Remembering Bob Bennett

Dear Members,

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of former Local Board member and our friend, Robert “Bob” Bennett.  

Although Bob began his union service later in life, joining SAG-AFTRA at nearly 80 years old, he embraced it with gusto and kindness. Bob was elected as a New Orleans Local Board member from 2015 to 2019. He chaired the On-Camera Committee and served as a union liaison to the 48-Hour Film Festival and the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO during his tenure. The Background Actors Guild of Louisiana awarded Bob a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He was always at union and industry events and volunteered constantly, all while battling cancer. 

“Bob was a fighter in life and on set. Whether demanding professional treatment of actors, encouraging pre-members to finally join or requiring respect in the most heated of moments, he stood strong for what he believed in. And, one thing he believed was that he was there to speak for those who could not. I'm told Bob was in over 80 films as a background actor and one member called him a father figure on set, saying that when he wasn’t on camera, he encouraged her and many others to join the union. Bob's face was everywhere. And at Board meetings, he was always smiling. It was my honor to serve with him. We raise a toast of limoncello in your honor, Bob,” said former local president Diana Boylston.

We are grateful for his service and send sincere condolences to his family and union siblings.

The memorial gathering will be Saturday, Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. and the memorial service at 6 p.m. at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie, LA. His obituary can be found here.

Photo: Bob pictured with fellow member Rhonda Laizer, who credits him as the reason she joined SAG-AFTRA. Photo courtesy of Rhonda Laizer.