Ben Teal | |
|---|---|
 Teal in 1910 | |
| Born | January 19, 1857 |
| Died | April 20, 1917 (aged 59) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, theater director |
| Spouses | Mary Blackburn (m. 1887)Elinor Gilman (m. 1906) |
Benjamin Moses Teal (January 19, 1857 – April 20, 1917) was an American actor, theater director, and playwright. He directed over 30 plays on Broadway between 1897 and 1916, and was widely known for his strict, often brusque stage direction. Born in Eugene, Oregon, Teal spent his formative years in San Francisco, where he began performing as a child actor in theatrical productions.
As an adult, Teal began his career as a stage director in San Francisco before relocating to New York City in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Among his directorial credits include the original Broadway production of Ben-Hur (1899), in which he staged the play's elaborate chariot race sequence onstage.