Benjamin Hendrickson (August 26, 1950 – July 3, 2006) was an American actor known for playing Harold "Hal" Munson Jr., the Chief of Detectives for the fictional town of Oakdale on the daytime soap opera As the World Turns.
Hendrickson made appearances on daytime television in the early 1980s; his credits included Another World, Texas, and a notable role on Guiding Light as the villainous Silas Crocker.
However, Hendrickson was best known for playing Harold "Hal" Munson Jr., the Chief of Detectives for the fictional town of Oakdale on the long-running daytime soap opera As the World Turns.
Hal was initially a short-term role, but as Hendrickson joked, when he "impregnated the leading lady" (the character of Margo, then played by Hillary B. Smith), he signed a contract with a longer term.
A July 5, 2006 TV Guide article indicated that the role would not be recast; the show addressed the fate of the character onscreen in October 2006, and had Hal Munson die in the line of duty.