Photo: Everette CollectionActor Paul Benjamin, who appeared in Spike Lee’s seminal 1989 filmDo the Right Thing, died last month, the director announced Wednesday.Leepenned a heartfelt tributeto Benjamin on Instagram, revealing the 81-year-old actor had died on June 28. A cause of death wasn’t immediately revealed.“I’m Sad To Write That The Great Actor PAUL BENJAMIN (Who Played ML, {Far Left} One Of The Cornermen Passed This Past Friday,2 Days Before The 30th Anniversary Of DO THE RIGHT THING. Rest In Paradise. Born 1/1/38. Died 6/28/19”Benjamin got his start as an actor playing a bartender inMidnight Cowboyin 1969 and eventually appeared in bit parts in Sidney Lumet’sThe Anderson TapesandBorn to Winbefore moving more into television work towards the late ’70s.He had also appeared in the pilot episode ofER, which earned him a recurring role on the series for the next several seasons.RELATED VIDEO: Denzel Washington Dedicates Life Achievement Award to His Wife: ‘I Wouldn’t Survive’ Without HerBenjamin would later appear in independent films into the mid-aughts, but at one point worked amongst the industry’s biggest names. He acted alongside Richard Prior inEscape From Alcatrazin 1979 as well asSome Kind of Heroin 1982.In Lee’s iconic film, Benjamin played ML, one of the three wise Brooklyn “cornermen.”Benjamin, who was born in South Carolina but moved to Los Angeles, where he died, also worked with the likes ofBarbra StreisandandClint Eastwoodand appeared in an episode ofLaw and Order.
Photo: Everette Collection
Actor Paul Benjamin, who appeared in Spike Lee’s seminal 1989 filmDo the Right Thing, died last month, the director announced Wednesday.Leepenned a heartfelt tributeto Benjamin on Instagram, revealing the 81-year-old actor had died on June 28. A cause of death wasn’t immediately revealed.“I’m Sad To Write That The Great Actor PAUL BENJAMIN (Who Played ML, {Far Left} One Of The Cornermen Passed This Past Friday,2 Days Before The 30th Anniversary Of DO THE RIGHT THING. Rest In Paradise. Born 1/1/38. Died 6/28/19”Benjamin got his start as an actor playing a bartender inMidnight Cowboyin 1969 and eventually appeared in bit parts in Sidney Lumet’sThe Anderson TapesandBorn to Winbefore moving more into television work towards the late ’70s.He had also appeared in the pilot episode ofER, which earned him a recurring role on the series for the next several seasons.RELATED VIDEO: Denzel Washington Dedicates Life Achievement Award to His Wife: ‘I Wouldn’t Survive’ Without HerBenjamin would later appear in independent films into the mid-aughts, but at one point worked amongst the industry’s biggest names. He acted alongside Richard Prior inEscape From Alcatrazin 1979 as well asSome Kind of Heroin 1982.In Lee’s iconic film, Benjamin played ML, one of the three wise Brooklyn “cornermen.”Benjamin, who was born in South Carolina but moved to Los Angeles, where he died, also worked with the likes ofBarbra StreisandandClint Eastwoodand appeared in an episode ofLaw and Order.
Actor Paul Benjamin, who appeared in Spike Lee’s seminal 1989 filmDo the Right Thing, died last month, the director announced Wednesday.
Leepenned a heartfelt tributeto Benjamin on Instagram, revealing the 81-year-old actor had died on June 28. A cause of death wasn’t immediately revealed.
“I’m Sad To Write That The Great Actor PAUL BENJAMIN (Who Played ML, {Far Left} One Of The Cornermen Passed This Past Friday,2 Days Before The 30th Anniversary Of DO THE RIGHT THING. Rest In Paradise. Born 1/1/38. Died 6/28/19”
Benjamin got his start as an actor playing a bartender inMidnight Cowboyin 1969 and eventually appeared in bit parts in Sidney Lumet’sThe Anderson TapesandBorn to Winbefore moving more into television work towards the late ’70s.
He had also appeared in the pilot episode ofER, which earned him a recurring role on the series for the next several seasons.
RELATED VIDEO: Denzel Washington Dedicates Life Achievement Award to His Wife: ‘I Wouldn’t Survive’ Without Her
Benjamin would later appear in independent films into the mid-aughts, but at one point worked amongst the industry’s biggest names. He acted alongside Richard Prior inEscape From Alcatrazin 1979 as well asSome Kind of Heroin 1982.
In Lee’s iconic film, Benjamin played ML, one of the three wise Brooklyn “cornermen.”
Benjamin, who was born in South Carolina but moved to Los Angeles, where he died, also worked with the likes ofBarbra StreisandandClint Eastwoodand appeared in an episode ofLaw and Order.
source: people.com
