Ben Murphy (born March 6, 1942) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Kid Curry in the ABC television series Alias Smith and Jones.
Early life Murphy was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Benjamin R. Castleberry and Nadine (née Steele). His mother remarried in 1949 to Patrick Henry Murphy. Ben was raised Catholic in the Chicago suburb of Clarendon Hills, Illinois. An alumnus of St. Procopius Academy in Lisle, Illinois, predecessor to today's Benet Academy, he attended eight colleges before deciding to pursue acting.
Personal life Murphy has a son, Joshua Spriestersbach, from his relationship with Suzanne Bardin.
Career Murphy appeared in a supporting role in The Name of the Game, a series featuring a rotating leading cast including Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack. Murphy played a semi regular role as 'Joseph Sample' assistant to Robert Stack's leading character 'Dan Farrell' in Stack's segments of the show. From 1971–73, he starred in Alias Smith and Jones with Pete Duel (1971–72) and Roger Davis (1972–73). After Alias Smith and Jones, Murphy joined Lorne Greene in the 1973 ABC crime drama Griff.
In the 1983–84 season, Murphy co-starred with Marshall Colt in the ABC drama series Lottery! Murphy played Patrick Sean Flaherty, the man who informed lottery winners of their stroke of fortune, and Colt, formerly with James Arness on NBC's short-lived crime drama McClain's Law, portrayed the Internal Revenue Service agent, Eric Rush, who made sure the winners pay the U.S. government up front. In 1985, Murphy co-starred as department store heir, Paul Berrenger, on the short-lived drama, Berrenger's. His character was at odds with his former wife, Gloria (Andrea Marcovicci) and his own father, Simon (Sam Wanamaker) due to his romance with executive, Shane Bradley (Yvette Mimieux). Murphy starred in his own series Gemini Man, in which he played a secret agent who could become invisible for 15 minutes a day through the use of a special wristwatch. The show did not run beyond a single season. Murphy has since appeared in guest-starring parts, including a murder suspect in CBS's Cold Case.
After becoming a highly ranked tournament tennis player in California in the 1980s, Murphy competed on the USTA singles and doubles circuit and in celebrity events.Profile, encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Accessed December 27, 2023.
Filmography Year Film Role Notes1967 The GraduateShaving StudentUncredited1968 The VirginianMike Bradbury 2 episodes It Takes a ThiefKing PineauEpisode: "A Matter of Royal Larceny" Yours, Mine, and OursLarry The Outsider Patrick Forrester Episode: "Tell It Like It Is... and You're Dead"1968–71 The Name of the GameJoseph Sample6 episodes1969 The Thousand Plane RaidLt. ArcherAnatomy of a CrimePatrick ForresterTV film1970 Medical CenterJerry LambertEpisode: "His Brother's Keeper" The Mod Squad Bob Episode: "A Far Away Place So Near"1971–73 Alias Smith and JonesJed 'Kid' Curry (Thaddeus Jones)50 episodes1973 The Letters Joe Randolph TV film Runaway!Les Reever TV film Love, American Style Bart Segment: "Love and the Postal Meeter"1973–74 Griff Mike Murdoch12 Episodes1974 Heatwave!Frank Taylor This Is the West That WasWild Bill Hickok1975 Sidecar RacersJeff Rayburn Marcus Welby, M.D.Alan Peterson (1 Episode: "Four Plus Hot"1976 Code Name-Minus OneSam CaseyTV film Gemini ManSam Casey11 episodes BridgerKit Carson1979 $weepstake$Episode: "Cowboy, Linda and Angie, Mark"1979, 1983 Fantasy IslandBilly Blake2 episodes - 1979 and 19831979–80 The ChisholmsWill Chisholm13 episodes1979–84 The Love BoatGregory King/Paul in S2 E185 episodes1980 Secret War of Jackie's GirlsBuck TV film1981 Riding with DeathSam Casey TV film1982 Trapper John, M.D.Ned TraversEpisode: "Medicine Man" Time WalkerProf. Douglas McCadden 1983 Uncommon ValorJim Merritt TV film The Winds of WarWarren Henry7 episodes Matt HoustonTerry NobleEpisode: "The Beverly Hills Social Club" The Cradle Will FallDr. Richard Carroll1983–84 Lottery!Patrick Sean Flaherty17 episodes1984 Finder of Lost LovesDavid CarsonEpisode: "Losing Touch" HotelRobbie Joe CarsonEpisode: "Fantasies"1985 Berrenger'sPaul Berrenger11 episodes Gidget's Summer ReunionRon Levering TV film Scarecrow and Mrs. KingAlan ChamberlinEpisode: "A Lovely Little Affair" Murder, She WroteScott LodgeEpisode: "Reflections of the Mind"1986 Stark: Mirror ImageSteve GravesTV film1988 Dirty Dozen: The Series (FOX)Major Danko6 episodes1989 The Twilight ZoneJack HainesEpisode: "Love Is Blind"1990 Shades of L.A.Chuck YellinEpisode: "Shades of L.A."1991 Life Goes OnJordan ParnellEpisode: "Proms and Prams" In the Heat of the Night Tom DaltonEpisode: "The More Things Change"1992 FBI: The Untold StoriesAgt. Jack SimpsonEpisode: "Colonel Penn"1993–95 Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanEthan Cooper 3 episodes1995 High Sierra Search and RescueRoger HarmonEpisode: "Past, Present"1996 Silk Stalkings Senator Grant HemmingsEpisode: "Family Values"Baywatch NightsRobert HoustonEpisode: "Epilogue"1997–2004 JAGLt. Col. John FarrowCaptain Neilsen3 episodesEpisode: "Ghosts of Christmas Past"1998 Air AmericaCornelius StrattonEpisode: "Hostage Situation"1999 E! Mysteries and Scandals HimselfEpisode: "Peter Duel" Pacific BlueChief Frank SwerdlowEpisode: "Swimming in the Dead Pool"Seven DaysCol. Seth MattingerEpisode: "HAARP Attack"2000 Hanging UpRichard(scenes deleted)2001 To Protect and ServeOfficer Friendly The DistrictCongressman Phillip HallettEpisode: "Lost and Found"2003 The Drew Carey ShowReverend HendersonEpisode: "Two Girls for Every Boy" Navy NCISCapt. Veitch Episode: "Sub Rosa"2004 Judging AmyBrad VickersEpisode: "My Little Runaway"2005 FreezerburnGeneral Dwight Rourke2006 Cold CaseTravis Whitman - 2006Episode: "Debut"The Uniform Motion of FollyVincent2007 McBride Semper FiGeneral Dwight RourkeTV film2010 The Genesis CodeProfessor Campbell
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