- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAlbert Stephen Pieters
- On January 30, 2024, the City of West Hollywood, posthumously honored Steve with its Rainbow Key Award (2023).
- "LOVE is Greater Than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing and Hope" by Reverend Steve Pieters, was released in hardcover on April 2, 2024 (Rowman & Littlefield, Publishing Group, Inc. © 2004).
- A portion of Tammy Faye's Steve Pieters' interview is recreated in the sold-out London hit, "TAMMY FAYE - A New Broadway Musical", Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Jake Shears, Book by James Graham and Directed by Rupert Goold; starring two-time Olivier Award Winner, Katie Brayben and Tony and Olivier Award Nominee, Andrew Rannells, is slated to start previews at the Palace Theatre, West 47th Street, NYC, NY on October 19, 2024.
- The Magician's Niece documentary, "God Isn't Ready for Me Yet - The Steve Pieters Story", is in pre-production - Jay Bakker (producer, son of Tammy Faye), Peter Rollins (executive producer), Patrick Jones (DP), Caleb Swyers (editor), Emily Schkolnick (archives producer) and many others.
Epilogue - In March of 2020, COVID-19 brought a fresh hell of threats, especially to those with compromised immune systems. Undaunted, and no stranger to sheltering-in-place, Rev. Pieters set about writing his memoir, which he completed by his 69th birthday, signing then, with literary agent, George Greenfield, President, CreativeWell, Inc. Several weeks later, as her honored guest, Rev. Pieters met Jessica Chastain on the hot pink carpet at the Sept 14, 2021, NYC Premiere of The Eyes of Tammy Faye., where Pieters also met and befriended Tammy Faye's son, author, speaker and Revolution Church Pastor, Jay Bakker. Jay was not yet ten in Nov. 1985. Months later, Steve found himself at the Oscar Nominees luncheon on the arm of Ms. Chastain, "the only nominee who brought a character from her film as her date!", Pieters laughed. "That interview saved lives", and inspired me to make the film, Oscar winner Chastain extolled, "It makes Tammy Faye such a bad ass!"
Promoting the film, Rev. Pieters embarked on a whirlwind of media interviews and (remote) international speaking engagements. In June 2022, Rev. Pieters was an Honoree with Fran Drescher, Michael Feinstein and Geri Jewel at the iconic Hollywood Museum's REAL to REEL Exhibit opening gala. And, in August 2022, GMCLA bestowed its Humanitarian Voice Award on Steve, the first GMCLA member to be so honored.
A month after his 70th birthday, an exam to address new difficulty swallowing revealed a symptom-free, late-stage stomach cancer that had spread to his esophagus. "This is not my first stage IV cancer!", quipped Steve. Navigating a gauntlet of radiation and chemo, Pieters soldiered on attending the Santa Barbara International Film Festival World Premiere of APLA's "Commitment to Life" documentary featuring Pieters and fellow activist, Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson in Little House on the Prairie). The London cast of Elton John's Broadway bound, TAMMY FAYE, cheered Pieters on, and a personal call from Elton in December, thanking Steve for "your brilliant interview with Tammy Faye...I must have watched it a thousand times", proved as good an Rx as any. A flood of such affirmations and support from a platoon of caregivers from all walks of life, armed Steve with the drive to sustain himself through 54-hour non-stop sessions of chemo. Remote interviews and speaking engagements continued, and through it all, when Rev. Pieters was not waging battle with his spreading cancer, he was writing and rewriting his memoir. By mid-April 2023, Pieters had signed with Rowman & Littlefield, Inc., and just over nine weeks later, Steve delivered his final (8th or 9th) draft.
In early June 2023, Northwestern University Libraries announced it would receive and archive Steve Pieters' personal papers. On June 20, 2023, during a series of medical visits, Steve's editor accepted and agreed to publish his memoir. The next morning, Steve collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Though totally incapacitated, Steve's advocacy and outreach continued through an interview he'd done for Project Angel Food just over a week before. On June 26, live and in-studio, Steven Weber and Lily Tomlin introduced Steve's pre-recorded interview during the "Lead with Love" telethon, broadcast on KTLA. With hands clasped just below her chin, Lily looked straight into camera saying, "Steve, know that we're pulling for you, and sending you all our love". Sedated, but watching from his hospital bed, Steve's vitals improved dramatically.
Having survived terminal diagnoses for 39-years, surrounded by loved ones, Steve was healed into eternal love the evening of July 8, 2023.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Timothy D. Smith, Executor, Estate of Albert Stephen Pieters
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