Howard Stern Wack Pack Member Big Black Dead at 64: Remembering Ronnie Benjamin

Howard Stern fans are mourning one of the Wack Pack’s most recognizable voices. Big Black, whose real name was Ronnie Benjamin, has died at 64. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office told TMZ the cause was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a natural death.

Born in the Bronx, Benjamin joined the Wack Pack in 2006 after multiple lengthy appearances on the show. He was a Mensa member, which made his sharp back-and-forth with Stern’s sidekick Robin Quivers all the more memorable. After a five-year absence, he returned in 2011 and got candid about life in his South Bronx bunker, a brief security job at Yankee Stadium, collecting unemployment, and making YouTube videos. He also reflected on loneliness, saying,“Right now, I’d say I have no friends.”

A rep for Stern did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For longtime listeners, Big Black’s passing closes a chapter of radio history that shaped a generation of fans. What’s your favorite Big Black moment from the Stern show? Drop it in the comments.