Daily News from New York, New York • 295

'Quitter' returns on a double bill By ANN GUARINO IRK BENEDICT QUIT ACTING ONCE. Now Hollywood star. 01 it'. 5 V4 V'l 'iff fi i than planned because the actors's strike has limited screen production. The comedy adventure stars him as a stock car racer and moonshine runner who goes underground for the FBI to stop cigaret smuggling.

Like Gary Cooper, the strong silent hero of yesteryear, Benedict was born in Montana. He grew up as Dirk Niewoehner in White Sulphur Springs, a town that had no TV or a movie theater. He never about becoming a Hollywood star. Hunting, fishing, skiing and football were his interests. A top student in high school, he went on to jWhitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.

At first he had trouble with motivation and made average grades. Then he did a turn-around and made the dean's list When he was given the lead in a college musical, he began thinking about acting. After graduation, he went to an acting school in Michigan, worked in regional theater and in 1971 came to New York. He changed his name and appeared on Broadway in "Abelard and Heloise," went to Sweden to film in "Georgia, Georgia" about draft resisters, returned to Broadway in "Butterflies Are Free," and moved on to Hollywood to star as a. "I'm concentrating on an acting career," he said the other day.

Casually dressed in jeans, Western shirt and boots, and a sport jacket, the good-looking actor appeared relaxed and confident in his publicist's office as he explained why he gave up acting: "I never thought of myself as a romantic lead in the theater. I thought of myself as an actor who could play a wide variety of characters. In Hollywood, which is more commercially oriented, one plays basically what one is. Producers saw me as a hero. I would get jobs in that vein or I wouldn't work.

"All of a sudden it became a business. I was doing publicity, signing autographs, doing long interviews. I said to myself, 'I'm not living my life. I'm doing something I don't I quit" That was in 1973. He spent the next four years on the road doing all the other things he wanted to do.

But acting was unfinished business in his life. He returned to Hollywood, worked in theater and eventu flYiil'J "if ill'' Dirk Benedict lab assistant who is transformed into a king cobra in "SSSSSSS." "Truly spectacular and very exciting!" Archer Winsten, New York Post efe: r))M .1. l-WKIJ lUII jh iwji.un.ai i'ii 1)1111 ii fwum'm I'jw ill 11 JSSSf, Thank Cod only a motion picture! ally landed the part of LL Starbuck, the skirt-chasing pilot in the TV series "Battlestar Galactica." Since then he has completed two feature films (which open late next month) and a TV movie. He starts another film in South America in a few weeks. Benedict plays the title role in "The Loner," an action comedy previously titled "Ruckus in Maddoc County." "It's a real popcorn movie," he said.

As a lonely Vietnam veteran and an outsider, he runs up against the town's leading citizen whose daughter-in-law (Linda Blair) is more sympathetic. In "Underground Aces," a romantic comedy, he portrays a mischievous con man who joins a friend in an underground parking garage venture. "It's a zany comedy," Benedict said. "Melanie Griffith, Tippi Hedren's daughter, is in it." He thinks "Georgia Peaches," the TV movie he just completed for CBS with special permission from the Screen Actors Guild, may be released sooner laraira isisiem PGlfWtnAl GUttlMO SLBQ SITS NOW PLAYING YT77 FORUM 47TH ST. I 47m SI 6 way.

12.1:45.330, 5:15. 10:30 wattw Resde FESTIVAL bi am vw. 12, 140. 3 20 5, 6 40. frM, 10 LOEWS NEWVORK BAY SHORE SUNRISE O.I.

1 BAY SHORE EL WOOD CINEMA ELWOOD GREENPORT GREfcNPOMY MATTITUCK TWIN MATTITUCK SAG HARBOR SAG HARBOR SOUTH BAY TRIO 1 WEST BABYLON LOEWS STONYBROOK TRIPLEX STONYbROOK BLOOMFtELO BRfCKTOWN M.LL 1 CLINTON EAST BRUNSWICK tc ews m-uTE ie tvvim EDO WATER SHOWBOAT FRf EHOLO MLL 2 JACKSON JA C'NEMA JERSEY CITY jf CITY If Ptfx TWIN 1 Ave a' 66in St. 12. 140, 3 211. 05. 6:50, cewTunvs PROSPECT 1 FLUSHING 1:30.

18 15 SfCMTM ST. EAST -Djsmzn RK0 CINERAMA WAY AT 47lh ST. IMS. 2 15. 4.15.

8.15. 10:15 TOWN COUNTRY'S S6TH STREET EAST BETWEEN 2nd 3rd AVES. 1. 2:45.4:35. 6:25.

MS. 10:05 at naaf na aw. 12. 1 40, 3 20. S.

