Dirk Benedict Biography: Net Worth, Age, Wife, Children, Parents, Movies, TV Shows, Height, Still Alive?
Biography
Dirk Benedict (born Dirk Niewoehner on March 1, 1945, in Helena, Montana) is an American actor and author.
Raised in the small town of White Sulphur Springs, he grew up far from Hollywood, enjoying outdoor activities like hunting and fishing before discovering acting during college at Whitman College.
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He adopted his stage name and built a career spanning stage, film, and television. Benedict gained widespread fame for two iconic 1970s–1980s roles: the charming, cigar-chomping fighter pilot Lieutenant Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979) and the smooth-talking con artist Templeton “Face” Peck in the hit action series The A-Team (1983–1987).
A cancer survivor, he has authored books including Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy, detailing his Hollywood experiences and his adoption of a macrobiotic diet as part of his recovery. He also wrote And Then We Went Fishing.
Benedict continues to make occasional convention appearances, including recent events tied to Battlestar Galactica reunions.
| American actor and author | |
| Dirk Benedict | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Dirk Benedict |
| Born: | 1 March 1945 (age 80 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Helena, Montana, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Education: | Whitman College |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Parents: | George Edward Niewoehner, Pricilla Mella Niewoehner |
| Siblings: | 1 |
| Spouse: | Toni Hudson (m. 1986–1995) |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Not Dating |
| Children: | Roland Benedict, John Talbert, George Benedict |
| Occupation: | Actor • Author |
| Net Worth: | $1 million-$3 million (USD) |
Early Life & Education
Dirk Benedict was born Dirk Niewoehner on March 1, 1945, in Helena, Montana. He spent his childhood in the small rural community of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, where he grew up surrounded by wide-open spaces and developed a lifelong love of outdoor pursuits, including hunting, fishing, and playing football.
His father, George Edward Niewoehner, worked as a lawyer, while his mother, Priscilla Mella Niewoehner (née Metzger), was an accountant. The family experienced hardship when his parents divorced during his youth, and the situation turned tragic when Benedict was 18: his father, who had been barred from the home by a restraining order, was fatally shot by Benedict‘s older brother during a confrontation at the family residence.
Of German descent, as indicated by his original surname Niewoehner, Benedict comes from a Protestant background that shaped parts of his early worldview, though he has rarely discussed faith publicly in later years. He has at least one older brother, but information about other siblings remains limited in public records.
At age 12, Benedict suffered a permanent hearing loss of about 50% in his left ear due to a gun-related accident, an event that left a lasting mark on his life.
He later attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, graduating in 1967. It was during his freshman year there that he first tried acting—after friends dared him to audition for a college play—which unexpectedly ignited his passion for performing and set him on the path toward a professional career in theater, film, and television.
He eventually adopted the stage name Dirk Benedict to pursue that calling.
Career
Dirk Benedict has worked as an actor for more than fifty years, starting on stage after discovering a love for performing arts in college. He made his Broadway debut in 1971 with Diana Rigg in Abelard and Heloise, and later performed in Butterflies Are Free with Gloria Swanson.
Early in his career, he had small roles in films like the Swedish drama Georgia, Georgia (1972) and the horror movie Sssssss (1973), as well as guest appearances on TV shows and a short run as a regular on Chopper One (1974).
Benedict’s big break came in 1978 when he played Lieutenant Starbuck, a cigar-smoking fighter pilot, in the film and TV series Battlestar Galactica. This role made him well known in science fiction television, even though the show was short-lived.
After Battlestar Galactica, he appeared in films such as Scavenger Hunt (1979), Ruckus (1980), and Body Slam (1986), often playing roguish characters. In 1983, he became even more famous as Templeton “Face” Peck, the smooth-talking con artist in the popular action series The A-Team (1983–1987). The show, which also starred Mr. T, George Peppard, and Dwight Schultz, made him an international star and is still one of his best-known works.
