The iconic Days of Our Lives actor Nick Benedict died on July 14, 2023, at age 77. The legendary actor passed away on his 77th birthday, having been born on July 14, 1946. Although he had credits in film and television, Nick Benedict was mostly known for his work on television.
Nick Benedict’s biggest credit of his career was being a recurring character on NBC’s Days of Our Lives. Benedict appeared on Days until his professional acting retirement in 2001. As the first anniversary of his death approaches, here’s a look at his life and career.
Early Life & Career of the Days Star
The actor was born Nicholas Joseph Sciurba in Los Angeles, California, on July 14, 1946. Benedict’s father was Italian-American television and film actor and director Richard Benedict (born Joseph Sciurba), and his mother was Paula Lindenbaum. Being born in Los Angeles to an actor exposed Benedict to the film industry early in life and helped influence his decision to choose it as a career. However, before starting his professional acting career, Benedict served his country. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
Nick Benedict’s Iconic Role On Days of Our Lives
Nick Benedict was cast as Curtis Reed during his time on Days of Our Lives. He originated the role and has been the only actor ever portraying the character. The then head writer for Days, James E. Reilly, created the Curtis Reed character and was introduced by executive producers Ken Corday and Tom Langan. Nick Benedict first appeared on the July 27, 1993, Days of Our Lives episode. The character is initially introduced as a family man, with wife Kate Roberts (Deborah Adair/Lauren Koslow) and two children.
He was also a successful Jazz musician with several records. However, after his dealings with the Mafia go wrong, causing him to lose part of his ring finger, his career takes a hit. Curtis Reed soon begins to spiral out of control and become abusive toward his family. He also became addicted to alcohol and drugs. He leaves Salem with his children after mercilessly beating up his wife for her infidelity and pregnancy. From the onward, he and the children move from city to city, changing their names to hide their identity.
To survive, Curtis Reed continued to work with the Mafia and partake in several criminal activities. His sins finally caught up with him on the November 10, 1993 aired episode. He’s fatally shot behind the alley of his son’s apartment. In that episode, the shooter was not revealed, with further storyline alluding to the killer as Reed’s daughter, Billie Holiday Reed (Lisa Rinna). Although Billie Holiday Reed is arrested for murder, it is revealed in the March 31, 1994 episode that the real shooter was crime boss Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo), whom Curtis Reed had earlier kidnapped. Nick Benedict continued appearing as Curtis Reed’s ghost in a recurring role from 1997 to 1999 to 2001. His last appearance was on the June 5, 2001 episode.
Nick Benedict’s Other Notable Roles
Although Days of Our Lives was his most popular acting credit, Nick Benedict had starred in other soap operas before it. 20 years before he made his Days debut, Benedict joined All My Children cast as Philip Brent. Benedict was recast in the role after Richard Hatch’s exit. Although Jordon Charney briefly played the character in 1975, Benedict had the longest run with the character from 1973 to 1977, before making an appearance in 1988.
Interestingly, Benedict’s only Emmy nomination came from his All My Children performance. He was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series at the Daytime Emmy Awards. Nick Benedict also made guest appearances on 2 episodes of CBS’s The Young and the Restless, where he played Michael Scott. Benedict also starred in several movies throughout his career. A few notable ones where he was cast in a prominent role include Rachel River (1987), Memories of a Murder (1990), The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend (1991), and Entourage (2000).
Nick Benedict’s Relationships & Death
Nick Benedict was twice married. He married Michelle Dow on January 10, 1976. However, the marriage did not last up to a year, as it was annulled in December 1976. Benedict’s second marriage was to Ginger Loli-Benedict in 2001. Loli-Benedict worked as a bartender at Jake’s Steakhouse in Tehachapi, California. Benedict and his second wife were married for 22 years before his death in July 2023.
About two weeks before his death, Nick Benedict had undergone an emergency spinal cord surgery on July 2, 2023. Complications from the surgery left him paralyzed from his neck down, forcing him to be moved to hospice care. Nick Benedict died from complications from the spinal cord surgery on July 14, 2023. Benedict died at age 77 and was survived by his wife, Ginger Loli-Benedict. Besides Nick Benedict, here are 36 other actors who died in 2023.
Biography of Nick Benedict
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicholas Joseph Sciurba (Professionally known as Nick Benedict) |
| Date of Birth | July 14, 1946 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Date of Death | July 14, 2023 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, Musician |
| Years Active | 1955–2001 |
| Notable Roles | Phil Brent on All My Children, Curtis Reed on Days of Our Lives, Michael Schott on The Young and the Restless |
| Awards | Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series (1979) |
| Television Appearances | The Dukes of Hazzard, The Fall Guy, Entourage, Mission Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Knots Landing, Medical Center, Tales from the Darkside, Santa Barbara |
| Personal Life | Married to Michelle Dow (annulled in 1976), later married Ginger Loli-Benedict in 2001 |
| Death | Died from complications following emergency spinal cord surgery |
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