40. 0 20, 10 The second before she screams will be the PARAMUS SUNWAVE TWIN 1 PATCHOGUE United Artists GENERAL CINEMAS BRUNSWICK SQUARE EAST BRUNSWICK (201)2362998 CINEMA 23 CEDAR GROVE MUSIC MAKERS MALL 2 BHICKTOWN (2011 477-6661 MUSIC MAKERS MOVIES RED BANK (201) 7470333 GENERAL CINEMA'S OCEAN COUNTY MALL Tom river (701) 340-5095 CENTUfiY'S PARAMUS 2 PARAMUS (201) 643-3630 GENERAL CINEMA'S SEA VIEW SO. 1 AS8URY PARK CENTURY PLAINVIEW PLAINVIEW 6161935100 RKO ROCKVILLE 4 CENTRE ROCKVILLE CENTRE (5161 676-3121 ARCADIAN I INTERBORO 2 7922100 OSSiNING CINEMA 4 hARTSOALE CINEMA 22 BEDFORD VILLAGE MOVIELANO 4 YONKERS RKO PROCTORS NEwROCHELtE WESTCHESTER MALL TRIPLEX 1 PEEKSKILL most frightening moment of your life. Dressed TO kill CENTURY'S SMITHAVEN MALL LAKE GROVE (516) 724 9550 RKO HOUTF 4 fRSIPPANY ML HtLLS RAPITAN 5CMEHVll.Lt CIRCLE 1 RtDOEWOOD RKO WAPNfcfl ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP Rf-CKAWAY. SECAUCUS LOews HA RMON COVE OUAD SHPEWSBURY CiEMA 1 SPARTA SMfll I TOTOWA TOfOW CINEMA 2 UNION HfO UNION WASHINGTON SMINC.TON WATCH UNO BL iE STAR 3 WEST END THt MOVIES WEST ORANGE tS: EX GREEN CtKEMA 3 WOODBRIDGE VCOOBRiLXj 2 I.M.'ll LOEMS AMERICAN TWIN CITY CINEMA 1 tOEWS PARADISE TRIPLEX LOEWS GEORGETOWNE TWIN LOEWS METROPOLITAN OUAD Sk OCEANA 1 LOEWS ORIENTAL TWIN ASTORIA ASTORIA RKO KEITHS FLUSHING LITTLE NECK MEADOWS 2 FRESH MEADOWS Sk LOEWS TRYLON FOOE3T HILLS Centufy'a FLORAL rLORAl park RKO LAWRENCE LAWRENCE PEOUA MASSAPEOUA Cantiifv'a 9k ROOSEVELT FIELO 2 GARDEN CITV SUNRISE SIXPLEX CINEMAS 2 VALLEY STREAM TWIN SOUTH HIKSVILLe AM BOY TWIN 1 ELTINGVILLE RAE 1 NEW DORP GOI DEN BENSON 3724237 CENTUPVS KINGSWKY 1 6454568 CtNTURV RICHMOND NEW SPRINGVILLE 761-3103 rZTiQLvsTBm- KINGSTON (201) 7756810 -EznzEzszi: MATf-AIR 2 MIDDLFTOWN PLA 1 LFSSERS GENERAL CINEMA'S POUGHKEEPSiE A nUUUML.

Picture Cmwtiw 77Rlm Graup I960 Wn Associate BEACH CINEMAS PEEKSKILL (914 737262 CENTRAL PLAZA YONKERS (914) 793 3232 JULIfcT 2 BRANDT'S TOWN NEW ROCHELLE (914) NE2-4000 BEADTHEBAKWM tOOK hANUtT THE MOVIES 5 ALSO AT THEATRES IN UFSTATE N.Y., ROCKLAND CONNECTICUT r-C22Z3EEEa 1 PEARL RIVER GUILDS Ct I HAL. 4 EMBASSY 5 Now they have found the Titanic! Be there when STAMFORD TRANS LUX CINEMA 8WAY4 46TMST 10. 12. 2,4.6.8. 10.

12 Mid. A MA iMtATHt BEEKMAN 2ND AVE AT65THST 12. 2. 4. 6 8.

10 57th. ST. PLAYHOUSE 110 WEST S7mST 12. 2. 4 6.

