Captain Ben Hayes is a major character in the 2005 film by Peter Jackson, King Kong. He is the first mate of the SS Venture, a mentor to Jimmy and the one who leads the rescue mission to find Ann Darrow, kidnapped by King Kong.
History
Prior to the film, Hayes was a veteran of World War I and then became SS Venture's first mate. At some point he met Jimmy when he found him in the hold of the ship and decided to raise him and bring him to live off the Venture. Captain Hayes first appears in front of the ship when Carl and his camera crew board as Carl flees from the producers. During the trip with Englehorn, Hayes realizes that Carl lied about going to Singapore.
With Lumpy and Jimmy, he corners Carl who admits to wanting to go to Skull Island. While a first team goes to the island, Hayes remains on board with a few sailors. After this team is attacked by Natives, the whole crew of the boat tries to escape but Jack informs them that Ann has been kidnapped.
An expedition is then set up and led by Hayes who refuses that Jimmy comes with the group. However, Hayes eventually discovers Jimmy who has been following them secretly and returns his gun to him.
After several adventures and deaths of members, the group crosses a ravine thanks to a giant log that leads to Kong's lair. Hayes tells everyone to stand back as he slowly moves towards the cave. He starts firing his gun when Kong pops up and grabs him. As Jimmy fears for Hayes, the latter tells him that he is going to run with Jack. Hayes is about to shoot Kong when the latter throws him against the rock wall opposite and Hayes falls into the ravine to his death. We see his corpse in the bug pit as the rest of the group also fell after Kong knocked over the log.
