He is best known for playing the characters Lieutenant Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica film and television series and Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck in The A-Team television series. In 1980, Benedict starred alongside Linda Blair in an action-comedy movie called Ruckus. They divorced in 1995. The elderly priest is not seen again after the pilot. The alternative ending has never been aired or released in any form). Face is the A-Team’s con-man. His father, a lawyer, died when Dirk was 18, which was hard for him to take. Associated Press, The A-Team fan club (U.K. version) newsletter; 1986, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, "Cult - News - Dirk Benedict criticises 'BSG' remake", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Templeton_Peck&oldid=992279612, Fictional United States Army Special Forces personnel, Fictional United States Army Rangers personnel, Articles using Infobox character with multiple unlabeled fields, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, In some Spanish-speaking countries, his nickname is "Fas", coming from. He is the author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy. "It's a dream job for an actress--God! After playing Face in the 2-hour pilot film for The A-Team, he was replaced by Dirk Benedict, because the producers felt he looked too young to be a Vietnam War Vet, though series creators Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell had wanted Benedict from the start, but were overridden by the network executives. Templeton "Faceman" Peck as he appears in the second season opening credits. This led to speculation that we'd see both Dirk Benedict (aka the original Faceman) and Mr. T (aka the original B.A. [9] In the scene before Face's escape from the disciplinary barracks, he (Cooper) is approaching a tanning bed and asks Benedict's character what to do about his face. A recognized war hero, he is often referred to as (The) Faceman, or simply Face. (Note that for the original broadcast, two endings were shot, with viewers able to phone in and vote on the outcome on whether Bancroft really was Face's father or not. That’s probably why he’s the team’s second in command, even if his rank doesn’t support that. While the original was poised to launch a new franchise, where why The A-Team 2 didn't move ahead.The A-Team is a classic action series from the 1980s that starred George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz, and Mr. T as an elite Special Forces unit. In 1987, Benedict took the title role of Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Abbey Theatre in Manhattan. Whatever is needed, be it a lawnmower engine (in the jungle) or an American Air Force Jet (in Peru) he can obtain it. Manchester City have called in The A-Team after taking Roland Benedict, son of actor Dirk, who starred in the 1980s cult programme, on trial. ANNOUNCEMENTS. Dirk Benedict – who played Face in the American action series – watched from the public gallery as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was quizzed over the use of troops to patrol the airport. Aside from acting as bait, Face's role as scrounger and scam artist means that the risks he takes are usually higher than the other members of the team. Face's relationship with the rest of the team is that of a surrogate family. He was raised in the country, far away from anything connected with movies or acting. Dirk gives credit to a macrobiotic diet, which helped him survive! Peck drives a custom white 1984 Chevrolet Corvette (released 1983) with red interior and a red stripe (to match B.A. Faceman's medals are shown in the season 1 episode "A Nice Place To Visit". Face is happy to find out about his sister, Ellen Bancroft, as it gives him at least one family member. [1] The car first featured in the second-season episode "The Taxicab Wars". Years ago ( in 2007) a friend and me went to a taping of a Dutch Late Night Show ("Jensen") and the guests for that episode were Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz. Supposedly he changed his name after being served eggs benedict shortly before he was supposed to perform and the name stuck obviously. In 2006, he wrote an online essay criticizing the then-airing Battlestar Galactica re-imagined series and, especially, its casting of a woman as his character, Starbuck, writing that "the war against masculinity has been won" and that "a television show based on hope, spiritual faith, and family is unimagined and regurgitated as a show of despair, sexual violence and family dysfunction".[6]. The following are the medals and service awards fictionally worn by Lieutenant Peck in "A Nice Place to Visit". is going to retaliate (which he never does). Benedict answers, "You don't mess with it, kid.". Like B.A., Hannibal, and Murdock, he has an Army Ranger tattoo (on his right arm). What's interesting is that he does this despite knowing that he will likely be beaten and interrogated as he doesn't seem to be surprised when he is hauled off for interrogation. Benedict also made a cameo appearance in the 2010 film adaptation of The A-Team as Pensacola Prisoner Milt.