Jack Benny Quotes

Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, radio, television and film actor, and violinist. Recognized as a leading 20th-century American entertainer, Benny often portrayed his character as a miser, who obliviously played his violin badly, and ridiculously claimed to be 39 years of age, regardless of his actual age.

Benny was known for his comic timing and the ability to cause laughter with a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated "Well!" His radio and television programs, popular from 1932 until his death in 1974, were a major influence on the sitcom genre. Wikipedia  

✵ 14. February 1894 – 26. December 1974
Jack Benny photo
Jack Benny: 70   quotes 0   likes

Famous Jack Benny Quotes

“Clyde: You're telling me. What about those first three nights, we had to light fires to keep the animals away.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Clyde: Oh, we're not going to make that trip again, oh no.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack Benny: Where's that big glass star I told you to pack away last Christmas?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob: This is rather strange for me, I'm on the major network.”

mouths ABC
The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack Benny: That star has five points.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Smell?… What do I want with smelling salts?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

Jack Benny Quotes about hope

“Jack: What do you think of this card I wrote for Don? "To Don from Jacky, Oh golly, oh shucks. I hope that you like it, It cost forty bucks.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob Hope: Put your head back through there, or I'll start handing out baseballs to the audience.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: Yes, that's the spot all right. You almost had a heart attack when they laughed at Bob Hope.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob Hope: By the way, this is where Bing did his last show and I think they've done very nicely. They've gotten most of it out of the curtains.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob Hope: [on being on a CBS show] I feel like Zsa Zsa Gabor at a P. T. A. meeting.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Hope: You mean, Jack's actually wearing your pants?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

Jack Benny Quotes about thinking

“Jack: I'm thinking it over!”

Broadcast on Jack Benny radio program, 28 March 1948. Sourced from audio recording.
The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955)
Variant: Jack Benny: I'm thinking I'm thinking!

“Rochester: I think I cut you.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: What do you mean, you think? Can't you tell?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

Jack Benny: Trending quotes

“Cook: We have some breast of flamingo and gazelle steaks.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)
Variant: Jack: Breast of flamingo and gazelle steaks?

“Jack: [poking his head through the stage curtains] Bob, will you please give me my pants back?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)
Variant: Don Wilson: [Poking his head through the curtains] Bob, Bob, quick, give me Jack's pants!

“Jack: When another comedian has a lousy show, I'm the first one to admit it.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

Jack Benny Quotes

“Clyde: I knew as soon as we got off the freeway, we'd run into trouble.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob: Welcome to the Lucky Strike Program. In just a few minutes, you'll see our star, Gypsy Rose Benny.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: These last 2 miles were rugged, weren't they?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: Well, you said you wanted something to make you look nice and tanned.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: No, I just want to reach 40.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: [out of shot] Darn right I am.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Don Wilson: Because I had to give him mine.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Clyde:' Frightened. Why, you yellow-belly. Do you want to live forever?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: It would've been hard to rhyme a dollar ninety-eight.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: What kind of tiger is that - Siberian or Bengal?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: [checking his equipment] Shaving cream, brush, razor, smelling salts.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Clyde: I wondered why he had his hand on his hip when I shot him.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Well, only if you have enough. I'd hate for you to run out to the zoo just for me.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: That's for me. I can't stand the sight of blood.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: [pointing a pistol at Bob's trousers] I'm going to blow your brains out.
[Bob adjusts Jack's gun arm, so that the pistol is now pointing at Bob's head]”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Don, you're hanging yourself.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Perry Mason: Maybe my writers are better than yours.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Hey, wait a minute. What kind of make up is this?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Thug: You're gonna give us $10,000, or we're gonna break both your legs.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: [Pointing to the tiger] He must have gone to a veterinarian in Denmark.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: It would help if you bleed a little.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack Benny: Does it have to be both?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: It's really dangerous, here in the jungle.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: When they laugh at one of my jokes… it just gets me right here. [Puts hand on heart]”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob Crosby: That's like keeping the smog and throwing away Los Angeles.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Oh, it's not that big a difference. You're twenty-five and I'm thirty-nine.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Liberace: Would you like to stay for dinner, Jack?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Thug: This is a stickup! Now come on. Your money or your life.
[long pause]”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Thug: [repeating] Look, bud, I said 'Your money or your life.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)
Variant: Mugger: Look bud. I said, your money or your life.

“Liberace: What do we have for dinner?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Marilyn Monroe: I know, Jack. But what about twenty-five years from now when I'm fifty and you're thirty-nine?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Yeah, then we ran out of water. For three weeks we couldn't even take a bath.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack Benny: We're a little late, so good night, folks.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: I'm scared, I'm frightened.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Clyde: Then the animals lit fires to keep us away.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Mugger: Your money or your life.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955)

“Rochester: You mean that shiny one with the three points on it?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob Hope: Why do you want Jack's pants?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: I can't understand it. On your show you always win.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob Hope: Let's not do any jokes we didn't plan on, eh.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: Gee, I never thought of that.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: Well, it went down two points this last year.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: I want to look tanned, not lumpy.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Bob: [about Bing Crosby] He's up in Nevada looking over Boulder Dam - his piggy bank is filled. He's so loaded, you know, he uses Howard Hughes for a bell boy.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: I know, but peanut butter?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Marilyn Monroe: What about the difference in our ages?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Jack: What's the matter?”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

“Rochester: Oh oh.”

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

Similar authors

Groucho Marx photo
Groucho Marx 117
American comedian
Alan Rickman photo
Alan Rickman 5
English film, television and stage actor
Mae West photo
Mae West 24
American actress and sex symbol
Woody Allen photo
Woody Allen 229
American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, author, p…
Al Pacino photo
Al Pacino 2
American film and stage actor and director
Anthony Hopkins photo
Anthony Hopkins 3
Welsh stage and television actor
Peter Ustinov photo
Peter Ustinov 59
English actor, writer, and dramatist
Orson Welles photo
Orson Welles 53
American actor, director, writer and producer
George Carlin photo
George Carlin 270
American stand-up comedian
Will Rogers photo
Will Rogers 121
American humorist and entertainer