Joan Benedict Steiger, an actress recognized for her compelling performances on “Candid Camera,” died on June 24 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She was 96. The death was due to complications from a stroke, stated her family spokesperson.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on July 21, 1927, Benedict’s initiation into the world of performing arts was at an early age. By seven, she was tap dancing on the stage of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her mother enrolled her in the Rome Opera Ballet School, laying the foundation for a lifelong engagement in the arts.
Benedict’s multifaceted talent led her to excel in various mediums. On television, she was a cherished part of Allen Funt’s stock company for “Candid Camera,” where she is remembered for amusing pranks such as tickling men with a feathered hat and asking people to light her cigarette in a phone booth. “Essentially, it’s acting,” she remarked about her time on the show. “I can’t laugh, or the whole stunt is broken up.”
Her professional portfolio also includes “The Steve Allen Show,” where she performed comedy sketches and promoted Hazel Bishop cosmetics. She was featured on network game shows like “Masquerade Party” and was a stand-in for Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8.”
Benedict also had a successful stage career. She starred in the solo performance “Leona,” portraying infamous hotel tycoon Leona Helmsley, and in an autobiographical piece, “The Loves of My Life.” Her theatrical repertoire includes roles in “Promises, Promises” and “The Beauty Queen of Leenane.”
Alongside her professional achievements, Benedict’s personal life was characterized by several relationships. She was married to actor John Myhers from 1962 until his death in 1992. In 2000, she married Oscar-winning actor Rod Steiger, reigniting a romance that had started when she was just 19. They appeared together in “A Month of Sundays” and “The Flying Dutchman” before his death in 2002. Reflecting on her marriages and partnerships, she once stated, “Both of my husbands, and my lifetime partner, Jeremy (Slate), were wonderful men who respected me as an actress.”
In her later years, Benedict had roles in “General Hospital,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Capitol,” among other shows. Her memoir, “Brooklyn Baby,” published in 2016, encapsulates her dynamic career and personal journey.
She is survived by her daughter, Claudia, and granddaughters, Hanna and Ashley. The legacy she leaves behind is one of enduring talent, resilience, and an unyielding passion for the arts that has inspired many.