Best known perhaps for his role in "The Rose Tattoo," Ben Cooper made many terrific westerns, including "Johnny Guitar," "The Last Command," "Outlaw's Son," "Duel At Apache Wells," and "Lightning Jack."  "Show business has been very good to me and I'm a great talker about show business," he said when we met.  "How many people know that Hollywood's community of show people leads all others in child adoptions?  How many people know that the Hollywood community has a lower crime rate than other communities? And what about all the great charity work actors are doing every day?  Many people think of actors only as egotistical snobs because they're associated with glamour.  But you make people aware of all the charity work actors are doing and they're fascinated."

In the 60s, Ben formed Celebrity Speakers which sent actors out on the lecture circuit. Since then he has become the motion picture business' best ambassador of good will.  "What I had in mind when I started was something to keep me busy between pictures, but then I began appearing before a great many groups.  Richard Arlen, John Agar, and Robert Ivers were with me.  Bigger name stars were not important.  When you went to a lecture on rocketry you didn't always hear Dr. Werner Von Braun, but you did hear an expert."


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