Paul Benjamin Birthday and Date of Death. Celebrities and Famous People Who Passed Away Today in History. Born 1/1/38. On television, Benjamin had guest-starring roles on “In the Heat of the Night,” “Law & Order,” “The Shield.” He portrayed homeless man Al Ervin in the “ER” pilot, which led to a recurring role over the next few seasons. Paul Benjamin (February 4, 1938 – June 28, 2019) was an American actor. Do the Right Thing Actor Paul Benjamin Dead at 81 as Director Spike Lee Pays Tribute The 81-year-old's death was announced by Spike Lee on Instagram Wednesday On television, he appeared in the 1988 episode of In The Heat of the Night as a death row inmate and in the 1994 pilot episode of ER, which led to his recurring role of homeless man Al Ervin during the next few seasons. Benjamin moved to New York to study acting and soon made his film debut in “Midnight Cowboy (1969).”. … He later starred in the 1987 HBO movie The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains, based on the novel by Robert E. Burns. Paul Benjamin, who started in the movie Do The Right Thing, died at age 81. Died 6/28/19.”, 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. Paul Benjamin, who appeared in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, has died. Benjamin also worked on the American Masters documentary of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ralph Ellison, which aired on PBS. Veteran character actor Paul Benjamin, best known for playing one of the three wise Brooklyn “cornermen” in “Do The Right Thing” and supporting roles in films such as “The Five Heartbeats,”  has passed away at 81. pic.twitter.com/Tak9sK5j4R, — Robert Townsend (@Robert_Townsend) July 2, 2019, The youngest of twelve children, Benjamin was born in Pelion, South Carolina to a Baptist preacher. He was 81. “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,” wrote Lee. Birthday: January 1, 1938 Date of Death: June 28,2019 Age at Death: 81 No other details about Benjamin’s death were made available. Paul was 81 years old at the time of death. He lived a normal average life with his wife Esther and his daughter Carol . A few notable exceptions were a major role in Barry Shear's Across 110th Street (1972), and smaller parts in Shear's western The Deadly Trackers (1973), Michael Campus' The Education of Sonny Carson (1974), Arthur Marks' Friday Foster (1975), Gordon Parks' biopic Leadbelly (1976), and Don Siegel's prison film Escape from Alcatraz (1979). He was 81. Rest In Paradise. Lee announced on Instagram that the veteran actor died June 28. Birthday: January 1, 1938Date of Death: June 28,2019Age at Death: 81. Paul passed away on June 28,2019 at the age of 81 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Coronavirus Update. The cause of death was not immediately known. No other details about Benjamin’s death were made available. Paul Benjamin was born on January 1, 1938 and died on June 28,2019. Paul was 81 years old at the time of death. Spike Lee Says Hollywood Should 'Shut It Down' and Boycott Georgia, Watch and Read Spike Lee’s Oscar Acceptance Speech That Trump Called ‘Racist’ (Video), Spike Lee Gets ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ Deja Vu From ‘Green Book’ Win: ‘Ref Made a Bad Call’, Oscars: Here’s What Spike Lee Said That Got Bleeped. Rest in paradise King.”, I am so sad to hear about the passing of Paul Benjamin.He was a brilliant actor and I had the pleasure to work with him on THE FIVE HEARTBEATS he played Eddie’s father. After small roles in Sidney Lumet 's The Anderson Tapes (1971) and Born to Win (1971), he did extensive television work in the 1970s. Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. Paul Benjamin, the veteran actor who portrayed one of the three wise Brooklyn "cornermen" in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, has died. Born 1/1/38. He made his film debut in 1969 as a bartender in Midnight Cowboy. Benjamin also appeared in “Across 110th Street,” “Escape From Alcatraz” and “The Station Agent”. Paul Benjamin, a film, television and theater actor who often appeared in dramas centered on the black American experience, died on June 28 in Los Angeles. If you see something that doesn't look right on this page, please do inform us using the form below: © 2017 Dead or Kicking / All Rights Reserved. My prayers go out to his family at this time. My prayers go out to his family at this time. Paul Benjamin was a Certified Public Accountant in New York City and lifelong liberal for many years. He gave exceptional performances in the TV adaptations of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) and Gideon's Trumpet (1980). In his acting career, he worked next to Clint Eastwood in 1979 Escape from Alcatraz Paul Benjamin, who played one of the men on the corner in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” died June 28, Lee announced on Instagram. “He was a brilliant actor and I had the pleasure to work with him on THE FIVE HEARTBEATS he played Eddie’s father. “I’m Sad To Write That The Great Actor PAUL BENJAMIN (Who Played ML, {Far Left} One … Paul Benjamin (born 1938) is an American actor. Your contribution is much appreciated! Rest in paradise King. Celebrities and Notable People Who Have Had Coronavirus. Benjamin died June 28, filmmaker Spike Lee announced on Instagram. One day, his wife and daughter were attacked by muggers and his wife died form the attack … He also acted in an episode of the 14th season of Law & Order entitled "Identity" (2003) as well as an episode of The Shield. Benjamin’s other film credits include  “Some Kind of Hero” (1982) opposite Richard Pryor,  Clint Eastwood’s “Pink Cadillac” (1989), Bill Duke’s “Hoodlum” (1997), and John Singleton’s “Rosewood” (1997). Paul Benjamin was born on January 1, 1938 and died on June 28,2019. Benjamin was born in Pelion, South Carolina. Died 6/28/19, A post shared by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Jul 2, 2019 at 10:15am PDT, Benjamin also appeared in “Across 110th Street,” “Escape From Alcatraz” and “The Station Agent.”, Also Read: Spike Lee Says Hollywood Should 'Shut It Down' and Boycott Georgia, “I am so sad to hear about the passing of Paul Benjamin,” wrote filmmaker Robert Townsend on his Twitter account. July 5, 2019.