Broadway actor Ben George, originally from Eynsham, passed away on 16 April 2020 from advanced Alzheimer’s. He was in three Broadway shows: ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ (he previously did the West End production), ‘My Fair Lady’ with Richard Chamberlain and most notably he was the original Chauffeur in ‘Grand Hotel’. He was a proud member of The Actors’ Studio.
Ben appeared in the films ‘Blood Red’ (1989) with Eric Roberts; ‘Dreams of Love’ (1990) directed by Milos Foreman, featuring a young Claire Danes; and ‘The Cooler’ (1982) produced by Paul McCartney. He played Charles Pierson in the soap ‘As the World Turns’ and did a brief stint as Gary Hart on SNL. He did commercials and extensive print work; anywhere from Guinness ads to hanging out of helicopters as a Winston Man.
In addition to his acting work Ben was a master carpenter. He built kitchens, bars and bookcases for the likes of Roger Grimsby and William Goldman.
What people don't know about Ben is that he helped to save lives during 9/11. They put out a call to men who knew how to cut steel and he volunteered. He also helped to build sections of the 9/11 Memorial.
Grateful thanks to Ben's former wife Mimi Bessette for sharing this tribute with our readers