Does anyone know if Jack Benny was gay?

Answer 1

Jack Benny, born Benjamin Kubelsky, was not gay. He did present that impression by using some body language and expressions, but that was just an act. He was married to Mary Livingstone for many years and had at least one child. He was also rumored to be a bit of a ladies man in his younger days.

Answer 2

Was Jack Benny Gay

Answer 3

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RE:
Does anyone know if Jack Benny was gay?

Answer 4

There was no suggestion of Jack Benny's being gay during or after his life.

He was reputed to be something of a ladies' man in his early years and, in his early 30s, married Sadie Marks, who, under the stage name Mary Livinstone, played his wife on the Jack Benny Show.

She died in 1983 at 78, shortly after writing a biography of her late husband, who had died in 1974 at the age of 83. She and Benny are buried alongside each other in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Answer 5

I have never heard or read anything about Jack Benny being gay.

Answer 6

Jack Benny once said, in an interview, that he "embraced the frailities of mankind" Everyone knew someone who resembled him. He was stingy, a bit petty, egotistical about his appeal toward women, tempremental and acted like a spoiled child when he didnt get his way. Yet, his staff put up with it. When we laughed at Benny, it was because we saw something in ourselves that he reflected.

Answer 7

Nothing hinted at in the biography of Jack Benny. Just doesn't hit my gaydar at all. Good performer though. Good to watch and listen to with the archival recordings.

Answer 8

No he wasn't, but I think the idea behind his character was to have him a little on the ambiguous side. His character was also supposed to embody some of the most negative characteristics, and his effeminate mannerisms were more designed to be pompous rather than "gay". Also, back in the 50s society wasn't so obsessed with men acting masculine and defining the more effeminate ones as "gay", it was a lot more acceptable. In fact, you could probably look at most actors and comedians from the 20s-50s and point out quirks and mannerisms that today's society would define as "gay".

Answer 9

Not that I know of. He was married to Mary Livingston(real name Sadie Marks). He may have acted like a priss when he was on stage, but as far as I can tell he wasn't really gay. Besides, why does it matter?

Answer 10

Part of Benny's "schtick" was his limp-wristed hand-to-face gestures. He was not gay, but emphasized what his fans observed as "acting like a girl" for humor. While heterosexual Benny tried to gay it up, many really gay actors or comedians in those days tried to act as "straight" as they could muster.