Short Summary
Steve Ben Israel, a consummate and experienced actor, started working as a comedian, in Greenwich Village, more than 50 years ago, then joined The Living Theatre and, for many years, toured this country, Europe, North Africa and Brazil. As a leading actor in that ground-breaking group, he performed in such seminal works as The Brig, Frankenstein, Mysteries and Paradise Now, garnering an Obie for is work in Frankenstein, in 1968. When the theater was arrested in Brazil, he managed to escape, and then worked to free the company, rejoining them on their return to the states.
More recently, he performed extensively on the downtown scene, in such venues as The Kitchen, The Performing Garage, Theater for the New City and The Nuyorican Poets Café, where he has presented his one-man show, Non-Violent Executions. The LA Weekly said of his work: “Hilarious and moving. One of our great performers.” He also has been a guest commentator on NPRʼs “All Things Considered.
Steve Ben has given so much to the world as an artist and a person. Steve has never strayed from his values of social justice, non-violence, organising and creativity that uplifts, unites, and challenges oppressive forces. His gift was to make us laugh, feel, and think. Wether its protesting unjust wars, advocating for human rights, organising with community memebers on local issues, or stepping up to be the Vice-president of the PTA Steve has always brought humour, love, and action to his life.
Unfortunately his artistic and personal path has not led to financial security and Steve Ben and his wife Pamela have no access to social security. Now that Steve has passed Pamela has no work or income.
This is a moment where Steve Ben and his wife Pamela need our help.
We are raising financial support to:
1. Support the creation of a memorial event with musicians, poets, and performers to honour steve
2. Support the placement of an obituary in the New York Times
2. Support Pamela who has no income and is unable to recieve any social security benefits.
3. Pull together a fund for urgent and necesarry cleaning and reparis to their apartment which is falling apart.
We are offering our thanks but also some creative offerings from Steve Ben, Baba Israel/Yako 440, and Michelle Esrick/Wavy Gravy and Erik Drooker. We will announce new offers as we get confirmations from Artists.
If you are in touch directly with the family you can donate in person by contacting Steve's son Baba Israel
The Impact
Steve Ben has been an incredibly generous artist and person and has performed at countless benefits since the 1960's for social justice issues. As his community knows he has also supported countless artists emotionally, philiosphically, and with his humour! He has also stepped in and paid peoples rent, lent people money, and helped people through difficult life transitions. Steve has done this all as a radical artist with very little income. Steve Ben and Pamela are both inellgible for social security and even though they have both been great contributors to the world have no financial assistance.