Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ben Murphy’s Net Worth?
Ben Murphy, the American actor best known for his role as Jed “Kid” Curry in the television series *Alias Smith and Jones*, has an estimated net worth of $4 million. This valuation reflects his extensive career in television and film, spanning several decades.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Benjamin Edward Castleberry Jr., known professionally as Ben Murphy, was born on March 6, 1942, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. His parents were Nadine (nee Steele) and Benjamin E. Castleberry. After his father’s death, Ben was raised in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1956, his mother remarried Patrick Henry Murphy, who adopted Ben, and the family relocated to Clarendon Hills, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Ben is an alumnus of Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois. Before fully committing to acting, Murphy attended eight colleges, including the University of the Americas in Mexico and the University of Illinois. He honed his acting skills at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
His acting career began with an uncredited role as “The Shaving Student” in the iconic 1967 film, *The Graduate*. That same year, he secured an eleven-year contract with Universal Studios, marking a significant step in his professional journey. This early exposure helped him land guest roles in popular TV series of the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as *The Virginian*, *It Takes a Thief*, *The Outsider*, *Medical Center*, and *The Mod Squad*.
Television Career and Notable Roles
Murphy’s career gained momentum with his role as Joe Sample on *The Name of the Game* (1968-1970), where he appeared as an assistant to Robert Stack’s character, Dan Farrell. His breakthrough role came with *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971-1973), where he starred as Kid Curry. The series, inspired by the film *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid*, cemented his status as a prominent television actor.
Following the success of *Alias Smith and Jones*, Murphy secured leading roles in several other television series. He starred as Mike Murdoch in *Griff* (1973-1974), Sam Casey in the mini-series *Gemini Man* (1976), Will Chisholm in *The Chisholms* (1979-1980), Patrick Sean Flaherty in *Lottery!* (1983-1984), Paul Berrenger in *Berrenger’s* (1985), and Lieutenant Danko in *The Dirty Dozen* (1988). In 1983, he appeared in the TV movie *Uncommon Valor* and the mini-series *The Winds of War*.
Throughout his career, Ben Murphy also made numerous guest appearances on popular TV shows, including *Murder, She Wrote*, *The Twilight Zone*, *In the Heat of the Night*, *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman*, *Silk Stalkings*, *Judging Amy*, *Cold Case*, *JAG*, and *NCIS*. These roles, alongside his starring roles, contributed to his $4 million Net Worth.
Film Appearances and Other Ventures
In addition to his extensive television work, Murphy has appeared in several films, including *Yours, Mine and Ours* (1968), *The Thousand Plane Raid* (1969), *Heatwave!*, *To Protect and Serve* (2001), *The Uniform Motion of Folly* (2006), and *The Genesis Code* (2010). These roles, although not as prominent as his television work, added to his overall earnings and Net Worth.
Beyond acting, Murphy is also known for his skills as a tennis player. He was a highly-ranked tournament player in California during the 1980s and competed in USTA singles and doubles circuits, as well as celebrity events. It is not clear if he earned money by doing this, but if he did it would add to his total Net Worth.
