V. Perry
* Claude Rains
* Ruth Roman
* Joseph Schildkraut
* Barbara Stuart
* Kelly Thordsen
* George Tobias
* Arthur Tovey

## Episode list

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Hannigan" | Boris Sagal | E. Jack Neuman | September 15, 1962 (1962-09-15) |
| Guest star Gene Raymond. Guest star Lloyd Bochner. Co-starring Katharine Bard as Patricia Hannigan, Tammy Marihugh as Bridgette Hannigan. with Sandy Kenyon, John Alderson, Joan Tompkins, Emily McLaughlin, Donna Douglas, Robert Brubaker, Arthur Hanson, Larry Thor and Edgar Stehli as Barney Tibbets. Uncredited (in order of appearance): Stuart Holmes, Eddie Hice, Eugene Jackson, Bert Stevens, Spencer Chan, Colin Kenny |||||
| 2 | "A Split Week in San Quentin" | Lamont Johnson | Joseph Calvelli | September 22, 1962 (1962-09-22) |
| Guest star Jack Weston. Introducing Katharine Ross. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Stefan Gierasch, Rex Ingram, George Kane, J. Pat O'Malley, David Sheiner, Larry Haddon, Robert Ball, Henry Beckman, Jeff Carter and Joe DeSantis. |||||
| 3 | "Nor Practice Makes Perfect" | Boris Sagal | William Froug | September 29, 1962 (1962-09-29) |
| Guest star Claude Rains. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Linda Watkins, John Anderson, Narda Onyx, Ed Prentiss, Frank Puglia, Adrienne Marden, Joey Scott, Rupert Crosse. Uncredited (in order of appearance): Jerry Ziesmer, Colin Kenny |||||
| 4 | "Nothing Equals Nothing" | Lamont Johnson | John W. Bloch | October 6, 1962 (1962-10-06) |
| Guest star Nancy Kelly. Also starring Otto Kruger. and Constance Ford. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Edward Asner as Everett Colner, David Sheiner as Ben Williams, Joe De Santis as Judge Parrelli, Henry Beckman as Gerald Spangler, Karl Swenson as Barney Rosvalley. Willie Tsang as Charlie Sin, Mai Tai Sing as Lily Sin, Kendrick Huxham as Evan, Gage Clarke as Judge Newland, Alexander Lockwood as Judge Baker. Uncredited (in order of appearance): Bert Stevens, Eddie Hice, Colin Kenny, Robert Bice Note: this is the series' sole episode that was filmed in color |||||
| 5 | "Tears for a Nobody Doll" | Roger Kay | Ellis Marcus | October 13, 1962 (1962-10-13) |
| Guest Star Miyoshi Umeki. Co-Starring Joanna Barnes as Cordelia Montagne, Michael Constantine as Judge Tower. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Virginia Gregg as Judge Semmeler, Aki Aleong as Arthur Nishibue, Joey Walsh as Howard Munsey, Harold Gould as Al Walpole, Beulah Quo as Mrs. Matsui, Allen Jung as Mr. Matsui, S. John Launer as Walter Price, John Alvin as Burt and Robert F. Simon as Bill Gottlieb. Uncredited (in order of appearance): Eugene Jackson, Fred Aldrich |||||
| 6 | "Twenty Aching Years" | Paul Nickell | Story by : Ellis Marcus and John Kneubuhl Teleplay by : Ellis Marcus | October 20, 1962 (1962-10-20) |
| Guest Starring Herschel Bernardi. Harry Townes. Paul Carr. Special Guest Star Joanne Linville. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Robert J. Wilke as Radich, Alexander Lockwood as Judge Baker, Francis de Sales as Judge Kramer, Marjorie Corley as Court Clerk. Bob Biheller as Reald, Gene Benton as Court Clerk and Leonard Nimoy as Joe Shatley. |||||
| 7 | "Maddon's Folly" | William Graham | E. Jack Neuman | October 27, 1962 (1962-10-27) |
| Guest Starring Vera Miles. and Robert Lansing. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Woodrow Parfrey as Vernon Kurtz, Paul Newlan as Judge Quinbury, Ken Renard as Bentley Coombs, Edward O'Brien as Christopher Dane, Joel Fluellen as Ames, Eric Norman as Father Dodgan, Donald Kerr as Cab Driver, Roy Taguchi as Waiter and Bernard Kates as Dobmeyer. |||||
| 8 | "Hear the Mellow Wedding Bells" | Ida Lupino | Joseph Petracca & David Rayfiel | November 3, 1962 (1962-11-03) |
| Guest starring Joseph Schildkraut. and Zohra Lampert. Special Guest Star Larry Blyden. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Barry Kelley as Senator Condor, Ross Elliott as Marty Rhodes, Bernard Fein as Harry Owens, Darryl Richards as Leon Katz. Lewis Charles as Charlie, Francis DeSales as Judge, Tom Nello as Cab Driver, Rusty Lane as Court Clerk. and Stanley Adams as Square John McWayde. Uncredited: Eddie Hice. |||||
| 9 | "Life Is a Lie, Love Is a Cheat" | Don Medford | George Eckstein | November 10, 1962 (1962-11-10) |
