Joan Benedict Steiger, known for her captivating performances on “Candid Camera” and a prolific career spanning stage and screen, passed away on June 24 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 96. The cause of death was complications from a stroke, according to her family spokesperson.
Born in Brooklyn on July 21, 1927, Benedict’s journey in the performing arts began early. At age seven, she took to the stage as a tap dancer at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her mother sent her to the Rome Opera Ballet School, setting the stage for a lifetime immersed in the arts.
Benedict’s versatile talent saw her flourish across various platforms. On television, she was a beloved member of Allen Funt’s stock company for “Candid Camera,” remembered for humorous stunts like tickling men with a feathered hat, and asking passersby to light her cigarette in a phone booth. “Essentially, it’s acting,” she said of her time on the show. “I can’t laugh, or the whole stunt is broken up.”
Her work extended to “The Steve Allen Show,” where she performed comedy skits and represented Hazel Bishop cosmetics. She appeared on network game shows such as “Masquerade Party” and stood in for Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8.”
Benedict also enjoyed a thriving stage career. She starred in the one-woman show “Leona,” portraying the infamous hotel magnate Leona Helmsley, and in another autobiographical piece, “The Loves of My Life.” Her theatrical achievements include roles in “Promises, Promises” and “The Beauty Queen of Leenane.”
In addition to her professional successes, Benedict’s personal life was marked 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, rekindling a romance that began 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 said, “Both of my husbands, and my lifetime partner, Jeremy (Slate), were wonderful men who respected me as an actress.”
Benedict’s later years included roles in “General Hospital,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Capitol,” among others. Her memoir, “Brooklyn Baby,” published in 2016, captures the essence of her vibrant career and personal experiences.
Benedict is survived by her daughter, Claudia, and granddaughters, Hanna and Ashley. Her legacy is one of enduring talent, resilience, and a deep passion for the arts that inspired many.
