Ben Pappas
Personal information | |
---|---|
Birth name | Benjamin James Pappas |
Nationality | Australian |
Born | Victoria , Australia | 13 May 1978
Died | 4 March 2007 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | (aged 28)
Sport | |
Country | Australia |
Sport | Skateboarding |
Benjamin James "Ben" Pappas (13 May 1978 – 4 March 2007) was a professional
Early life
Ben Pappas was born in Melbourne, Australia to Bill and Kerry Pappas (nee Bardot)[1] and he and his older brother Tasou Micah "Tas" Pappas were raised in the Melbourne suburb of St Albans. Their father was born in Egypt and is of Greek descent. In the 2014 documentary All This Mayhem, Tas Pappas said that their childhood was "pretty hectic."
Skateboarding career
In October 1990, Pappas traveled to the United States for the first time and began skating in various competitions internationally.[2] In 1992, Ben, his older brother Tas and their father moved from Melbourne to the United States so that both brothers could pursue careers in professional skateboarding.[3] The brothers soon won sponsorship from Hardcore with clothing and skateboards provided in return for demos at shopping centres. In 1994, Ben Pappas placed sixth in the New Jersey demo. He participated in the Slam City Jam in Vancouver in 1995 and placed ninth in the event in 1997. In 1999, he placed fifth in the Mountain Dew U.S. Open, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
By 1996, he was ranked the #2 skateboarder in the world while his brother Tas was #1. The two quickly earned a reputation for their confrontational behaviour and partying.
Later years
After Pappas' career ended, he remained in Australia. He married in 1999, but the marriage ended in divorce after two years. For the next several years, he lived a transient lifestyle staying with friends and family.[6] According to his older brother Tas, Pappas had become depressed and frustrated over his career ending and began using heroin.[4] From May to September 2006, he was treated for anxiety and depression.[7]
In March 2005, Pappas began dating Lynette Phillips,
Death
On 24 February 2007, Pappas' on-off girlfriend Lynette Phillips disappeared. On 2 March, her body was found wrapped in a quilt in
On 3 March, Pappas admitted himself to the emergency room at
In 2012, a coroner's inquest determined that Pappas killed Lynette Phillips and had drowned himself after her body was found. A psychologist who treated Pappas before his death noted that he had shown signs of "suicidal ideation, homicidal tendencies, and psychotic-related symptoms such as paranoia, anger and frustration."[7]
Film
In 2011, the Pappas family and close friends launched a Facebook campaign to stop production of a
References
- ^ a b Jovic, Maja (9 July 2014). "The Greek tragedy of the Pappas brothers". neoskosmos.com. p. 1. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ World Cup Skateboarding
- ^ Coroners Court of Victoria (10 December 2012). "Finding – Inquest into the Death of Benjamin Jason Pappas". Melbourne: coronerscourt.vic.gov.au. p. 3. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Tristan (17 August 2014). "Tas Pappas on drugs, death and the dark side of skateboarding". theguardian.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ a b Petrie, Andrea (3 March 2007). "Last message seals skateboard high flyer's fall". smh.com.au.
- ^ a b (Coroners Court of Victoria 2012, p. 4)
- ^ a b c d e Russell, Mark (10 December 2012). "Skateboarding champ killed ex-girlfriend". theage.com.au.
- ^ (Coroners Court of Victoria 2012, pp. 4–5)
- ^ (Coroners Court of Victoria 2012, pp. 9–10)
- ^ Russell, Mark (16 October 2011). "Family's campaign stops film on skater Ben Pappas". theage.com.au. Retrieved 25 February 2015.