Joan Benedict Steiger, famed for her performances on “Candid Camera” and celebrated for a career that spanned both stage and screen, died on June 24 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She was 96 years old. The cause of her death was complications related to a stroke, as stated by a spokesperson on behalf of her family.
Steiger was born in Brooklyn, New York City on July 21, 1927, and her engagement in performing arts started early in life. At just seven years old, she began tap dancing on the stage of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She was later sent by her mother to the Rome Opera Ballet School, propelling her into a lifelong career in the arts.
Steiger’s diverse talents allowed her to excel in various mediums. On television, she was a cherished member of Allen Funt’s stock company for “Candid Camera,” where she is remembered for her humorous antics such as tickling men with a feathered hat, and requesting passersby to light her cigarette while in a phone booth. “Essentially, it’s acting,” she said about her stint on the show. “I can’t laugh, or the whole stunt is broken up.”
Her professional engagements also included “The Steve Allen Show,” where she took part in comedic sketches and represented Hazel Bishop cosmetics. She also appeared on network game shows like “Masquerade Party” and served as a stand-in for Elizabeth Taylor in the film “Butterfield 8.”
Steiger’s stage career was also successful. She was the lead in the one-woman show “Leona,” where she played the notorious hotel tycoon Leona Helmsley, and in “The Loves of My Life,” another autobiographical work. She also portrayed roles in “Promises, Promises” and “The Beauty Queen of Leenane.”
Alongside her professional triumphs, Steiger’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, rekindling a relationship that began when she was only 19 years old. They starred together in “A Month of Sundays” and “The Flying Dutchman” before his death in 2002. Reflecting on her relationships, she said, “Both of my husbands, and my lifetime partner, Jeremy (Slate), were wonderful men who respected me as an actress.”
Steiger continued acting in her later years, taking on roles in “General Hospital,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Capitol,” among other productions. Her memoir, “Brooklyn Baby,” published in 2016, recounts her dynamic career and personal life experiences.
Steiger is survived by her daughter, Claudia, and granddaughters, Hanna and Ashley. Her enduring talent, resilience, and intense passion for the arts have left an inspiring legacy.
