More sad news on the Coronavirus front as several actors and artists have passed away from the deadly disease sweeping the globe. ActorJay Benedictdied Monday from the disease at age 68. He is best known in the states for roles in 1986’s classic sci-fi thrillerAliensand 2012’s blockbuster hitThe Dark Knight Rises. Overseas he is perhaps best known for his starring role in the U.K. TV seriesEmmerdale.
The news of Jay Benedict’s death was first reported by TCG Artist Management’s Kristin Tarry. She has represented the actor for over twenty years. She had this to say about his death on Monday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce thepassingof our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoonlost his battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Jay Benedict’s role inAlienswas greatly expanded in James Cameron’s director’s cut of the 1986 box office hit. He played Newt’s father, with a major scene featuring the actor returned in a later version of the movie. InThe Dark Knight Riseshe played Rich Twit for director Christopher Nolan. OnEmmerdale, he played Doug Hamilton in the series, which has aired in the UK. since 1972. He made his first appearance on the show in the late ’90s.
The actor is survived by wife Phoebe Scholfield and their two sons Freddie and Leopold. Friend Pierce Brosnan posted a lengthy tribute on Instagram to the late actor. He had this to say about Jay Benedict.
“My dearest friend Jay Benedict, brother in this life, has passed on… we were friends for so many years, forty years and change. This is a photo taken last May outside the stage door of the Lyric theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue London. Jay and I played brothers in a Franco Zeffirelli production of Filumena… Life was so much fun with Jay, on stage and off, we laughed a lot at the world around us, at our selves, saw the funny side of life always.”
“He was a courageous man of handsome life force, that shone its light in every room he walked into, down every road he traveled, he shared his joyful radiance of kinship with all who knew him, a fine mind of intellect and compassion, he gave of himself in every way to the craft of acting, but above all else, he gave us all his great love of life, himself.”
Vicki Michelle, who co-starred with Benedict onEmmerdale, also had fond words for her friend, which she posted on twitter.
Jay Benedict was also remembered by actor David Menkin, who went onto say, “Jay Benedict - one of the greats - passed away today. If you work in ADR, dubbing, voiceovers, theatre or film in London, you know why we’re heartbroken; a big voice and even bigger personality has left us.” Benedict is the most recent in a list of celebrities, actors and artist who have lost their lives to the deadly virus sweeping across the globe at this time. Patricia Bosworth succumbed to the disease on Thursday at 86. She acted opposite Audrey Hepburn but was perhaps better known for writing several biographies on Marlon Brando Montgomery Clift, and other Hollywood luminaries.
Fountains of Wayne singer and songwriter Adam Schlesinger passed away last Wednesday from complications of COVID-19. Jazz pianist and teacher Ellis Marsalis Jr. also passed that same Wednesday. And over the weekend, actress Lee Fierro, best known for playing Mrs. Kintner in Steven Spielberg’s classicJawsdied from the virus at age 91. This latest breaking news was first shared byUSA Today.
