Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the bloodthirsty Spike Guinan in "The Innocents of Chicago" (1932). Born Benjamin Weinblatt, he was raised within a traditional working-class family. After beginning his career as a leading man in stock companies, he was discovered by director Oscar M. Sheridan while attending a casting call for bit players. Impressed by his average build, dark good looks, and distinctive voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Big Business" (1930). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 100 features; often typecast as henchmen, gangsters, sidekicks, thugs, conmen, gamblers, gigolos, boyfriends, husbands, fathers, uncles, doctors, politicians, policemen, detectives, reporters, chauffeurs, doormen, waiters, butlers, retail clerks, salesmen, blue-collared guys, vendors, mechanics, superintendents, bankers, pawnbrokers, eccentrics, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, military men, cowboys, sheriffs, deputies, jailbirds, bailiffs, bartenders, and authority figures. He appeared in such feature films as "The Man from Chicago" (1930), "77 Park Lane" (1931), "Tin Gods" (1932), "His Grave Gives Notice" (1933), "Aunt Sally" (1934), "Trust the Navy" (1935), "She Knew What She Wanted" (1936), "Marked Woman" (1937), "Always Goodbye" (1938), "Rose of Washington Square" (1939), "Wolf of New York" (1940), "Knockout" (1941), "Maisie Gets Her Man" (1942), "Here Comes Elmer" (1943), "Shadows in the Night" (1944), "Circumstantial Evidence" (1945), "The Big Sleep" (1946), "Fiesta" (1947), "Trapped by Boston Blackie" (1948), "Search for Danger" (1949), "Buccaneer's Girl" (1950), "Tales of Robin Hood" (1951), "Tropical Heat Wave" (1952), "All Ashore" (1953), "The Steel Cage" (1954), "Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki" (1955), "Hidden Guns" (1956), and "Spook Chasers" (1957). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Gene Autry Show," "Front Page Detective," "The Stu Erwin Show," "My Little Margie," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Big Town," "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "Where's Raymond?," "Space Patrol," "Duffy's Tavern," "It's a Great Life," "I Married Joan," "Public Defender," "Buffalo Bill, Jr.," "Matinee Theatre," "Crossroads," "Damon Runyon Theatre," "The Adventures of Jim Bowie," "Navy Log," "Adventures of Superman," "The Red Skelton Hour," "Lassie," "Surfside 6," "Mister Ed," "Ripcord," "The Lucy Show," "Branded," and "Batman." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a regular parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Humane Society, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was the owner of the popular confectionary Nutcorn in Beverly Hills, California, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, served in the United States Army during World War II, and held dual citizenship between the United States and England. Upon his 1966 retirement, Welden, who never married nor had any children, spent the remainder of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and was involved in charitable and religious ventures, until his death.