Dirk Benedict

American actor most noted for his role as "Starbuck" in "Battlestar Galactica," 1978 and in the TV series "The A-Team," along with guest shots in other TV series. His most dramatic distinction is his fight to go public with his book, "Kamikaze Cowboy," relating his experience in overcoming cancer with a macrobiotic diet.

In his own words, "The manuscript was promptly rejected by 20 major publishing houses, not only for the "dangerous" opinions espoused by it's author, but also because, according to the 'experts', it needed to be rewritten by a "professional." I was, after all, only an actor. Four years of rejection finally resulted in it's publication by a small house in California. A year later, that publisher was so intimidated by pressure from 'special interest' groups, he took it off the market and burned all his remainders. Several years passed until Avery called and asked if they might bring it out. I dug it out of my trunk, dusted it off and that is the edition that is now in print. After this ten-year journey from my typewriter to the readers hands, it is with immense joy that I read the comments of those who have read the book, and know that it was all worth the effort and perseverance."

Benedict is the son of a country lawyer who died when Dirk was 18. Raised in the country, he had no early contact with anything connected with show business. He started acting on a dare while in college. While he was in Sweden in 1972, working on "Georgia, Georgia," he discovered the macrobiotic diet and changed his eating habits drastically. A few years later, when doctors diagnosed cancer of the prostate, he refused to accept the usual treatment and moved away to a secluded cottage where he managed his own cure, through diet.

He married actress Toni Hudson in 1986; two sons, George and Roland; divorced in 1995.

In 1994, Benedict directed his first short "Christina's Dream." He has also written a screenplay.

In 2007, he was a contestant on the U.K.