Posted on: Friday, January 2, 2004

David Bale, 62, husband of Gloria Steinem

Associated Press

David Bale, an activist and the husband of feminist writer Gloria Steinem, has died at age 62.

Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale, died Tuesday of brain lymphoma at Santa Monica Healthcare Center, where he had been residing since November, family friend Carla Morganstern said yesterday.

"David went through the world with few possessions and great empathy for all living things," Steinem said in a press statement.

Born in South Africa, Bale grew up in Egypt, England and the Channel Islands. He worked as a commercial pilot, with the hope of providing aid to communities in Africa.

He married Steinem in 2000. It was his third marriage.

Bale was a board member of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and World Education Inc.

He is survived by Steinem; four children; and four grandchildren.