| Guest Star Audrey Meadows. Co-Starring Joe Mantell. Co-Starring Ed Nelson. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Robert H. Harris, Rusty Lane, Paul Newlan, Ollie O'Toole, John Anderson, Jeane Wood, Roy Glenn, Vince Chase and Dara Howard as Gloria Gorman. Uncredited: Caryl Lincoln |||||
| 10 | "The Bird of Warning" | Abner Biberman | Story by : Barry Trivers Teleplay by : Leonard Heideman & Paul Mason | November 17, 1962 (1962-11-17) |
| Guest star Diana Hyland. Co-Starring Maria Palmer, and George Tobias. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Robert H. Harris as Judge Xavier Thomas, Noah Keen as Judge Travis, Adam Williams as Burton Harper, J. Edward McKinley as Dr. Albert Burnson. Henry Beckman as Jerry Spangler, Ollie O'Toole as Court Clerk, Will J. White as Police Officer and Gale Page as Mrs. Heistand. Uncredited: Eddie Hice |||||
| 11 | "The View from an Ivory Tower" | Paul Nickell | Frederick C. Houghton Jr. | November 24, 1962 (1962-11-24) |
| Guest star Dan O'Herlihy and Phyllis Avery. Co-Starring Lawrence Dobkin, and David Sheiner. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Vaughn Taylor as Pine, Leo Penn as George Klaus, Al Ruscio as Nico Garza, Grace Lee Whitney as Susan Craig, Robert Brubaker as Lieutenant Eubank, John Zaremba as Medical Examiner, Ollie O'Toole as Clerk, Mike Dugan as Deputy, Steve Harris as Assistant District Attorney and George Macready as Jason Kirwell |||||
| 12 | "Everyone's Playing Polo" | Ida Lupino | Joseph Calvelli | December 1, 1962 (1962-12-01) |
| Guest star Burgess Meredith Co-Starring Milton Selzer, Joby Baker, Yvonne Craig, and Irene Dailey. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. John Anderson as Jim Bradley, Harlan Warde as Judge Raymond Dewey, Helen Kleeb as Hawknosed Woman, Robert Bailey as Judge Ionic, Tom Greenway as Tom Brelson, Ray Montgomery as Policeman, Maxine Gates as Chubby Woman |||||
| 13 | "Too Many Strangers" | Lawrence Dobkin | Ellis Marcus | December 8, 1962 (1962-12-08) |
| Guest Star Marsha Hunt. Special Guest Star Gloria Grahame. Co-Starring Judi Meredith and Michael Parks. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Robert J. Wilke as Lt. Radich, Ross Elliott as Marty Rhodes, Bernard Fein as Harry Owen. Harriet MacGibbon as Melia Branton, John Duke as Perry Lewis, Robert Bailey as Judge Paul Ioni, Arthur Hanson as Judge. |||||
| 14 | "So Various, So Beautiful" | Abner Biberman | Arthur Orloff | December 15, 1962 (1962-12-15) |
| 15 | "Where There's a Will" | Paul Nickell | Art Wallace | December 22, 1962 (1962-12-22) |
| 16 | "The Target Over the Hill" | Richard Donner | Story by : Leonard Heideman Teleplay by : Leonard Heideman and E. Jack Neuman | December 29, 1962 (1962-12-29) |
| Guest star Inger Stevens. Co-Starring Everett Sloane, and Arch Johnson. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Jacques Aubuchon as Dr. Arnold Kozlenko, Patrick Hale as Billy Stone, Edward Mallory as Resident Doctor, Crahan Denton as Dr. Anson Holiday, Byron Kane as Court Clerk, Sidney Clute as Patient, Clancy Cooper as bailiff and Dolores Sutton as Sarah Franklin. Uncredited: Don Ames |||||
| 17 | "Not Even the Gulls Shall Weep" | January 5, 1963 (1963-01-05) |
| 18 | "The Boiling Point" | Richard Donner | Story by : S. Bar-David Teleplay by : Paul Mason | January 12, 1963 (1963-01-12) |
| Guest Star David Wayne. Special Guest Star Gary Merrill. Co-Starring Abner Biberman with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Kenneth Tobey as Lt. Pete Kender, Alexander Lockwood as Judge Baker, Elizabeth MacRae as Gretchen Jerome, John McLiam as Inspector. William Sargent as Art Walters, Jo Helton as Claude Merriman, Arthur Hanson as Tom Alderson, Susan Adams as Iris Walters, Lisa Froug as Carole Merriman |||||
| 19 | "Green Room, Grey Morning" | Abner Biberman | Carey Wilbur | January 19, 1963 (1963-01-19) |
| Guest star Ruth Roman. Co-Starring Tige Andrews. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Sam Gilman as Dr. Springheart, Frank Albertson as Frank Gordon, Ken Lynch as Charles DeFranco, Ralph Manza as Pat Smith, Anthony Call as Intern, Bernadette Hale as Receiving Nurse. Uncredited: Albert Cavens |||||
| 20 | "Run Softly, Oh Softly" | Unknown | Unknown | January 26, 1963 (1963-01-26) |
