Dirk Benedict

Dirk Benedict is an American movie, television and stage actor who played the characters Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck in "The A-Team" television series and Lieutenant Starbuck in the original "Battlestar Galactica" film and television series. He is also the author of "Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy."

Benedict made his Broadway debut opposite Diana Rigg and Keith Michell in the short-lived 1971 play "Abelard and Heloise" before launching his onscreen career with the obscure Swedish drama "Georgia, Georgia." More film and television roles followed, including the unusual horror film "Sssssss." By then, he was dividing his time between Hollywood and Broadway, which included starring roles in "Butterflies are Free" with silent screen legend, Gloria Swanson. His first turn as a series regular came with "Chopper One."

Benedict was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but reportedly cured the affliction through a macrobiotic diet which was given to him by Gloria Swanson and overseen by author and educator, Michio Kushi. The details of his battle with the disease and his eventual recovery were recounted in his autobiographical book, "Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy: A True Story of Discovery, Acting, Health, Illness, Recovery and Life."

Benedict's film and television career remained constant if unremarkable until 1978, when he was cast as Lt. Starbuck on producer Glen A. Larson's TV space opera, "Battlestar Galactica." He reprised the role for the final episode of "Galactica 1980" as well as a 2003 video game based on the program.

After "Galactica," Benedict landed his most widely-seen role as Templeton Peck on "The A-Team." A massive hit with male viewers in nearly all demographics, "The A-Team" brought Benedict considerable fame during its four-year network run.

He made a much-publicized return to the stage in a 1987 production of "Hamlet," and then in 1994, he made his directorial debut with the short "Christina's Dream." Seven years later, he directed and wrote his first feature, "Cahoots."

He appeared as himself in the BBC reality series "Celebrity Big Brother," which brought together a motley crew of TV celebs from both sides of the Atlantic to live together in a house under the watchful eye of an unseen moderator.

A project Benedict participated in was "Bring Back...The A-Team," a U.K. documentary that attempted to reunite the surviving members of the iconic action series. That same year, the actor appeared in "Earthstorm," an apocalyptic science fiction adventure, co-starring Stephen Baldwin, followed by a turn as an American pilot in "Recon 7 Down."

To the delight of longtime fans, Benedict made a cameo in the big-budget feature adaptation of "The A-Team."