Overview
- The New York City Medical Examiner confirmed Friday that Ronnie Benjamin, known on air as Big Black, died at age 64.
- The ME identified arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease as the cause and declined to provide where or when he died.
- Benjamin rose to fame as a recurring caller on The Howard Stern Show and was formally named to the Wack Pack after repeated appearances.
- Reporters note a contrast in his life story: he attended Bronx High School of Science and was a Mensa member but later struggled with unemployment and public assistance.
- Howard Stern and his representatives had not issued a public comment as of the reports, and entertainment outlets placed Benjamin’s death in the longer context of Wack Pack members who remain fixtures of Stern show coverage.