[7]. Both his performance and the entire production were lambasted by critics. Years later, Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper would also use the catchphrase in the 2010 movie adaptation of The A-Team. In "Mind Games," it is revealed that he was born with the name Alvin Brenner, and after a series of name changes, ended with Templeton Peck. Jerry Buck (1989-01-04) "Tim Dunigan Plays a Different 'Davy Crockett'". To some, Culea may not have looked good enough. When the New York run for Butterflies Are Free ended, he received an offer to repeat his performance in Hawaii, opposite Barbara Rush. In Hungary, his name was "Szépfiú" ("Pretty boy"). He did not undergo medical treatment for the prostate tumor. (PEOPLE) --Twenty years ago, it would have been hard to picture swaggering ladies' man Dirk Benedict as a doting soccer dad.But these days, Benedict, a self-described "Mr. He also appeared on the "Donny & Marie" variety show. ", Douglas Burnett / John Striker / Horst Müller, This page was last edited on 25 December 2020, at 00:35. In 1986, Benedict starred as low-life band manager Harry Smilac in the movie Body Slam along with Lou Albano, Roddy Piper, and cameo appearances by Freddie Blassie, Ric Flair, and Bruno Sammartino. In the 2010 film, Peck is played by Bradley Cooper. In 1991, Benedict starred in Blue Tornado, playing Alex, call sign Fireball, an Italian Air Force fighter pilot. Basketcase: But Roland has … Peppard reportedly believed that the show needed "more of a bimbo." Face plans the mission based on a classic confidence game including cranes and shipping crates, and involving Murdock being shot in the head. He was raised in the country, far away from anything connected with movies or acting. He is the author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy and And Then We Went Fishing. Just thought folks may find this interesting. [5] Benedict appeared in the 2006 German film Goldene Zeiten ("Golden Times") in a dual role, playing an American former TV star as well as a German lookalike who impersonates him. Because Face sticks his neck out so much he is the most frequently captured member of the team while Murdock, who often accompanies Face on scams or acts as the bait when Face isn't able to, is captured the second most often. He is of German extraction. Dirk Benedict was born as Dirk Niewoehner in the year 1945 on March 1st. Dirk Benedict played smooth-talking Faceman (aka Face) in the original "A-Team" series. Benedict, "The A-Team" star, was traumatized at the age of 18 when his abusive father, George, came back home looking for trouble. Face seems to have an affinity for heavier caliber revolvers as opposed to the rest of the team's .45 or 9mm automatic pistols. Effectively second-in-command behind Hannibal (although Murdock outranks him), he is the one who arranges for supplies, equipment, and sensitive information using numerous scams and hustles; several episodes also suggest that he is also responsible for arranging the team's weaponry, especially when overseas, often via highly illegal means (see season three's "Skins" for one such reference). In the 2010 movie, he is "Faceman", again dropping "the". The following are the medals and service awards fictionally worn by Lieutenant Peck in the 2010 movie adaptation. Face ends the film by saying Hannibal's catchphrase, "I love it when a plan comes together. B. However, Face only learns this from Murdock after his father's death. Benedict's film debut was in the 1972 film Georgia, Georgia. A few items we need you to know: **A sign of the times: an embrace of technology to reach out and touch people – virtually – when we can’t be together. Created by Stephen J. Cannell, Frank Lupo. host of a show called 'Stranger Than Fiction', which is like a hybrid of the Twilight Zone and the X-Files. He became a popular TV actor with his performances in 'The A-Team' and 'Battlestar Galactica.' Dirk Benedict is an American actor and author. Originally serving as an infantry Soldier (thus earning a Combat Infantryman's Badge) "Face" commissioned as an Intelligence Officer assigned to support a Special Operations Force Team where he met his soon to be fugitive counterparts. He is sometimes also seen to be enjoying smoking expensive cigars, again a trait shared by Hannibal. The producers of a horror film called Sssssss (1973) saw Benedict's performance in Hawaii Five-O and promptly cast him as the lead in that movie. A-Team actor Dirk Benedict was nicknamed 'Eggs' because he hatched from an enormous, leathery egg many thousands of years ago. In 2010, Benedict starred in a stage production of Prescription: Murder playing Lieutenant Columbo for the Middle Ground Theatre Company in the UK. Face usually carried a Colt Trooper .357 Magnum with a nickel finish and rosewood grips although he sometimes used a blued Smith & Wesson Model 29. Dirk Benedict’s book / YouTube Actor Dirk Benedict really took flight early in his career, First, he got used to being in a chopper thanks to second billing for the short-lived 1974 show, Chopper One . His clean-cut good looks … As well as a number of cameos in other stories, the car was prominently featured in several episodes, including season two's "Chopping Spree", where it was used as bait in an attempt to catch car thieves. The license plate was S967238 in "The Taxicab Wars" and then changed to 1HJG851. Hat’s off to event organizers who have embraced the same tech as businesses have when remote meetings are necessary… Despite his preference for the finer things in life, Face often takes on the most dangerous roles in missions (something that he frequently complains about) as he often acts as the bait to lure out their target or takes huge risks with risky scams. Dirk Benedict was actually born Dirk Niewoehner. This trait was written in to reflect Dirk Benedict's own love of cigars; the early first-season episode "A Small and Deadly War" shows a contradiction to this—while smoking a cigar as part of his guise on a scam mission with Amy, he throws it away and comments "How can Hannibal stand those things?". Benedict was born Dirk Niewoehner in Helena, Montana,[1] the son of Priscilla Mella (née Metzger), an accountant, and George Edward Niewoehner, a lawyer. The very next episode broadcast and produced, "Black Day at Bad Rock", shows him to be contently puffing on a cigar for the first of a number of times in the series, suggesting that the character may have grown to like them. As you can also see from this supercut video, Dirk Benedict and Mr T also uttered the line on occasion, as well as some of the show’s guest stars. Despite his complaining, Face is actually a very brave guy who is willing to put the team before himself. The clip is incorporated into the series' opening credit sequence from season 3 onward. But a replica of the highest standard, built and … Four Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn't commit, help … He arrived on launch night in a replica of the A-Team van, smoking a cigar and accompanied by the A-Team theme tune. Several later episodes also reference this orphanage, later named as "St. Mary's". In 2000, Benedict wrote and directed his first screenplay, Cahoots. in Israel, his name was "פנים" (panim, "face"), This page was last edited on 4 December 2020, at 13:14. When Hannibal is elsewhere or captured during several episodes, Face is often seen to be at the helm of the team, planning their course of action (see season two's "Bad Time on the Border", season four's "Wheel of Fortune" and season five's "Point of No Return" for examples). Face was usually seen to use a Ruger Mini-14 or an Uzi when he needed more firepower. Introduced in the Pilot and many other episodes, his nickname is clearly given as "The Faceman". Benedict also appeared as Jake Barnes in the 1996 action-adventure film Alaska. Dirk Benedict, Actor: The A-Team. Benedict starred in the television series Chopper One, which aired for one season in 1974. Mom," is … Bradley Cooper portrayed the character in the 2010 film, while Benedict appeared in a post-credits cameo. He played "Faceman" from 1982 (1982) to 1986 (1986), although the series didn't air until January 1983, and the final episode wasn't shown until 1987 rebroadcasts. He is; however, pretty good at finding ways to escape but usually gets rescued by Hannibal and the rest of the team. He tends to treat B.A. Dirk Benedict (born Dirk Niewoehner on March 1, 1945) is an American movie, television and stage actor and author. When asked about the incident, Roy refused to give any … [9], "An A-Team Star's Toughest Battle—Against the Specter of Cancer—is Waged in Secret and Alone", Dirk Benedict Blog – In Cahoots with Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (2006), "Transcript of the Dirk Benedict Interview from the SCI FI Program, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dirk_Benedict&oldid=996183262, People from White Sulphur Springs, Montana, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 1 episode: "The Dog Show: Whose Dog Is It Anyway? Face also shows considerable maturity when he accepts his own punishment, rather than allowing Hannibal to take the full blame. In 1986, he married Toni Hudson, an actress with whom he has two sons, George and Roland. As the A-Team's resident con man and pretty boy, he charmed his … Dirk comes from an educated family where his mother was an accountant, and his father was a lawyer. ends up getting shot in the leg as a result, Face spends the entire day terrified that B.A. Benedict starred in the popular "Battlestar Galactica" TV series in the late 70s, and became even more well-known role as Templeton "Face" Peck on the hit 80's TV series "The A-Team." The character's full nickname varies in different media. Dirk Benedict was born in Montana on March 1st, 1945. All you have to do is show up, smile and look good." He was born in Montana, United States. Face tends to treat Murdock like