Writer and actor - "Peaky Blinders" actor Benjamin Zephaniah passes away at the age of 65
Benjamin Zephaniah died this Thursday at the age of 65. According to The Independent, his family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved husband, son and brother in the early hours of this morning."
His wife had always been by his side "and was with him when he died. We have shared him with the world and we know that many will be shocked and saddened by this news. Benjamin was a true pioneer, he gave so much to the world." He was diagnosed with a brain tumor eight weeks ago, the family also announced.
Zephaniah was born in 1958 in Birmingham, England, the son of a Barbadian letter carrier and a Jamaican nurse. He left school at the age of 13 as a dyslexic and was unable to read and write. However, he took a liking to poetry, moved to London at the age of 22 and published his first volume of poetry "Pen Rhythm" in 1980. This was followed by several volumes of poetry and also plays.
Role as a street preacher in "Peaky Blinders"
Zephaniah, who declined the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, dealt with issues such as racism, poverty and social injustice. For a long time, he devoted himself to dub poetry, which developed as a form of performance poetry from the Jamaican music genre of the same name, and also performed with the group The Benjamin Zephaniah Band. In addition to his writing, Zephaniah has also worked as an actor and played the role of Jeremiah "Jimmy" Jesus, a street preacher and friend of the gangster gang Peaky Blinders led by Tommy Shelby, in the BBC drama series "Peaky Blinders" between 2013 and 2022.
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Despite his passing, Benjamin Zephaniah's impact on issues like racism, poverty, and social injustice will continue to be celebrated as an independent voice. His powerful presence as Jeremiah "Jimmy" Jesus, the street preacher and friend to the Peaky Blinders gang, in the popular BBC series, showcased his versatility as both a writer and actor. The "Peaky Blinders" family, especially his on-screen kin, will undoubtedly mourn the loss of such a captivating and influential figure.
Source: www.stern.de
