Slow Living
Radio is thrilled to welcome the wonderful actress of stage, film and
television, Joan Benedict Steiger, to
tell her fascinating story. A woman of
huge talent, passion, and zest for life, she will inspire you with her tales.
Her new book, Brooklyn
Baby, is a must read.
Next we hear
from the creator of Nature Nate’s
Honey Company, Nathan Sheets, dedicated to keeping honey real!
JOAN BENEDICT STEIGER
Biography
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| Now and as Poopsie Patata in 1965 |
Decades of
work on stage, screen, and television and the love of three devoted men sounds
like a full life; but in many ways, the story is just beginning for veteran
performer Joan Benedict Steiger. With
credits dating back to the original “Candid Camera” on television to her
acclaimed solo performance as Leona Helmsley, she has lived the artistic life
she first dreamed of as a child in Brooklyn, New York – and the dream shows no
signs of ending.
“I always
thought when I was little I would be a dancer,” Steiger recalls today. “I was never really built for ballet, but I
was tap dancing in public at age seven when I performed at the Brooklyn Academy
of Music. I remember the first film I
ever saw was with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and as I was leaving the
theatre, I wanted to run back in, I knew I had to be a part of that world.”
As the only
grandchild in a large family – she had seven uncles – Steiger grew up in her
grandfather’s house off Prospect Park, where she describes herself as “Eloise
at the Plaza – every one of those rooms was my magic room.” Encouraged by her mother, young Steiger
studied at the Rome Opera Ballet School, and spent time in Paris, soaking up her
craft and European culture and learning French and Italian. Back in America, Steiger continued her
theatrical education by studying with legendary acting coaches Robert Lewis and
Stella Adler, founders of the Actor’s Studio in New York. That pursuit of her craft continues today, as
she continues to get a charge out of the challenge that each new acting job
brings.
“The theatre
for me is like being in church,” she says with sincerity. “When you feel the audience, and feel that
communication with other souls, it’s like music. As a performer, I’m always pursuing that
wonderful experience where you are completely alert and clear, and yet
transported through your imagination.”
Her list of
stage credits include acclaimed productions of contemporary offerings such as
“Promises, Promises,” “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” “Collected Stories” by
Donald Margulies, P.J. Barry’s “The Octette Bridge Club,” Horton Foote’s “The
Traveling Lady,” and Morris West’s “The World is Made of Glass;” opposite Don
Knotts in the comedy “The Mind with the Dirty Man;” classics like “Richard
III,” “The Dyubbuk,” and “Dr. Faustus;” and her two solo shows, “Leona” (about
notorious “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley) and the recent “The Loves of My
Life,” based on her own life. On screen,
she also co-starred with Knotts and Tim Conway in the comedy “The
Prizefighter.”
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| Joan as Dori with Tim Conway and Don Knotts in a publicity photo for The Prize Fighter (1979) |
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| Rod Steiger and Joan Benedict Steiger on location during the filming of A Month of Sundays |
“Strangely,
I met all three of these men when I was in New York, just beginning my career
while I was still a teenager,” she says.
She was only 19 when she met actor Rod Steiger, who took an instant
liking to her when they appeared on the same television show together. “I was in complete awe of him at the time,”
she admits. “I remember walking out
after seeing him in the play ‘Rashomon’ on Broadway, and seeing his face on the
marquee across the street for the movie ‘Al Capone.’ I thought, what a life – starring on Broadway
and starring in a movie! Knowing him at
that age was like living in a fantasy.”
Though the
initial romance with Rod was short-lived, given their respective dedication to
pursuing their careers, Joan soon found herself in love with leading stage
actor John Myhers. “He toured in ‘The
Sound of Music’ for three years as Captain von Trapp, and I would take time off
to travel with him,” she says. Settling
in a home near Sunset Plaza in the Hollywood Hills, their marriage lasted
thirty years before Myhers’ passing.
Then, in the late 1990s, Rod and Joan found each other again. Rod had heard rave reviews of some of Joan’s
stage work. “I got a call from him out
of the blue…he’d been at a party where someone had mentioned me, and we got
together again after all those years.”
Joan and Rod
were nearly inseparable for the final years of his life, becoming creative
partners as well as spouses. “Rod was
very impressed with my acting. Whenever
a script would arrive at the house, he’d ask me to read it for my feedback,
then he’d say ‘Did you pick out your part yet?’” They appeared in two films together, “A Month
of Sundays” and the telefilm “The Flying Dutchman.” After a long life marked by tremendous highs
and crushing lows – Steiger acknowledged suffering from chronic depression for
much of his professional career – the Academy Award winning actor seemed to
find new confidence and peace with his newly rediscovered love. “On one of the films we made, on the last day
of shooting, Rod presented me with an Oscar-like statue he had made with my
name on it, in front of the entire crew,” Joan remembers. “With me he said he was another person, and
the only time in his life he had such happiness. He told me I was the only woman who could
bring love out of a stone.”
Steiger’s
passing in 2002 was a devastating loss, but another friend from long ago was
able to fill some of the void. Actor Jeremy
Slate, a veteran of over 80 films and television shows dating back to 1959, was
Joan’s partner until his passing in 2006.
“They were all actors, writers, directors, brilliant, funny men,” Joan
says of the men who captured her heart.