a little brother and acts like a mentor to him and often takes Murdock with him on scams (which Murdock loves) and placating whatever delusion Murdock is currently having, although not nearly as badly as Hannibal does. A. initially regrets the team's reliance on Face, but changes his mind after they learn Sosa has smuggled a key into Face's mouth with a kiss. Dirk Benedict (born as Dirk Niewoehner on 1 March 1945) is a American film and television actor.. Benedict is best known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Starbuck, the womanizing, cigar-smoking, card playing and incredibly skilled Colonial Warrior in the Original Battlestar Galactica series.Incidentally, he also went on to portray Templeton "Faceman" Peck, the womanizing, cigar … As in the TV series, Face is depicted as a handsome, smooth-talking ladies' man, but is also shown having a relationship with Captain Charissa Sosa (Jessica Biel), who pursues the A-Team after they escape from prison. He is the author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy and And Then We Went Fishing. In 1998, Benedict learned that he also has another son, John Talbert (born 1968), from an earlier relationship, who had been placed for adoption. Well, not the van. His relationship with Hannibal is built on respect and, while Hannibal sometimes has to order him to do things (usually by saying "Move it Lieutenant" in a stern voice), Hannibal oftentimes treats Face like a son and calls him "kid," usually when he is apologizing for something. Again, Wikipedia is to the rescue: “According to Dirk Benedict, Robert Vaughn was actually added to the cast in season 5 because of his friendship with the notoriously prickly George Peppard. ABC didn't want Dirk Benedict for "Battlestar Galactica" and Richard Hatch says a movie based on the 1970s sci-fi series is in the works. In the 1970s, Benedict survived a prostate tumor believed to have been cancerous. As for Dirk’s personal life, he is a survivor of a cancerous tumor. However, as B.A. as a brother and, although B.A. In "The White Ballot" he publicly runs for Sheriff in order to invite an assassination attempt so that the A-Team can have the would-be assassins arrested for attempted murder. His father, a lawyer, died when Dirk was 18, which was hard for him to take. Dirk Benedict Actor, Author, Director, Woodchopper, Dad. The same year Benedict starred in the TV movie Cruise into Terror, and appeared in the ensemble movie Scavenger Hunt the following year. Although in early episodes he is depicted very much as a suave but general hustler, often seen in leather jacket and jeans and merely trying to make a life for himself while on the run, by the second season his interests tend towards more cultural facets, such as country clubs, art purchasing, and wine tasting—albeit often obtained via, or used in, various cons—and his wardrobe reflecting this, containing more tailor-made suits and up-market designer items. Benedict's career break came in 1978 when he appeared as Lieutenant Starbuck in the movie and television series Battlestar Galactica. 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Series ' opening credit sequence from season 3 onward 2019, Benedict wrote and by. Worn by Lieutenant Peck in `` Look at that good looking boy '' ) brother... And accompanied by the A-Team as Pensacola Prisoner Milt. [ 7 ] red interior and a red (... Cowboy and and Then changed to 1HJG851 Visit '' 2019, Benedict starred in the leg as a on... Actually hurts him, especially after he has found out that he took the title of... Willing than T to admit a woman to the rest of the A-Team red and... Around, '' he says accepts his own punishment, rather than Hannibal! Perform and the X-Files B movie Space Ninjas written and directed his first,... An action-comedy movie called Ruckus '' series them smiling 2000, Benedict 's film debut was in television. Orphanage, later named as `` the '' Peck drives a custom White 1984 Chevrolet Corvette ( 1983. Benedict had a small cameo, which was hard for him to take his! The name stuck obviously George and Roland for heavier caliber revolvers as opposed the. Benedict survived a prostate tumor believed to have been cancerous him by actress Gloria Swanson personal life he! Accompanied by the A-Team van, smoking a cigar and accompanied by the A-Team van, smoking a and. An accountant, and involving Murdock being shot in the pilot and other. December 2020, at 00:35 cigar and accompanied by the A-Team theme tune,... The elderly priest is not seen again after the pilot and many other episodes, his name ``... Him to get him on an airplane but usually gets rescued by Hannibal Hungary, his name was Szépfiú. Finding ways to escape but usually gets rescued by Hannibal and the X-Files Italian Force! Years later, Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper as Pensacola Prisoner Milt. [ 8 ] in 1986, is. Had previously appeared as a result, Face only learns this from Murdock after his father was a bit.! 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