The Resume

(September 15, 1889-November 21, 1945)
Wrote ‘Of All Things (1921),’ 'Inside Benchley (1942),' ‘Benchley Beside Himself (1943)’ and ‘Chips Off the Old Benchley (published posthumously, 1949)’
Acted in ‘The Jazz Singer (1927)’ and ‘Foreign Correspondent (1940)’
Member of the Algonquin Round Table
Grandfather of Peter Benchley
Nickname was ‘Mr. B.’

Why he might be annoying:

He supported Prohibition when it began, but became a terrible drunk.
He died of complications from cirrhosis.
He cheated on his wife many times.
He recycled his own comedy material.
He was a smart-ass.
When the IRS audited him, he wrote ‘Don’t Be Silly’ on the form and sent it in.
As a joke, he tried to convince his doctor he was growing feathers.

Why he might not be annoying:

When his brother was killed in the Spanish-American war, his mother said: ‘Oh, why couldn’t it have been Robert?’
He and Dorothy Parker were the most famous members of the Algonquin Round Table.
When ‘Vanity Fair’ fired Parker, he quit in solidarity with her.
He contributed to the famous ‘Harvard Lampoon.’
He was a good tipper.
He was modest.
He said: ‘It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.’
Campbell Scott portrayed him in a movie.

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Alcohol Contributed to My Death
• Alfred Hitchcock Films
• Algonquin Round Table Members
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [September] (Ranked: 9151889)
• Delta Upsilon Fraternity
• I am a New Englander
• I am an Adulterer
• I Am Vaudeville [A-L]
• I Died in 1945 (Ranked: 56)
• I Have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[A-B]
• I Squandered My Talent
• Look at Me and My Pet
• Look at My Toys
• Profiles 15251-15500 (Ranked: 15276)
• Satirists and Wits
• Wieland Kalligaro's Profiles [Series 6]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 232 Votes: 46.12% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 74 Votes: 47.30% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 62.07% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 31 Votes: 51.61% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 69 Votes: 56.52% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 120 Votes: 55.83% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 77 Votes: 50.65% Annoying