Ben Byer (January 8, 1971 – July 3, 2008) was an American stage actor and playwright. His experiences after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are documented in the 2007 film Indestructible.
Byer began his career as a translator at the Cannes Film Festival, which led him to theatre and movie industry jobs in Los Angeles. He also worked in theatre in Chicago as a playwright and actor. He directed his first play, Take it Deep, in 2000.[1]
After being diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2002, he began documenting his life on camera. He spent the next three years keeping a video diary as he sought treatments[2] in six countries, including having fetal cells injected directly into his brain in 2004. Although Byer did show improvements in his speech in the days following the procedure, the improvements did not last. Within the first month following the procedure, his previous ALS symptoms had returned.[3] His footage was incorporated into film shot by Roko Belic to form the 2007 documentary filmIndestructible film.
Marriage and children
Byer and his wife, Josephine Christopher, adopted a son, John Anthony Byer, shortly before his diagnosis with ALS.[4]
Ben Byer won the award of Best Documentary Film at the 2008 Byron Bay International Film Festival for the movie Indestructible. Top Ten documentaries of all time.
byer, january, 1971, july, 2008, american, stage, actor, playwright, experiences, after, being, diagnosed, with, amyotrophic, lateral, sclerosis, documented, 2007, film, indestructible, bornbenjamin, saul, byer, 1971, january, 1971diedjuly, 2008, 2008, aged, c. Ben Byer January 8 1971 July 3 2008 was an American stage actor and playwright His experiences after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS are documented in the 2007 film Indestructible Ben ByerBornBenjamin Saul Byer 1971 01 08 January 8 1971DiedJuly 3 2008 2008 07 03 aged 37 Cleveland Ohio 1 Cause of deathAmyotrophic lateral sclerosisResting placeShalom Memorial ParkArlington Heights IllinoisNationality United StatesSpouseJosephine ChristopherChildren1 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Career 1 3 Marriage and children 1 4 Death and afterward 2 Awards 3 Published works 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditEarly life and education Edit Benjamin Saul Byer was born January 8 1971 to Barbara and Stephen Byer One of five children he graduated from Evanston Township High School He studied journalism at Indiana University and film theory at the University of Paris 1 Career Edit Byer began his career as a translator at the Cannes Film Festival which led him to theatre and movie industry jobs in Los Angeles He also worked in theatre in Chicago as a playwright and actor He directed his first play Take it Deep in 2000 1 After being diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2002 he began documenting his life on camera He spent the next three years keeping a video diary as he sought treatments 2 in six countries including having fetal cells injected directly into his brain in 2004 Although Byer did show improvements in his speech in the days following the procedure the improvements did not last Within the first month following the procedure his previous ALS symptoms had returned 3 His footage was incorporated into film shot by Roko Belic to form the 2007 documentary film Indestructible film Marriage and children Edit Byer and his wife Josephine Christopher adopted a son John Anthony Byer shortly before his diagnosis with ALS 4 Death and afterward Edit Byer died of ALS complications on July 3 2008 in Cleveland Ohio He was interred at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights Illinois Awards EditBen Byer won the award of Best Documentary Film at the 2008 Byron Bay International Film Festival for the movie Indestructible Top Ten documentaries of all time Published works EditTake It Deep play 2000 5 Versailles play 2003 6 References Edit a b c Owen Mary 2008 07 09 Ben Byer 1971 2008 ALS sufferer made film about disease Chicago Tribune permanent dead link Sutton Jacqueline 2008 01 31 Indestructible The Daily Cardinal Archived from the original on 2008 11 21 Retrieved 2009 01 10 Indestructible Dir Ben Byer Perf Ben Byer et al 2008 Reid Kerry 2004 01 23 OUR TOWN The Show Will Go On Chicago Reader permanent dead link Nemtusak Brian 2001 06 15 MINI REVIEW THEATER Take It Deep Chicago Reader permanent dead link Bainbridge Mary Shen 2003 05 21 THEATER Versailles Windy City Times External links EditIndestructible at IMDb Interview with Lifted magazine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben Byer amp oldid 1106509038, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
