Jon Toby Benn
Born
Jon Toby Benn

July 30, 1935
New York City, United States
DiedDecember 9, 2018 (aged 83)
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
NationalityAmerican
Other namesJon Benn
Occupation(s)Businessman, entrepreneur, restaurateur, actor

Jon T. Benn (30 July 1935 – 9 December 2018)[1] was a businessman, entrepreneur, and actor, who most notably played the mob boss in Way of the Dragon. He was also an adventurer of sorts.

He wrote a book in reference to Bruce Lee, Remembering Bruce Lee, and subsequently opened a restaurant in Hong Kong, called "the Bruce Lee Cafe".[2]

Background

A businessman rather than an actor,[3] Jon T. Benn was the oldest out of five children born to Louis and Florence Benn. He was a tall man, standing at 6.4 who had a liking for fine food, fine drink, fine clothes and pretty women. From his part in Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon, he had become something of a cult hero. The Hong Kong entrepreneur would get recognition, not only in his country of residence but abroad as well. In many films, Benn has appeared as the cigar smoking Caucasian villain.[4][5]

Benn began a six-shop franchise, the "World's Wurst Sandwich and Sausage".[6] His association with Hong Kong began after having sold 24 gift shops in the United States and wanting to see where he had been buying his goods from, Benn went to Hong Kong in 1971.[7]

Benn played the Mafia boss in Bruce Lee's film, Way of the Dragon which was released in 1973.[8] His getting the part in the movie came about as a result of a cocktail party conversation with Hong Kong film producer Raymond Chow. At the time Benn didn't even know who Bruce Lee was. For his one week of work in the film, he was paid HK$2,000 (US$258). He became friends with Lee and Lee's family would come to his beach house on Lantau Island to go swimming.[6]

Personal life

Benn was married at least two times in his life. His first wife was Nancy. They were married in a small church in Carmel, California, July 1959. They kept quiet about the wedding so they could have a larger one some time later with friends and family invited. One of the guests who attended was actress Jayne Mansfield. Benn's marriage with Nancy lasted until 1966.[9] His second wife was Shannon an Asian woman who was thirty years his junior. According to Benn, she was the greatest love of his life. They were married in 1995. Due to the fact that Benn didn't want children, they separated but remained good friends.[10]

Travel and adventures

Having studied Spanish in Mexico as a teenager, Benn later ran an English language program there. This was before the nationalization of the media.[6][5]

Film career

1960s to 1980s

During the 1960s, Benn had either bit parts or double roles in The Magnificent Seven in 1960, John Huston’s Night of the Iguana in 1964. These came about by chance and him happening to be in the right place at the right time.[11][12] Benn appeared as "The Boss" in Way of the Dragon, Bruce Lee's 1972 film which Lee both wrote and directed. It was his role in the film that he got the attention that he is most remembered for.[13][14] In 1980, the Joseph Kong directed Brucesploitation film, The Clones of Bruce Lee was released. Benn played the part of the mad scientist, Professor Lucas who is enlisted by the FBI to create clones of Bruce Lee.[15][16]

1990s to 2000s

Benn appeared as a banker in John Derek’s 1990 film which starred Bo Derek, Ghosts Can't Do It.[11][17][18]

In November 1997, Benn was guest of honor at the Brandon Lee Association sponsored convention in England which commemorated the 25th anniversary of Way of the Dragon. Pictures of Benn with Lee and Norris which were taken during the filming of Way of the Dragon appeared in a magazine which covered the silver anniversary event. It appeared that Benn had a popular than ever status as a cult celebrity.[19] Benn was once offered $50 by a Japanese fan for his half smoked cigar.[20] Around that time in the late 90s he was running his Bruce Lee café and sharing his experiences with Lee to patrons.[3]

In 2006, the Ronny Yu directed Fearless which starred Jet Li was released. Benn played the part of the American businessman.[21][22] Benn played a villain in Jakob Montrasio's The Way of the Spur which was released in 2012. Montrasio was thrilled when it was confirmed that Benn would be in the film.[23] Also that year, The Man with the Iron Fists was released. The RZA directed film which starred Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu also featured Pam Grier. Benn played a plantation owner.[24]

Benn's last film role was as the Big Boss in the Scott McQuaid directed sci-fi B film Space Ninjas that was released in 2019. The film starred Dirk Benedict.[25][26] His last film was a documentary short, The Big Boss Remembered. Actor and filmmaker Michael Worth spent several days with Benn and his family in Kentucky for documentary on Bruceploitation. This short film came about as a result of Worth putting it together with an interview that Benn insisted on and Benn's brother Rick organizing the shoot. Benn who had been diagnosed with blood cancer and wasn't sure how long he had left to live and said that Worth should come out to see him as soon as possible. Benn and Worth had actually met 20 years prior to this. He died several weeks later.[27]