| Guest Starring: Brian Keith, and Lori Martin With Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. Philip Ober as Leo Calbern, Max Showalter as Tom Buchannan, Bert Remsen as Jack Seibert, Robert H. Harris as Judge F. Xavier Thomas, Bernard Fein as Harry Owens, Ed Prentiss as Pete Cahurn, Valentin de Vargas as Tiburcio Ibanez, and Barbara Stuart as Mrs. Herman Beasley |||||
| 21 | "Sugar and Spice and Everything..." | Ida Lupino | Sidney Marshall | February 9, 1963 (1963-02-09) |
| Guest star Arthur O'Connell. Also Starring Yvonne Craig. Co-Starring Robert Emhardt, Co-Starring Gail Kobe. with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner. William Schallert as Neil Carlson, Paul Birch as Capt. Boyd, Peter Mamakos as Marco, Tyler McVey as Newsman, Richard Donner as Grover Stann, Bill Baldwin as Court clerk, Paul Kent as Doctor, Alfred Shelly as Bailiff, Mary Benoit as Matron and Robert Ellin as Dr. Michael Franklin. |||||
| 22 | "Some Fires Die Slowly" | Richard Donner | Art Wallace | February 16, 1963 (1963-02-16) |
| Guest Starring Barry Sullivan and James MacArthur. Special Guest Star Betty Field George Mitchell as Joseph Martinson, Karl Swenson as Barney Rossvalley, Gage Clark as Judge Edward Rogers, Jesslyn Fax as Howard Munsey, Ted Knight as Judge Walker, Norman Burton as Lt. Warren Jones, Joe Perry as Marshall Frescoe and Dara Howard as Cindy Wynn. |||||
| 23 | "Image of a Toad" | Don Richardson | Ellis Marcus | February 23, 1963 (1963-02-23) |
| Guest Starring: Nehemiah Persoff, and Beverly Garland. Co-Starring: Doro Merande, Patricia Huston with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner Russell Collins as Walker Smith, James Flavin as Douglas Ward, Paul Newlan as Judge Morton K. Doyle, William Zuckert as Ben Weber, Charlotte Fletcher as Hostess, Charity Grace as Mrs. Mary Hart |||||
| 24 | "Seventeen Gypsies and a Sinner Named Charlie" | Unknown | Unknown | March 2, 1963 (1963-03-02) |
| Special Guest Star: Edmond O'Brien as Charlie Dunphie. Introducing Special Guest Star: Maria O'Brien as Mary With: Ross Elliott as Marty Rhodes, Robert Bailey as Judge Ionic, Barbara Morrison as Mrs. Philbrook Kurt Russell as Knute, Kyle Johnson as Dutch, Katy Sweet as Emily, Barry Livingston as Frankie, Manuel Padilla as Joey, Rory Stevens as Augie |||||
| 25 | "Accomplice" | Richard Donner | Larry Cohen | March 9, 1963 (1963-03-09) |
| Guest Star: Eddie Albert. Co-Starring: Phillip Pine, Roger Perry and Brock Peters. Oliver McGowan as Judge DeFranco, Alexander Lockwood as Judge Baker, Frank Leo as Court Clerk, Art Lewis as Reporter, John Nolan as Reporter and Ellen Holly as Elissa Reagan |||||
| 26 | "Read No Evil" | Abner Biberman | Robert Bloomfield | March 16, 1963 (1963-03-16) |
| Guest Star: Robert Lansing. Co-Starring: Olive Deering and Susan Silo. Introducing Frank Sinatra, Jr. as Roy Faring, with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner Gregory Morton as Judge Vesy, Shirley O'Hara as Helen Eddy, Paul Fix as Jason Hewitt, Michael Harris as Foster, Walter Kelley as Court Clerk, and Donald Woods as Byron Leonard |||||
| 27 | "Of Rusted Cannons and Fallen Sparrows" | Richard Donner | John T. Dugan | March 23, 1963 (1963-03-23) |
| Guest Star: James Gregory. Special Guest Star: Nina Foch. Co-Starring: Michael Strong with Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner Lisabeth Hush as Jacquie Bonneau, James Anderson as Sheriff Conway, Donald Barry as Judge Edward Barrett, Russell Thorsen as Thomas Morgan, Bill Walker as Negro Victim, Bobby Troup as Bearded Man |||||
| 28 | "Season for Vengeance" | Unknown | Unknown | March 30, 1963 (1963-03-30) |

## Disclaimer in end credits

"Sam Benedict is based on the real living character of J. W. (Jake) Ehrlich but the stories are fictional."

## Home media

On November 22, 2016, Warner Bros. released Sam Benedict – The Complete Series on DVD via their Warner Archive Collection. This is a manufacture-on-demand (MOD) release, available through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.

## References and notes

* 1 2 Erickson, Hal (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008. McFarland. p. 243. ISBN 978-0786438280.
* ↑ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1029. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
* ↑ Joseph Schildkraut received a best actor Emmy Award nomination in 1963 for his guest-starring role on Sam Benedict. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
* ↑ 'The Complete Series' of the 1962 NBC Legal Drama Archived 2016-10-28 at the Wayback Machine