Sudden, Tragic Loss Yields Community Outpouring
Ben Hurst, a writer for both the original Sonic the Hedgehog Saturday morning television series and later Sonic Underground, has died, according to close colleagues on the Fans United for SatAM forums (relayed to us via a News Tip from SorcererLance.)
He may have succumbed to diabetes, a disease very few knew he had. That is to be determined; what is most certain is that Hurst fainted and fell into a coma, where he passed in his sleep. The time of death was at least a couple of weeks back, with word only reaching Sonic fans tonight.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death among Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. Nearly a quarter million in the country died of causes stemming from the disease in 2005, says ADA statistics.
“He was such a lively man. He lived such a full life and he told me numerous times that if he died tomorrow, he’d be fine with that,” wrote FUS forumer and longtime community member Sonique under her Nique handle. “I’m truly grateful for having known such a great man. I’m sure he’s happy wherever he is now.”
Hurst was believed to be in his mid 50s.
In 1993, he was on the writing staff for ABC’s television adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog, which lasted 26 episodes and retains a great fan following. He returned to animation in 1999 for Sonic Underground, which lasted 40 episodes. In between, he wrote for the TV edition of Dumb and Dumber. He also was a part of 1990′s Tiny Toon Adventures, and The Real Ghost Busters during the 1980s.
Hurst was also active in the Sonic community for much of the last decade. A contributor to FUS, Hurst participated in Q&As during the 2005 and 2006 Sonic Amateur Games Expo. He did disclose some details of a planned third season for the SatAM series to supporters.
“I just wish I could have thanked him for all the happiness and needed escape he brought me growing up,” wrote FUS forumer Ratty Randumus. “Rest in peace man, your legacy lives on in all of us who’s [sic] imaginations and perspectives were shaped and influenced by SatAM and your other work growing up.”
“Ben Hurst delivered one of the most memorable shows of my childhood,” said another FUS forumer Glitcher. “Rest in peace, Ben.”
A private life celebration is planned for September 11th. Plans for a community tribute are still pending, and we will bring you those details when made available.
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This is a sad day for fans of SatAM & Underground … R.I.P Ben & I just realized I too have diabetes & now I’m scared to get in a coma….
Man, that royally sucks, He was godly.
Thanks for the report, Tristan.
This is a huge blow to me, since Ive talked to him several times since 1998. Its amazing how dedicated he was to his work and was growing inspiration to me. I sorda felt like my movie was carrying his legacy and now Im even more determined to get it done after hearing this devastating news. RIP Ben Hurst ;(
I was crushed to learn about this when I did… Mr. Hurst sparked the imaginations of a lot of kids of the 90s with a fantastic, futuristic world based on a few Sonic characters with very little backstory and gave us an epic.
I really would’ve liked to see a season 3, but the Archie comics I feel have been doing well having the torch passed to them. RIP, Mr. Hurst.
After careful thought, I have decided to dedicate my fan film in his memory. As hes always mentioned, never leave a project unfinished and I intend to abide by his words.
Update posted here: http://www.indiegogo.com/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-Fan-Film
What do you say guys? Lets finally get this project done in his honor!
It was quite a shock today when Nique messaged me on MSN telling me the news of Ben. I only got to talk to him a few times but he was always very nice and loved to help out with everything. Ben loved the fanbase and the fanbase loved him. From what myself and Nique can figure out it looks as if he passed August 10th. We are basing this off of knowing it happened on a Tuesday and messages starting on his facebook on Wednesday the 11th.
We will find out the exact date and inform everyone on any information we can.
For those of you who would like to see some of Ben’s work lived on, we at FUS have been doing a comic based on Season 3. Its written around the notes we got from Ben about what he was planning and so on. You can find that at http://www.sonicsatam.com/sea3on
D8…………………
Oh, now that’s a damn shame. He was a very talented writer that touched a lot of our childhoods, and a kind person for keeping in touch with fans all these years later. He will be missed.
