Jay Benedict, the Hollywood actor known for his role in the 1986 film “Aliens,” has died at the age of 68 from the coronavirus.
The news of Benedict’s death was announced by Kristin Tarry of TCG Artist Management, who represented the actor for more than 20 years.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoon lost his battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts are with his family," the company said in a Tweet on Saturday.
Benedict was revered for his roles in 1986's "Aliens," 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises" and the U.K. TV series "Emmerdale.”
He played Newt's father in "Aliens" and Rich Twit in "The Dark Knight Rises." He portrayed the character of Doug Hamilton in the long-running series "Emmerdale," which has been running in the U.K. since 1972. He also made an appearance on the show in the late '90s. He leaves behind his wife, Phoebe Scholfield, and sons Freddie and Leopold.
"My dearest friend Jay Benedict, brother in this life, has passed on... we were friends for so many years, forty years and change,” said Pierce Brosnan in a lengthy tribute on his Instagram Monday that came with a photo of him and Benedict.
“This is a photo taken last May outside the stage door of the Lyric theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue London," he wrote.
"Jay and I played brothers in a Franco Zeffirelli production of Filumena... Life was so much fun with Jay, on stage and off, we laughed a lot at the world around us, at ourselves, saw the funny side of life always."
Brosnan described him as “a courageous man of handsome life force, that shone its light in every room he walked into, down every road he traveled, he shared his joyful radiance of kinship with all who knew him, a fine mind of intellect and compassion, he gave of himself in every way to the craft of acting, but above all else, he gave us all his great love of life, himself."
Brosnan expressed his condolences to Scholfield and his "dearest God sons" Leo and Freddie.
Meanwhile, "Emmerdale" co-actor Vicki Michelle posted a tribute for Benedict on Twitter on Sunday.
"Shocked to hear one of our most brilliant actors and kind lovely man Jay Benedict has passed. Married to my lovely friend Phoebe Scholfield," she said in her Tweet, which came with a photo of her and Benedict. "My heart goes out to her and her family at this sad time"
Actor David Menkin also Tweeted his message about the news: "Jay Benedict - one of the greats - passed away today. If you work in ADR, dubbing, voiceovers, theatre or film in London, you know why we're heartbroken; a big voice and even bigger personality has left us.”
Other victims of coronavirus
The other celebrities who have also recently died due to the complications brought by COVID-19 were Patricia Bosworth, Adam Schlesinger, Ellis Marsalis Jr., and Lee Fierro.
Bosworth, an actress who worked alongside Audrey Hepburn and later published biographies on several celebrities, including Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, died at 86.
Musician Adam Schlesinger, co-founder of the band Fountains of Wayne and songwriter for TV's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," died at 52 due to coronavirus complications.
Renowned jazz pianist and teacher Ellis Marsalis Jr. passed away at 85 from complications of coronavirus. Lee Fierro, the actress who became famous for playing mourning Mrs. Kintner in Steven Spielberg's 1975 "Jaws," died of complications from coronavirus at 91.
