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Benjamin Zephaniah

Name in Native Language: "Emilia" (EN-GB)
Actor / Poet / Writer / Musician | * 04/15/1958 († 65, 12/07/2023) | Handsworth, Birmingham, England (United Kingdom (UK))
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (né Springer; 15 April 1958 – 7 December 2023) was a British writer, dub poet, actor, musician and professor of poetry and creative writing. He was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008. In his work, Zephaniah drew on his lived experiences of incarceration, racism and his Jamaican heritage. He won the BBC Radio 4 Young Playwrights Festival Award in 1998 and was the recipient of at least sixteen honorary doctorates. A ward at Ealing Hospital was also named in his honour. His second novel, Refugee Boy, was the recipient of the 2002 Portsmouth Book Award in the Longer Novel category. In 1982, he released an album, Rasta, which featured the Wailers performing for the first time since the death of Bob Marley, acting as a tribute to Nelson Mandela. It topped the charts in Yugoslavia, and due to its success Mandela invited Zephaniah to host the president's Two Nations Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in 1996. As an actor, he had a major role in the BBC's Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022. A vegan and animal rights activist, who self-identified as an anarchist, Zephaniah supported changing the British electoral system from fi... ()
Photo of Benjamin Zephaniah

Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is a British writer, dub poet and Rastafarian. He was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.

Most frequent genres for this person: Comedies | Talk-Shows | News

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Benjamin Zephaniah

Honorary Doctor of The University of Birmingham Honorary Doctor of The University of Exeter Honorary Fellow of The British Academy
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Movies with Benjamin Zephaniah as Actor(6)

as himself2010 Making the Connection
as Poet2002 Mad Dogs
as Richard's father1996 I Bring You Frankincense
as himself1994 Truth or Dairy
as himself1992 Dread Poets' Society

TV Shows/Series with Benjamin Zephaniah as Actor(8)

as himself2020 Life & Rhymes
as himself2018 The Big Narstie Show
as Jeremiah Jesus2013 Peaky Blinders
as himself2007 The Big Questions
as himself2003 QI
as Self - Panellist1979 Question Time

Movies with Benjamin Zephaniah as Crew(1)

Writing/Writer1992 Dread Poets' Society

Additional Information

Citizenship: United Kingdom (UK)
Born: Tuesday, 04/15 1958 (April) in Handsworth, Birmingham, England (United Kingdom (UK))
Died: Thursday, 12/07 2023 (December) (aged: 65)
Zodiac sign: Aries (Chinese zodiac sign: Dog)
Languages: English (EN), Mandarin
Member of: British Academy
Related to: Mikey Powell
Benjamin Zephaniah frequently works together with these people:
Peter Richardson (39x, Actor)
Adrian Edmondson (29x, Actor)
Jennifer Saunders (27x, Actress)
Dawn French (27x, Actress)
Nigel Planer (25x, Actor)
Rik Mayall (20x, Actor)
Robbie Coltrane (18x, Actor)
Keith Allen (18x, Actor)
Kevin Allen (10x, Actor)
Steven O'Donnell (10x, Actor)
Alexei Sayle (9x, Actor)
Daniel Peacock (8x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:676374, Added: 10/29/2018, Last updated: 03/13/2024