Roy Benson was born Edward Emerson Ford McQuaid, on January 17th, 1914
in Courbevoie, France. His mother was
Dora Ford of the Four Fords and The Ford
Sisters of Vaudeville fame, his father was Edward Emerson McQuaid of
Vaudeville's Juggling team, Emerson and Baldwin. Roy led a very
interesting life in an era which is a distant memory to some and
ancient history to the current generation. He was not only a magician
who was ahead of his time, but a magician who set a precedent for
comic/magicians we know now. Roy was a proficient musician, a professor
and he also built the monster for
The Flesh Eaters (1964) and
started out as cinematographer but chose not to continue for personal
reasons. Roy struggled with alcoholism and eventually died of emphysema
on December 6th, 1977. His contribution to the Magic world was a
substantial one.
Diamond Horseshoe(1945)as Eddie Harper
Sweet and Low-Down(1944)as Skeets McCormick
The Lady Objects(1938)as George Martin
The Flesh Eaters(1964)
The Merv Griffin Show(1962)as Self - vaudeville comedy magician
The Mike Douglas Show(1961)as Self - Magician
Today(1952)as Self
The Garry Moore Show(1958)as Self - magician
The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar(1957)as Self
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay(2012)as Self - Magician