This is terrible news. I just watched Ben Hurst talk about how badly he wanted to revive SatAM and how grateful he was for the fanbase it had a few weeks ago on my SatAM DVD set. He seemed so eager to do something with the series again, even if only an online thing, and now it just seems like he never got his wish before his untimely death. He looked too young to die as well so it was a shocker to read this.
This……wow. THIS is fucking depressing.
That is plain sad. I hope that it doesn’t happen to anyone else.
R.I.P.
A very sad loss for the Sonic Community; Rest in Peace Ben. x
R.I.P. you’re one of the best dawng
Truly a great man indeed.
Sileo in Pacis Ben Hurst….
Sileo in Pacis
I am really sorry to hear about the death of Ben Hurst, this is a really sad loss for the community, I mean, I am a fan of SATAM and Sonic Underground, and I am really sad to see that Ben died.
You will surely be missed Ben, R.I.P
@Knothole: So, what’s the ETA of this “movie” ? Also, sad news.
what nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo why he was a good person makeing sonic tv shows who will take his place to make a show to bad he was good person and very good writer.
Espero que su famlia se encuentre bien.
Sileo in pacis Ben Hurst….
Sileo in pacis
Wow, that really stinks. He was an awesome guy, with some amazing potential for his goals, too bad he never got to put it in full throttle.
Rest in peace, Ben. You will be missed.
OH NO! Not him! Poor man, only in is 50s. For me that’s too young.
Rest in Peace Ben Hurst
He was the guy who inspired me to write… and I always wanted to meet him… this is horrible. I read about this yesterday on the SSMB and I just dropped my headphones and sat there speechless for who knows how long before I could finally recover from the stun of seeing that one of my biggest inspirations had passed. Congratulations in all your work Mr. Hurst. This fanbase will never be the same without you.
@ A Knothole Resident
This actually makes me want to support your movie.
………AKR, your using Ben Hurst’s death to advertise your movie. And you couldn’t just restrain this selfish nonsense to SMS and Sonic Retro, you had to bring it to TSSZ as well.
I mean, this isn’t even something you “learn” not to do. This is just something that you as human being should know. You don’t use someone’s death like this, its just so wrong. Utterly, and completely wrong.
I really hope any money you get is worth the price of your humanity.
@AKR, C’mon you know better, advertising your “project” while many mourn this mans death. A bullshit move move if there ever was one.
@Sloth, And its not just that he’s advertising it. He’s pretty much saying
“Come on, donate to my movie, its what Ben would want you to do.”
I can’t even find the proper words to describe how wrong this is. It’s already tragic enough that Ben is gone, but to see someone try to use his death for personal gain like this makes it even worse.
He died about 17 years too late.
Nooo…I just about this, Noo…Ben was the very best I’ve seen, I’ve may only seen him in interviews, But I believe he was a very talented man…I’d wake up every saturday morning to watch Satam, (im also a fan of the comics and had a fan made character based on one of the satam characters.), I honor any other sonic fan to help live up to a talented mans legacy.
I’m 22 and insisted on getting the “Sonic The Hedgehog” tv series for Xmas, just to re-live some of the nostagia as well as episodes I missed when I was a kid on TCC (for those who remember it!) and was sincerely thinking about emailing Ben Hurst and the creators of STHH “to do it to it” for the 3rd season…and then I found out this…months to late. R.I.P Ben Hurst, you and only you brought that Hedgehog to life…and i’ve never seen a cartoon better it before or since.
It was “wayyyy past cool!”
Cheers, for the childhood memories.
Mondo awesome.
R.I.P Ben Hurst…You were an amazing inspiration to sonic fans…We are all shocked that you have passed as it was a big shock to the Sonic Community..xx Us fans will never ever forget you as you will rest in our hearts for ever…Your the one that bought that special hedgehog to life… Its a shame that I never got to meet you as this was one of my biggest dreams…We will never forget you…xx
R.I.P Ben Hurst…xx
With all my love Shai..xxooo
I am sure Ben will be remembered for all his Sonic stuff, but as a close personal friend, he was so much more. Just a shame his voice-over ambitions did not take off. Go to Ben Hurst Voice dot com. to check his demos out.
RIP BEN
I’ll save you a seat at Ernie’s