Remember Thelma's husband Keith from 'Good Times'? He died at 64 after being sick for over 5 years

- The actor who played Thelma Evans’s husband on the sitcom ‘Good Times’ died three years ago away from the spotlight.

- Ben Powers, remembered for his role as Keith Albert, was in a battle with cancer for over five years.

Celebritist learned about the death of veteran actor Ben Powers after a tough battle with one of the illnesses that take more lives in the world every year - cancer.

Powers was 64-years-old at the time of his death, and his family revealed that he died from stomach cancer, a chronic illness that according to the American Cancer Society affects about 6 of every 10 people that are 65-years-old or older.

Ben started his career working in theater and he also used to do stand-up comedy and impersonations, an ability that eventually led him to be discovered and signed by a Hollywood agent.

He was part of the entertainers who performed at the Playboy Club in Las Vegas, New York, and Boston, and his first role on television was on the series ‘Great Performances,’ and later he got a recurrent role on ‘Laugh-In’ a sketch-comedy television show from the ‘70’s.

However, his breakout role came when he joined the sitcom ‘Good Times,’ on its sixth and last season from 1978 to 19879.

He gave life to Keith Albert, a professional football player who was engaged and later on married to Thelma Evans, portrayed by actress Bern Nadette Stanis.

After the end of the series, Powers had a recurring role as Moochie on the CBS detective drama show, ‘Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.’

He also made small appearances in series and movies like ‘Gimme a Break!,’ ‘Flamingo Road,’ ‘Things Are Tough All Over,’ ‘The Greatest American Hero,’ ‘Laverne & Shirley’ and ‘The Man Who Loved Women.’

According to what a close friend of the actor told Enquire a few years ago after his death, he lost a lot of weight in the last months of his life.

Lisa Crump said:

'Powers didn’t want to try chemotherapy or radiation, and his family respected his wish.'

He stepped away from the spotlight in 1985 and had a peaceful life alongside his mother and two sisters; but according to Lisa, Ben always regretted the fact that he didn’t have a family of his own, and he was in love with actress Pam Grier his whole life.

The comedian last thought for his family and friends was ‘Stay true to yourself,’ and that’s exactly what he did while he was alive.

Did you know that Ben died from cancer?

Source:

National Enquirer, American Cancer Society