Renowned actress Joan Benedict Steiger, famed for her performances on the famous TV show “Candid Camera” and a varied career in both stage and screen, died on June 24, 2024 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She was 96. Her family spokesperson attributed her death to complications from a stroke.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on July 21, 1927, Benedict’s early interest in the performing arts saw her on the stage as a tap dancer at the Brooklyn Academy of Music when she was just seven. Her mother enrolled her at the Rome Opera Ballet School, laying the foundation for her lifelong engagement with the arts.
Benedict’s adaptable talent led her to excel in various mediums. On the television show “Candid Camera,” she was a popular member of Allen Funt’s company, known for comedic stunts like tickling men with a feathered hat and asking pedestrians to light her cigarette in a phone booth. Regarding her time on the show, she said, “Essentially, it’s acting. I can’t laugh, or the whole stunt is broken up.”
Benedict’s work also included appearances on “The Steve Allen Show,” where she performed comedy sketches and advertised Hazel Bishop cosmetics. She was featured on game shows like “Masquerade Party” and served as a stand-in for Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8.”
Additionally, Benedict had a successful career in theater. She starred in the one-woman show “Leona,” playing notorious hotel tycoon Leona Helmsley, and in the autobiographical piece “The Loves of My Life.” Her theatrical credits include roles in “Promises, Promises” and “The Beauty Queen of Leenane.”
Aside from her professional accomplishments, Benedict’s personal life included several significant relationships. She was married to actor John Myhers from 1962 until his passing in 1992. In 2000, she wed Oscar-winning actor Rod Steiger, reigniting a romance that first sparked when she was 19. The pair worked together in “A Month of Sundays” and “The Flying Dutchman” before his death in 2002. On reflecting on her relationships, she said, “Both of my husbands, and my lifetime partner, Jeremy (Slate), were wonderful men who respected me as an actress.”
In her later years, Benedict took on roles in “General Hospital,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Capitol,” among other projects. Her memoir, “Brooklyn Baby,” published in 2016, chronicles her dynamic career and personal life.
Benedict is survived by her daughter, Claudia, and granddaughters, Hanna and Ashley. Her enduring talent, resilience, and deep passion for the arts have left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire.