(NationalUSNews.com) – On June 24, renowned actress Joan Benedict died at the age of 96 at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to complications from a stroke.
She is most remembered for her work on the soap operas General Hospital and Days of Our Lives although she also worked on movies, other television, on the stage and published her memoirs. She was married to actor John Myhers from 1962 until his death in 1992, and Academy Award winner Rod Steiger from 2000 until he died in 2002. She also romantically involved with actor Jeremy Slate until his death in 2006. She said that she has no regrets, but her memories of the men she loved were sometimes bittersweet.
Born on July 21, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, Benedict aspired to a career in entertainment as a child. She took tap dancing classes starting at age seven at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Later she would continue learning her craft at the Rome Opera Ballet School and also The Actors Studio in New York City. Benedict broke into the entertainment industry on the long-running television show Candid Camera. She later worked on many television programs like The Steve Allen Show, The Incredible Hulk and Fantasy Island. Her movie credits include roles in the films The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington, Dollhouse, The Prize Fighter, The Trials of Rosie O’Neil and Perfect Victims.
Benedict loved her work though and age didn’t seem to slow her down. She appeared in the 2006 film The Theory of Everything and the 2009 Joss Whedon show Dollhouse. Her most recent role was the “bird lady” in the 2017 film Opus of an Angel. She also enjoyed acting on the stage, starring in independent, solo and even Shakespearean productions. She garnered acclaim for her role as Leona Helmsley in the stage production Leona, as well as her own solo autobiographical play called The Loves of My Life.
She published her memoirs entitled Brooklyn Baby: A Hollywood Star’s Amazing Journey Through Love, Loss & Laughter in 2016. The book was well received, and many praised her ability to remain positive and joyful in the face of hardships and tragedy. She leaves behind a daughter, Claudia Myhers Tschudin, and two granddaughters Hanna and Ashley Tschudin. Online her fans and former colleagues have been sharing fond remembrances. Benedict will always be remembered for her legacy of dedication, hard work, and passion for her craft.
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