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Julia Benjamin
Julia Benjamin
Julia Benjamin
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Julia Benjamin (born February 21, 1957) is a retired American film and television actress of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. She is best remembered for her character role as Susie Baxter, the daughter of Steve and Barbara Baxter on the 1960s sitcom Hazel. Benjamin's career began at the age of eight in 1965 on Hazel. Benjamin was also well known for her roles in the movies Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones (1971) and The Jordan Chance (1978).

Key Information

After Hazel went off the air, Benjamin would have only five roles in movies and television. Her television credits include three guest starring roles on the television shows My Three Sons,[1] The Rockford Files and Riptide. Riptide was Benjamin's last acting appearance.

Filmography

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References

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Julia Benjamin

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Julia Benjamin (born February 21, 1957) is a retired American actress best known for her role as Susie Baxter, the youngest daughter in the Baxter family, on the Hazel. Born in , , Benjamin entered the entertainment industry as a at the age of eight, debuting in 1965 on Hazel, where she appeared in 29 episodes until the series concluded in 1966. Following the end of Hazel, her career featured a limited number of additional roles in television and film throughout the and . Among her later appearances, Benjamin guest-starred as Melinda and Bonny in episodes of the crime drama in 1978, played a girl in the 1978 pilot film The Jordan Chance, and portrayed Nurse Fiske in the 1984 series Riptide. She also appeared in the 1971 television movie Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones. Benjamin retired from acting after her final role in the 1980s, having contributed to both sitcom and procedural genres during her brief but memorable career.

Early life

Birth and upbringing

Julia Benjamin was born on February 21, 1957, in , . She grew up in the heart of Hollywood as the daughter of Phil Benjamin, a prominent casting director known for his influential work in the industry during the mid-20th century. This family connection immersed her in the entertainment world from an early age, providing early exposure to sets, talent scouting, and the dynamics of . Benjamin has described her childhood as a "storybook" one, marked by the privileges and challenges of growing up amid Hollywood's glamour while navigating the expectations of a family deeply embedded in the profession. By age six, she transitioned from play to professional pursuits, beginning her acting career in an environment shaped by her father's expertise and the vibrant, competitive landscape of 1960s Los Angeles entertainment circles.

Entry into the entertainment industry

Julia Benjamin, born on February 21, 1957, in , California, entered the entertainment industry during her childhood, drawing on her family's longstanding ties to Hollywood. As the daughter of prominent casting director Phil Benjamin, she grew up immersed in the industry's inner workings, which facilitated her early opportunities. Benjamin's entry gained significant momentum at age eight, when she auditioned extensively—over six months—for a recurring role on the established sitcom . Cast as Susie Baxter, the young daughter of new leads and Barbara Baxter (played by and ), she joined the series for its final season (1965–1966), opposite star [Shirley Booth](/page/Shirley Booth). This opportunity, secured through persistent auditions amid a cast refresh aimed at appealing to younger audiences, provided her first major exposure and established her as a child actress.

Career

Breakthrough role on Hazel

Julia Benjamin's breakthrough came in 1965 when, at the age of eight, she was cast as Susie Baxter in the fifth and final season of the CBS sitcom Hazel, marking her professional acting debut and introducing her to a national audience. The role of Susie, the precocious young daughter of architect Steve Baxter (played by Ray Fulmer) and his wife Barbara (Lynn Borden), was created as part of a major storyline overhaul following the departure of the original Baxter family—George (Don DeFore) and Dorothy (Whitney Blake)—who relocated to the Middle East in the show's narrative. This revamp positioned Hazel Burke (Shirley Booth) as the live-in housekeeper for the new Baxter household, which also included the original Baxter son, Harold (Bobby Buntrock), now under the care of his uncle Steve and aunt Barbara, with Susie as his cousin. The casting process for Susie was rigorous, involving hundreds of child auditions over six months, but Benjamin secured the part after impressing Booth during her initial , leading to her being hand-picked by the Emmy-winning star who had a significant say in the production. Benjamin appeared in all 26 episodes of the season, portraying as an energetic and mischievous child whose antics often intertwined with Hazel's meddlesome but well-intentioned schemes, adding a fresh dynamic to the family-oriented comedy. Her natural performance alongside seasoned cast members like Booth contributed to the character's quick integration into the series, despite the show's declining ratings and subsequent cancellation in spring 1966. The role propelled Benjamin to instant stardom, providing worldwide recognition as one of the key child performers in a beloved sitcom and opening doors to subsequent opportunities in television. In her autobiography, Benjamin reflects on the experience as a formative high point, highlighting the from Booth and the professional environment that shaped her early career trajectory. Although the final season's cast changes alienated some longtime viewers, Susie's portrayal remains a notable chapter in Benjamin's legacy, emblematic of the transitional era for child actors in network television.

Subsequent television and film roles

Following her role as Susie Baxter on the Hazel, which aired from 1965 to 1966, Julia Benjamin transitioned to a series of guest appearances and supporting roles in television and film, appearing in a limited number of projects over the subsequent two decades. Her post-Hazel work primarily consisted of guest spots and supporting roles, including uncredited appearances. Benjamin's first notable appearance after Hazel was an uncredited guest spot on the family sitcom My Three Sons in 1967, where she played Donna in the episode "Ernie's Folly." This role marked her return to lighthearted family-oriented programming, portraying a young character in a storyline involving school antics and family dynamics. She appeared again in an uncredited role on My Three Sons in 1969 as Margaret Crookshank in the episode "Ernie Is Smitten." In 1971, she took on a supporting role in the TV movie Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, adapted from the novel by Ann Head, playing Grace, a friend of the protagonists navigating themes of young marriage and social pressures in a rural setting. The film, directed by Robert Day and starring Desi Arnaz Jr., highlighted Benjamin's ability to handle more dramatic material as she entered her teens. Benjamin appeared twice on the crime drama . In the season 4 episode "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall," which aired in 1978, she portrayed Melinda, a student entangled in a mystery involving a missing friend and campus intrigue. In 1979, in the season 5 two-part episode "," she played Bonny, a character involved in a tense subplot with the titular Jim Rockford. These guest roles showcased her versatility in suspenseful narratives. That same year , Benjamin featured in the TV movie The Jordan Chance, directed by , as a character simply credited as "" in a legal drama centered on a young attorney's quest for justice, starring . The project, written by , emphasized courtroom tension and personal redemption. Her final credited acting role came in 1984 on the action-adventure series Riptide, where she appeared as Nurse Fiske in the episode "Double Your Pleasure." In this lighthearted installment, her character assisted the protagonists—a team of private investigators operating from a —in a case involving mistaken identities and comedic mishaps. This appearance capped Benjamin's on-screen career before her retirement from acting.

Retirement from acting

Benjamin's final acting role was as Nurse Fiske on the series Riptide in 1984. Following this, she stepped away from the entertainment industry, effectively retiring at the age of 26 after nearly two decades of on-screen work that began in her childhood. Her career spanned guest spots on popular shows such as The Rockford Files (1978–1979), as well as minor film and television roles. In her 2016 autobiography, Susie...Ain't She A Doozie? My 'Hazel' Days and Beyond, Benjamin reflects on the highs and lows of her time in Hollywood, including the pressures of child stardom and the transition to adulthood in the industry. The book details how, after her acting days, she navigated personal challenges that reshaped her life, though it does not explicitly outline a single catalyst for her retirement. Instead, it emphasizes her resilience as a survivor of Hollywood's demands.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Julia Benjamin was born into a Hollywood family as the third-generation member involved in the entertainment industry. She is the daughter of Phil Benjamin, a prominent casting director known for his work on various television projects during the mid-20th century. Benjamin has one son, Branden, who works as a . As of 2019, the two reside together in , where she has pursued interests including cooking alongside her son.

Post-acting endeavors and autobiography

After retiring from acting in the 1980s, Julia Benjamin focused on her personal life and family in , where she raised her son, Branden. In the 1990s, Benjamin survived a near-fatal attack on , an event that severely impacted her physically and emotionally but from which she made a courageous recovery, supported by advocacy groups such as A Minor Consideration, founded by fellow former Paul . Her post-acting experiences, including an out-of-wedlock and a turbulent , profoundly shaped her later years and inspired her writing career. In , Benjamin published her , Susie…Ain’t She a Doozie? My 'Hazel' Days and Beyond, through BearManor Media, a 194-page illustrated memoir that chronicles her childhood stardom on Hazel, the challenges of transitioning out of the industry, and her path to resilience amid personal adversities. The book emphasizes themes of survival and inspiration, detailing how Benjamin confronted life's setbacks with determination, and includes rare photos from her professional and private life. By sharing her story, Benjamin aimed to offer hope to others facing similar struggles, positioning the as a testament to her enduring spirit beyond the spotlight.

Legacy

Impact on child acting

Julia Benjamin's portrayal of Susie Baxter in the fifth and final season of the CBS sitcom Hazel (1965–1966) exemplified the adaptability required of child actors in mid-1960s television, as she was cast alongside veteran performer Shirley Booth following major cast changes that included new parental roles for Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden. Her performance helped sustain the family-oriented humor of the series during its syndicated run, providing a fresh dynamic to the Baxter household narrative. Through her 2016 autobiography Susie…Ain’t She a Doozie? My Days and Beyond, Benjamin offered candid insights into the professional and personal challenges faced by performers in Hollywood, including rigorous auditions, on-set demands, and the transition to adulthood roles. The book details her entry into at age six via commercials and guest spots, culminating in her Hazel breakthrough at eight, and emphasizes the emotional toll of industry pressures, earning praise for illuminating the era's experiences. Endorsed by advocate , her narrative underscores resilience amid setbacks, contributing to broader discussions on the vulnerabilities of young performers.

Recognition and media coverage

Julia Benjamin received widespread recognition for her portrayal of Susie Baxter on the sitcom Hazel (1965–1966), where she debuted at the age of eight opposite Emmy-winning actress , achieving instant stardom and international visibility as the Baxter family's daughter. Her early career also included a guest role on at age seven. Benjamin's later guest appearances on acclaimed series such as The Rockford Files (1978), where she played Bonny in the two-part episode "Black Mirror" during the show's season following its Emmy win for Outstanding Drama Series, further highlighted her versatility as a supporting actress in popular television. In 2016, she published her autobiography Susie… Ain't She a Doozie? My Hazel Days and Beyond through BearManor Media, a 194-page illustrated memoir reflecting on her experiences as a child star, career transitions, and personal challenges in Hollywood. The book drew attention to her behind-the-scenes stories from Hazel and subsequent roles in shows like My Three Sons. Benjamin has shared insights into her career in media interviews, including a 2019 appearance on Radio Pride, where she discussed her Hollywood journey, early commercial work starting at age six, and a personal ordeal reminiscent of the true-crime series.
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