Benjamin Zephaniah dead: Peaky Blinders star dies aged 65 as devastated family share emotional tributes
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POET and Peaky Blinders star Benjamin Zephaniah has died aged 65 - with his devastated family sharing emotional tributes.
Zephaniah's death was announced in a statement posted on his Instagram account.
His family said that he died by his wife's side after an eight-week battle with brain cancer.
A much-loved poet, Zephaniah also played the street preacher Jeremiah Jesus in six series of Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022.
It read: "It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved husband son and brother in the early hours of this morning.
"Benjamin was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.
"Benjamin's wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed.
"We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news.
The family added: "Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much.
"Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy.
"Thank you for the love you have shown Professor Benjamin Zephaniah."
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was born in the Handsworth area of Birmingham in 1958.
His father was a Barbadian postman, and his mother was a Jamaican nurse.
A dyslexic, Zephaniah left school at the age of 13 unable to read and write - but went on to become one of modern Britain's most famous poets.
He revealed that he was inspired to become a writer when he was gifted an old manual typewriter.
Zephaniah published many collections of poetry as well as five novels and seven plays.
He was known for performing innovative "dub poetry" to reggae beats and for his political campaigning.
In 2008 he was ranked one of Britain's top 50 post-war writers by The Times.
Zephaniah also appeared on The Bill and was a panellist on QI in 2020.