Filmography

Selective list
Title Year Role Director Notes #
The Magnificent Seven 1960 Horseman John Sturges Uncredited bit part
The Night of the Iguana 1964 John Huston Extra[11][6]
The Way of the Dragon 1972 The mob boss Bruce Lee [28]
Enter Three Dragons 1978 Joseph Kong Bruceploitation film
The Clones of Bruce Lee 1980 Professor Lucas Joseph Kong Bruceploitation film
Challenge of the Tiger 1980 Head of the agency Bruce Le Uncredited, Bruceploitation film [28]
The Unwritten Law 1985 Ng See-yuen
Ghosts Can't Do It 1989 Banker John Derek Uncredited[11][17][18]
Death by Misadventure: The Mysterious Life of Bruce Lee 1993 Himself Toby Russell Documentary
Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On 1999 Himself James Harker, Ray Santilli TV movie, documentary [28]
Century Hero 1999 Kai-Keung Sze Documentary
Aka Bruce Lee: Century Hero
aka Chin hei goeu lung
The Jon Benn Interview 2001 Himself /Thug's boss
(segment Way of the Dragon)		 Short
Phoenix Films production
Fearless 2006 The American Businessman Ronny Yu
Swat Chicks: Shanghai 2020 2009 Severin Bonnichon, Xu Li
Gianpaolo Lupori, Juan Vargas		 Short
Bruce Lee: In Pursuit of the Dragon 2009 Himself John Little Documentary
East Wind Rain 2010 Priest Yunlong Liu
Goodbye Shanghai 2010 Mac Donald Adam Christian Clark Voice, Short
Kang: The New Legend Begins 2010 Mafia Boss Richard Chung Short
The Man with the Iron Fists 2012 Master John RZA As Jon Benn
The Way of the Spur 2012 Weilong Jakob Montrasio aka Shangdown: The Way of the Spur
Space Ninjas 2019 Big Boss Scott McQuaid (final film role)[28]
Jon Benn – "The Big Boss Remembered" 2019 Himself Michael Worth [27]

Literature

  • Remembering Bruce Lee: And Jon Benn's Other Adventures by Jon T. Benn - Blacksmith Books - ISBN 988161399X
  • Impact August 1998 (Interviews with Benny Urquidez pt.2, Jon Benn etc.)
  • Bruce Lee Review No. 6 (Special Appearance by Jon Benn)

References

  1. ↑ The Bruceploitation Blog, December 10, 2018 - The “Big Boss”, Jon Benn, of Bruce Lee’s classic film, passes away at 83
  2. ↑ Simon Yam - Jon Benn
  3. 1 2 The Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb 2019 - LEE Continued from Fl
  4. ↑ China.org.cn, (Shanghai Daily) March 19, 2009 - Always the wicked laowai - mafioso, magnate, spy
  5. 1 2 The Courier-Journal, January 3, 1998 - Page 28 'BIG BOSS' By JUDITH EGERTON
  6. 1 2 3 4 China.org.cn, (Shanghai Daily) March 19, 2009 - Always the wicked laowai - mafioso, magnate, spy
  7. ↑ Eastern Film Fans - Jon T Benn Interview By econdor
  8. ↑ BBC - Way of the Dragon (aka Return of the Dragon) DVD (1973) Reviewed by Almar Haflidason
  9. ↑ Remembering Bruce Lee And John Benn's Other Adventures, by Jon T. Benn - ISBN 978-988-16139-9-8 - Pages 165 to 170
  10. ↑ Remembering Bruce Lee And John Benn's Other Adventures, by Jon T. Benn - ISBN 978-988-16139-9-8 - FOR THE LOVE OF A BEIJING BEAUTY Pages 271 to 278
  11. 1 2 3 4 Yes! Weekly, September 16, 2015 - Star struck: Heroes of the silver screen
  12. ↑ China.org.cn, (Shanghai Daily) March 19, 2009 - Always the wicked laowai - mafioso, magnate, spy
  13. ↑ DVD Talk, July 3, 2001 - Bruce Lee: The Master Collection
  14. ↑ ABS-CBN, Feb 21 2011 - Italian seeks kung-fu stardom in Shanghai By D'Arcy Doran, Agence France-Presse
  15. ↑ '80s Action Movies on the Cheap: 284 Low Budget, High Impact Pictures, By Daniel R. Budnik - Page 8
  16. ↑ Kung Fu Cult Masters, By Leon Hunt - Page 79 Cloning the Dragon
  17. 1 2 Blu-ray.com - Actor, Jon T. Benn
  18. 1 2 Videospace - Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), (Show all credits), Cast
  19. ↑ The Courier-Journal, January 3, 1998 - Page 28 'BIG BOSS' By JUDITH EGERTON
  20. ↑ CNN, Asiaweek - ALIVE AND KICKING
    25 years after his death, Bruce Lee still hypnotizes movie fans
    By Ajay Singh Hong Kong
  21. ↑ Irish Examiner, Friday, June 23, 2006 - Jet Li gets the chop after Fearless film
  22. ↑ ComingSoon.net, September 20, 2006 - Jet Li’s Fearless By Joshua Starnes
  23. ↑ Lostlaowai.com, January 13, 2011 - Shangdown — Interview with Shanghai spaghetti western director Jakob Montrasio
  24. ↑ Screen Rant, Nov 02, 2012 - 'The Man with the Iron Fists' Review By Kofi Outlaw
  25. ↑ The Fan Carpet, 15 July 2019 - Plastic Monkey Films’ Debut Feature SPACE NINJAS Featuring Battlestar Galactica Legend is Dirk Benedict is NOW Available On Amazon Prime
  26. ↑ The Echo, 14th November 2018 - News, Southend-born filmmaker to screen debut Malaysian film at town's horror festival By Ellis Whitehouse
  27. 1 2 The Bruceploitation Blog, January 10, 2019 - Jon Benn – “The Big Boss Remembered”, Short Film
  28. 1 2 3 4 IMDb - Jon T. Benn, Filmography
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