Benchley, Robert (1889-1945), was an American humorist, drama critic, and actor. During his lifetime, he wrote 14 books of humorous and lightly satirical essays, beginning with Of All Things! (1921). Benchley wrote and acted in almost 50 short motion pictures, winning the 1935 Academy Award for best short subject for How to Sleep. Benchley became particularly famous for his monologue “The Treasurer’s Report,” which he originally presented in an amateur revue in 1922. He then performed it in The Music Box Revue (1923) on Broadway. Benchley served as drama critic for Life magazine from 1920 to 1929 and The New Yorker magazine from 1929 to 1940.
Robert Charles Benchley was born on Sept. 15, 1889, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1912. He died on Nov. 21, 1945. Nathaniel Benchley, Robert’s son, was a successful writer and edited The Benchley Roundup (1954), a selection of his father’s writings. Peter Benchley, Robert’s grandson, was also a popular writer. His best-known novels are the thrillers Jaws (1974) and The Deep (1976).
