Ben Miranda, the long-time owner of Ben’s Barber Shop and an enduring fixture in the South Pasadena community, passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. He was just days away from his 81st birthday.
Born on February 27, 1945, in the small copper-mining town of Morenci, Arizona, Mr. Miranda always knew he had a calling for his trade. He graduated from high school in 1963 and promptly moved to Los Angeles to attend barber school.
His career was briefly paused when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years stationed in Germany.
A South Pasadena Institution
Upon returning to California in 1968, he found a welcoming home at Rick Fernandez’s barber shop on State Street in South Pasadena. He purchased the business in 1973, marking the beginning of an epic 55-year run of local barbering.
His shop, located at 444 Fair Oaks Avenue in the Ace Hardware/Twohey’s shopping center, remained a classic archetype of small-town Americana. It’s famous for its black-and-white linoleum floors, the spinning red-and-white barber’s pole outside, and the eclectic decor on the walls.
Over the decades, Miranda gave an estimated 200,000 haircuts. He built a fiercely loyal clientele spanning multiple generations, from everyday residents to notable figures like Dodgers announcer Jaime Jarrín and actor Michael Gross.
A Legacy of Family and Friendship
Beyond the haircuts, Miranda fostered a deep sense of humanity and camaraderie within his shop. He worked side-by-side with his tight-knit crew of associate barbers: Robert Safre, Andrew Hunter, and Sheila Hunter for over twenty years.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Diana Kay Miranda, who passed away in 2014, and his best friend and former barbering partner, Richard.
Mr. Miranda is survived by his two children, Bryan and Sandra. Outside of the shop, he found profound joy in tending to the trees and garden at his home in Alhambra.