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| Joan and Jeremy Slate |
Throughout
her life, Joan Benedict Steiger has worked simultaneously on stage, in film,
and on television. She’s still
remembered for a classic bit from the original version of “Candid Camera,”
where she played a lost tourist looking for directions from passersby, making
sure that her fancy hat – beplumed with a particularly large feather – would
distract them at every opportunity. She
was also part of the ensemble of the original “Steve Allen Show,” where she did
double duty as the spokesperson for Hazel Bishop cosmetics. On daytime drama, she had regular and
recurring roles on “General Hospital,” “Days of our Lives,” and “Capitol.” Her
dozens of series guest appearances include classic series like “Fantasy Island,”
“T.J. Hooker,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Kojak” and “Hotel,” with the latter
being directed by series star James Brolin. Most recently Joan guested on Fox’s
“Dollhouse.”
Perhaps one
of Joan’s most unusual jobs is one where she was asked to “fill in” – in a
manner of speaking – for a Hollywood legend.
“I had been bothering the casting director at MGM for a while when he
finally told me, ‘I have something for you.’”
MGM was preparing to make the film “Butterfield 8” starring Elizabeth
Taylor; the star had been reluctant to cooperate because she was eager to begin
work on the epic “Cleopatra.” MGM wanted
to shoot the film in studios in New York and Taylor wanted to remain in Los
Angeles. Joan was asked if she could go
to New York to rehearse the film – playing Taylor’s part – with director Daniel
Mann and the rest of the cast. Joan
worked for weeks reading Taylor’s lines, and her dedication paid off when she
was awarded a small part (a single line) in the film – for which she still
earns residuals.
The role won
Taylor her only Academy Award, but curiously, their paths would cross again
years later through their mutual acquaintance with Rod Steiger. “When Rod and I were first dating, he went
to see Elizabeth about working on a new project,” she says. “This was a period when she wasn’t feeling
well, and Rod was one of the people who really encouraged her to get well and
return to public life. That lead to speculation
that Rod and Liz were dating and he was going to be her next husband. Rod and I were on an airplane to Spain, and
he liked to read the tabloids: when I
saw the headline saying Liz and Rod were going to wed, I said, ‘What’s this all
about?’ And he smiled at me and said,
“Joan, I’m sitting next to YOU!”
For now,
Joan keeps busy preserving the legacy of her late husband, as well as
continuing her stage, film, and television work whenever the right opportunity
presents itself. ‘There’s still so much
I can do, I’m still learning after all these years,” she explains. “I have a regular table at my favorite
restaurant in Malibu and it faces the door, because I want to watch everyone
walk in, I want to observe the way they use their body, because that’s so much
a part of my process as an actress.”
Although she has written her memoirs, Joan still knows that there are
more chapters of her life left to live, and many more roles left to play.
She has also just launched her first book and memoir, Brooklyn Baby.
About the book: Joan Steiger's marriage
to Academy Award winning actor Rod Steiger ended on July 9, 2002 when he passed
away at a Los Angeles hospital. It wasn't the first time she had lost a man she
loved… and it wouldn't be the last. In spite of such trials, Joan has maintained
a contagiously upbeat and positive outlook throughout her life. As a star of
the stage and screen with countless credits to her name, Joan has worked with
nearly every Hollywood icon in the business and counts many of them among her
friends. Her fascinating story is filled with some of the highest highs and
lowest lows that life can offer. Ultimately, Brooklyn Baby is a
fascinating read guaranteed to inspire as well as challenge each of us to
follow our dreams.
# # #
Joan’s
website is located at: www.joanbenedictsteiger.com
Nathan Sheets
President, CEO
Since an
early age, Nathan exhibited a strong work ethic and unrivaled entrepreneurial
spirit. Before entering college, Nathan served in the United States Navy
Reserve for six years as a way to fund his college education. While attending
Texas State University, Nathan teamed up with his brother to work with their
family’s pen and pencil company known as Calladium Corporation. Upon
graduation, Nathan moved back to Dallas where he began developing business for
a small graphic design company. After two years, Nathan started his own
advertising firm, Holmes and Dean, which focused on internal work inside of
Calladium Corporation as well as contract work for third party clients. After
selling Calladium Corporation, Nathan continued Holmes and Dean for another two
years focusing on a wide range of clients.
After
reaching a high level of success so early in his life, Nathan’s wife Patty
suggested they find a hobby to enjoy as a couple. One night while watching
television, Nathan was inspired to explore the world of beekeeping when he saw
an AT&T commercial with a woman in a bee suit, keeping bees. A quick
internet search for local beekeeping companies led Nathan to North Dallas Honey
Company, where, much to his wife’s surprise, he purchased a hive to keep in his
parents’ backyard. After a year of working internally with North Dallas Honey
Company and maintaining a flourishing bee hive at home, Nathan’s love of
beekeeping sweetened when he purchased the company to start his own sweet
venture in 1997. Soon after, Nathan began to serve with an international church
planting ministry, then Global Missions Fellowship, now e3 Partners Ministry,
where he served from 1998 until 2010 as the Vice President for Partnership
Development. Nathan was also the driving force behind the nationwide “I Am
Second” media campaign that highlights stories of hundreds of transformed lives
through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Nathan
Sheets’ infectious, friendly and humble presence serves as an invaluable asset
to Nature Nate’s success. Happily consumed by and dedicated to his leadership
role at Nature Nate’s, Nathan is now actively focused on developing Nature
Nate's Honey and other products throughout the United States. He currently
resides in Frisco with his wife, Patty, and their four children: Hudson, Haddon,
Sophie and Samuel.
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