
Benny Goodman
Known for Acting · 43 credits
- Born
- 1909-05-30
- Died
- 1986-06-13
- Place of birth
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Also known as
- Benjamin David Goodman · The King of Swing · The Benny Goodman Sextet
Biography
The King of Swing! Famed clarinetist, composer ("Stompin' at the Savoy") and conductor, educated at the Lewis Institute in Chicago and a student of Schillinger and Schoepp. He was a clarinetist with the orchestras of Bix Beiderbecke, Jules Herbuveaux, Arnold Johnson and Ben Pollack, and also played in Broadway theater orchestras. He began to lead his own orchestras in 1934 at the Billy Rose Music Hall, then conducted the orchestra on the weekly radio program "Let's Dance" in 1934-1935, and played at numerous hotels, colleges and theaters. Expanding his musical efforts, he performed in chamber music concerts, later touring throughout the US, Europe, the Far East, South America and the USSR and made many recordings. Joining ASCAP in 1945, his chief musical collaborators included Count Basie, Harry James, Mitchell Parish, Andy Razaf, Edgar M. Sampson, Chick Webb, and Teddy Wilson. Some of his other popular songs and instrumental compositions include "Lullaby in Rhythm," "Don't Be That Way," "Seven Come Eleven," "Flying Home," "Two O'Clock Jump," "Air Mail Special," "Dizzy Spells," "If Dreams Come True," "Georgia Jubilee," "Four Once More," and "The Kingdom of Swing".
Known For
TV Shows (14)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self / Self (archive footage)

The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self

The Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest

What's My Line?
1950
as Self

The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self

The Danny Kaye Show
1963
as Self

Le Grand Échiquier
1972
as Self

The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self

The Bell Telephone Hour
1959
as Self

Jazz
2001
as Self (archive footage)

DuPont Show of the Month
1957
as Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
1978
as Self
The Big Party
1959
as Self
Movies (29)

Make Mine Music
1946
as Self (voice)

The World of Polygoon
1994
as Self (archive footage)

The Gang's All Here
1943
as Benny Goodman

A Song Is Born
1948
as Professor Magenbruch

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)

The Big Broadcast of 1937
1936
as Benny Goodman

Stage Door Canteen
1943
as Benny Goodman

Birth of the Blues
1941
as Self (archive footage)

Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
2022
as Self (archive footage)

The Powers Girl
1943
as Self - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
Me and the Boys
1929
as Self - Clarinet

Syncopation
1942
as Benny Goodman

Hollywood Hotel
1938
as Benny Goodman, Leader of His Orchestra

Allen in Movieland
1955
as Self

The Shining Future
1944
as Self

The All-Star Christmas Show
1958
as Self

Music Land
1955
as Orchestra Leader (archive footage)

Sweet and Low-Down
1944
as Benny Goodman

Copland Conducts Copland
1976
as Self - Clarinet

Swing With Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Tony Bennett
2001

The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TV
2000
as Self (archive footage)
Legends in Concert: Benny Goodman
2004

All the Cats Join In
1946

John Gunther's High Road
1959
as Self

Two for the Record
1954
as Self

Benny Goodman - Adventures In The Kingdom Of Swing
1993
as Self (archive footage)

Åke Hasselgård story
1983

Louis Armstrong & Benny Goodman - Sounds in Motion
2000

Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not
1978
as Self
About Benny Goodman
The King of Swing! Famed clarinetist, composer ("Stompin' at the Savoy") and conductor, educated at the Lewis Institute in Chicago and a student of Schillinger and Schoepp. He was a clarinetist with the orchestras of Bix Beiderbecke, Jules Herbuveaux, Arnold Johnson and Ben Pollack, and also played in Broadway theater orchestras. He began to lead his own orchestras in 1934 at the Billy Rose Music Hall, then conducted the orchestra on the weekly radio program "Let's Dance" in 1934-1935, and played at numerous hotels, colleges and theaters. Expa… With 43 credits spanning from 1929 to 2022, Benny Goodman has appeared in 29 films and 14 TV shows.
Fans searching for Benny Goodman movies, Benny Goodman filmography, or the latest projects starring Benny Goodman can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Benny Goodman Movies
- Make Mine Music (1946) — as Self (voice)
- The World of Polygoon (1994) — as Self (archive footage)
- The Gang's All Here (1943) — as Benny Goodman
- A Song Is Born (1948) — as Professor Magenbruch
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Benny Goodman Films
Most Benny Goodman movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Benny Goodman, check our movies catalogue and browse page.