8, 10 THE MOVIES AT SUNRISE MALL 6 MASSAPEQUA LOEWS NASSAU QUAD LEVITT OWN CENTURY PARK EAST GARDEN CITY PARK RKO PLAINVIEW PLAIN VIEW Rf DSTONF SUNRISE SIXPLEX CINEMAS VALLET STREAM LOEWS 83rd ST. QUAD "INFINITELY SUPERIOR TO 'STAR PAULINE KAEl BENSON! FlOHiN CREATIVE CANARSIE TRIPLEX GOLOtN FORTWAY 1 RKO KENMORE LOEWS METROPOLITAN OUAD GOIDFNS OCEANA 1 CENTER sunnyside JACKSON 1 JACKSON HEIGHTS MIDWAY 1 FOREST HILLS UA QUARTET 2 LUSHING ACE RV.AN CINEMA100TWIN GREEN8URGK PLAYHOUSE BEDFORD VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE 1 WAMARONECK RKO PROCTORS NEW ROCHELLE Lf SSFRS ROME PLEASANTVTLLE LFSStRS TRIANGLE 2 BJHU5I ft WMT 2.4.6.8.10 RKO COLISEUM 181 IMSI S6HOADWAY 1 05. 3 05. 05. 7:05.

9 05 GOt DC OUAD 3 4 IJIMSl Btl 5TMe1MAVES 3 2:45.4 35.6 25.8 15.10 05 4 1 55. 3 45.5 35.7:25.8:15 CINE MA NEW AMSTERDAM 42nd ST. Btl 7TH ft 8TH AVES 9 20. 1. 4 40.

8 20. 05M PGl EEZ33 COMMACK 0.1. COMMACK FLORINCREATIVE LAKESIDE CINEMA LAKE RONKONKOMA LIGHTSTONE PINE CINEMA CORAM LIGHTSTONE SOUTH BAY TRIO WEST BABYLON SOUTHAMPTON 1 SOUTH HAMPTON CFNTURY WHITMAN HUNTINGTON NOW PLAYING AT THESE SELECTED THEATRES PT stuta 24k "LOEWS ASTOR PLAZA 44lh SI west Of WAY 669-8340 12:10, 2:35. 5, 7:25. 9:50 LOEWS OS7PKEUM 1 B6m si.

neoi 3ia ave 28-460? 12:10, 2:35. 5 7.25, 9:50 TrD PG! WMim 6WDANCE SUtCESItD EHE23 HOMlMONf CIRCLE IICHISIONE DALE RKO F0RDHAM RfOSTONf WHITESTONE 0.1. tOMt MK4I41 MAT UT SUIlkhf fM ClUtMIII A CINEMA 5 THEATRE MURRAY HILL 34m ST. near 3 '0 AVE 12:30.2 50.5:10.7:30.9:50 NOW PLAYING AT THESE SELECTED THEATRES 3 AGKfcHMAN NYLAN CINEMA it MX fLORM-CRE ATTVf IHUIIf 11 The sound system tor the harO-ot hearing I CONTINENTAL COMMACK 4 NE DORP YQHIUOWN HEIGHTS 'FOROHAM 367 3040 Ave ot the Aimiicjs on Mid SI arRAi emeu a CENTRAL. P1AZA TVrfN VCNKERS 713-133 rontii MILLS Special Miuwgtil Shoo tvtry HigM 12:45,3:00, 5:15, 7:30,9:45 WCSTHAMPTOM 2S4-H00 ALSO AT THEATRES IN UPSTATC N.Y..

CONNECTICUT AND NEW JERSEY KEJTMS Flushing 53-4B0 LOEWS SOUTH SHORE "OCTOS ALBEMARLE MT-MOO AKO cr WTURY BROOK Ut HDL Mat HA Wis TCM ESTER M.U TWPLEX AWWFTCF SY0SSET SYOSSET 516-921 5810 1:30, 3:35, 5:40, 7:40, 9:45 LYHBBG9K LYNBROOK 516-693 1033 1:30, 3:35,5:40,7:40, 9:45 LOEWS STONV8ROOX TTOPLEX iw No Nukes' knocks your socks off." i aiAL u-atm LOEWS n-mo3 METROPOUTAN LOEWS QUAO7-u4 NASSAU QUAO Honing ston rmrrwjwc ft4 LEWTYOWN -a nunu cact ro- LOEWS OmEMTALPMN IpcH DDLs UA 70 mm ft UA CINEMA MttCLESEX MALL. SO PLA1NFIELO 201-753-2246 1:30,3:35,5:40,7:50,10:00 WESTBURV OJ. TRIPLEX 5 jchcmo jjamoo A CINEMA THEATRE BELLEVUE UPPER MONTCLAJfl 201-744-1455 2:05,4:10,6:15, 8:25,10:35 ACMIUSTMCATaf STliS Uf. FOX PLAZA TWIN MEa OOMP H7-MQ4) lfloaujgw 3rd Ave. CINEMA 1 at 60th ALSO AT TWATItS IN Nt MKiT, UPSTATI T.

AND CONNICTKUI PL 3-6022 TRACK-.