In the 1990s and later, Benedict took on a variety of roles in direct-to-video and TV movies, including Alaska (1996), Demon Keeper (1994), and Official Denial (1993). He also directed and wrote the 2001 film Cahoots.
In the 2000s and 2010s, he appeared in films such as Goldene Zeiten (2006), Recon 7 Down (2007), Space Ninjas (2019), and Charlie’s Christmas Wish (2020). He performed on stage internationally, including as Lieutenant Columbo in a 2010 UK production of Prescription: Murder, and made a cameo as a prisoner named Milt in the 2010 film version of The A-Team.
Benedict is a prostate cancer survivor and credits a macrobiotic diet for his recovery, which he wrote about in his 1991 book Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy. He has sometimes taken breaks from acting to focus on writing, including his second book, And Then We Went Fishing, and other personal interests.
He continues to attend fan conventions, especially for Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team, where he meets fans who appreciate his memorable roles as quick-witted, charming characters.
Social Media
- Wikipedia: Dirk Benedict
- IMDb: Dirk Benedict
- Instagram: Dirk Benedict (@thedirkbenedict)
Personal Life
Dirk Benedict, born on March 1, 1945, is 80 years old. He stands approximately 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall.
He has been married only once, to actress Toni Hudson, from 1986 until their divorce in 1995. The couple had two sons together: George Benedict and Roland Benedict. Benedict also has a third son, John Talbert, born in the late 1960s from an earlier relationship; the child was placed for adoption, and Benedict reconnected with him in 1998.
He has spoken little about his romantic life in interviews, focusing instead on fatherhood, his career, and personal health experiences. Benedict has been unmarried for nearly three decades and maintains a low-key personal life in Montana.
Net Worth
Dirk Benedict‘s net worth is estimated to be in the range of $1 million to $3 million.
His wealth primarily stems from a long career in acting, with significant earnings from his starring roles as Lieutenant Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979) and Templeton “Face” Peck in The A-Team (1983–1987).
These shows continue to generate residuals through syndication, streaming platforms, and international reruns.
Additional income comes from royalties on his books (Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy and And Then We Went Fishing), paid appearances at fan conventions (especially sci-fi and 1980s nostalgia events), and occasional film or TV projects.
Filmography
Major Television Series
- Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979) — Lieutenant Starbuck (main cast, 24 episodes; also in the 1978 theatrical film)
- The A-Team (1983–1987) — Templeton “Face” Peck (main cast, 96 episodes)
Notable Films
- Sssssss (1973) — Early horror role
- Battlestar Galactica (1978) — Lieutenant Starbuck
- Scavenger Hunt (1979) — Jeff Stevens
- Ruckus (1980) — Kyle Hanson
- Underground Aces (1981) — Pete Huffman
- Body Slam (1986) — Wrestling-themed comedy
- Alaska (1996) — Jake Barnes
- Demon Keeper (1994) — Alexander Harris
- Official Denial (1993) — Lt. Col. Dan Lerner
- Recon 7 Down (2007) — Tom Myers
- Earthstorm (2006) — Victor Stevens
- Space Ninjas (2019) — Jack Strange
- Charlie’s Christmas Wish (2020) — Stanley
- The A-Team (2010) — Cameo as Pensacola Prisoner Milt
Other Television Appearances and TV Movies
- Guest roles in shows like Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, Baywatch, Hotel, Amazing Stories, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents
- TV movies including Trenchcoat in Paradise (1989), Blue Tornado (1991), Shadow Force (1992), Abduction of Innocence (1996), and Bejewelled (1991)
Theater and Stage Work
- Broadway debut in Abelard and Heloise (1971) opposite Diana Rigg
- Butterflies Are Free (with Gloria Swanson)
- UK stage production of Prescription: Murder as Lieutenant Columbo (2010)
Directing and Writing
- Cahoots (2001) — Directed and wrote the film
What People Ask
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