Benny Baker was born Benjamin Michael Zifkin in St. Joseph. ( May 5,1907 – September 20,1994) He was an actor and comedian. He appeared in over 135 films as a supporting character actor. He is best known for Paint Your Wagon.

He acted in vaudeville and burlesque the 1920’s before doing slapstick comedy on the screen. From the mid 1930’s under contract with Paramount, he was seen in many roles typecast as boyfriends, sidekicks, friends, soldiers, sailors, writers, photographers, doctors, detectives, reporters, bellboys, retail clerks, office workers, politicians, landlords, neighbors, husbands, fathers, city slickers, businessmen, cowboys and bartenders. He was a familiar face on I Love Lucy, The Milton Beale Show, Leave It to Beaver, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Real McCoys, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The People’s Choice, The Jack Benny Program, Perry Mason, The Bill Cosby Show, Green Acres, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, Beauty and the Beast and many others.