On Friday, may 3, in Central Park passerby around 6 a.m. found the hanged man and immediately reported it to 911. Later, the police established the identity of the deceased — it was a 45-year-old Broadway actor and dancer Harlan Bengel.
The body of the Benguela hung on the arch bridge Winterdale located in the North-Western part of the Park near Central Park West and West 82nd Street. Around his head, according to witnesses and the police, was a plastic bag.
«He hanged himself. Right from the railing at the edge of the arch, – said the employee of the Park. I saw the long orange cord. Around his head he had wrapped a plastic bag».
In the body pocket was found a suicide note, the contents of which were not disclosed. Source Daily News reported the total text of the note: if you find him should call the number listed to a specific person. Someone doesn’t say. The note gave police reason to believe that it was suicide, but the investigation is ongoing and an autopsy will be conducted.
Harlan Bengel born August 22, 1973 in Las Vegas (NV). Lived in Washington heights and, according to anonymous sources, had a mental illness, who have struggled for many years.
Been married since 2004 to actress and model Jennifer Piacenti. Now they are divorced, but according to his neighbor, he stayed with her in a relationship. Piacenti currently resides in Los Angeles (CA).
The Benguela was considered a successful theatre actor, he has several film credits. He was always busy, as his was, though not the main, but there were many. Thus, the Benguela acted in the Broadway musical «the phantom of the Opera», the play «war horse», has performed with San Francisco Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Tulsa Ballet. It can be seen as an extra in sports drama will Smith, «Ali» (2001) and starring in the short film «Ana Kata 5881-A» (2005).
The Broadway cast of «phantom of the Opera» was «devastated» on Saturday, may 4, when they learned that their colleague, dancer on the show, Harlan Bengel has committed suicide.
«Absolutely devastated — behind the scenes, today is a sad atmosphere, but all I can do is to do his duty and to honor his memory,» said one of the actors, who asked not to be named.
«He always said hi to me and was doing his job. [Bengel’s death] makes you think about life,» said another actor about their dead colleague.
