'Aliens,' 'The Dark Knight Rises' actor Jay Benedict dies at 68 from coronavirus

Actor Jay Benedict, best known for his roles in 1986's "Aliens," 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises" and the U.K. TV series "Emmerdale," has died at 68  from the coronavirus.

Kristin Tarry, of TCG Artist Management, confirmed the news of his death to USA TODAY on Monday. She represented Benedict for the past 20-plus years.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoon lost his battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts are with his family," the company tweeted Saturday.

Benedict played Newt's father in "Aliens" and Rich Twit in "The Dark Knight Rises." He took on the role of Doug Hamilton in the long-running series "Emmerdale," which has been airing in the U.K. since 1972. He appeared on the show in the late '90s. He leaves behind his wife, Phoebe Scholfield, and sons Freddie and Leopold.

Jay Benedict attends the London Film and Comic Convention at Earls Court on July 19, 2008 in London, England.
Pierce Brosnan posted a lengthy tribute to his Instagram Monday along with a photo of him and Benedict.

"My dearest friend Jay Benedict, brother in this life, has passed on... we were friends for so many years, forty years and change. This is a photo taken last May outside the stage door of the Lyric theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue London," he wrote. "Jay and I played brothers in a Franco Zeffirelli production of Filumena... Life was so much fun with Jay, on stage and off, we laughed a lot at the world around us, at our selves, saw the funny side of life always."


He continued, "He was a courageous man of handsome life force, that shone its light in every room he walked into, down every road he traveled, he shared his joyful radiance of kinship with all who knew him, a fine mind of intellect and compassion, he gave of himself in every way to the craft of acting, but above all else, he gave us all his great love of life, himself."