28 Actors Who Died While Filming a Movie or Were Part of On-Set Tragedies | Died On Set

Описание: American actor, John Ritter, died at the age of 54, while filming the sitcom, 8 Simple Rules, in 2003. He suddenly collapsed on set and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with an aortic dissection. Despite emergency surgery, he passed away later that evening.
Australian zookeeper, television personality, and actor, Steve Irwin, known as The Crocodile Hunter, died in 2006, at the age of 44, while filming the underwater documentary, Ocean’s Deadliest. While snorkeling near the Great Barrier Reef, he was struck in the chest by the barb of a stingray, which punctured his heart. Despite efforts to save him, Irwin died shortly after the incident. The attack was filmed, but the footage was never released. His death led to an outpouring of grief from fans worldwide.
Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, died in 1993 at the age of 28 while filming The Crow. During a scene, actor Michael Massee fired a prop gun that unknowingly contained a bullet fragment. The projectile struck Lee in the abdomen. He was rushed to the hospital but died after hours of surgery. Massee was deeply affected by the incident and took a hiatus from acting.
Jon-Erik Hexum was only 26, when he jokingly put a prop gun to his head, and pulled the trigger during a break in filming the TV show Cover Up in 1984. Though the gun contained blanks, the force of the blast caused a fatal skull fracture. He was declared brain dead and died shortly after. The accident prompted changes in how prop weapons are handled.
Legendary American comedian and actor, Redd Foxx died in 1991, at the age of 68, while rehearsing for the sitcom, The Royal Family.
In 2021, Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the set of Rust, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin later stated he did not pull the trigger, but the weapon fired during rehearsal. The tragedy led to criminal investigations, safety reforms, and a wider industry debate over firearm protocols on sets.
Hong Kong-American martial artist, filmmaker, and actor, Bruce Lee died in 1973, at the age of 32, while preparing to film Game of Death. After a day of rehearsals and script meetings, he complained of a headache and took a painkiller. He laid down to rest but never woke up.
Tyrone Power, died in 1958, at the age of 44, while filming Solomon and Sheba. During a strenuous sword-fighting scene, Power suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed on set. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. His role was later completed by actor Yul Brynner.
New Zealand actor Kevin Smith, best known for playing Ares, on Xena: Warrior Princess, died in 2002, at the age of 38. After completing a film shoot in China, Smith was waiting for a ride back to his hotel when he climbed a prop tower on a nearby set. He lost his footing and fell three stories, suffering severe head injuries. Smith fell into a coma, and died ten days later.
Paul Walker died at the age of 40, during the production of Fast & Furious 7, in 2013. He wasn’t on set, but was on a break from filming, when he became a passenger in a high-speed car that lost control and crashed. The film was finished using CGI and with his brothers as stand-ins.
American actor, Ray Liotta, renowned for his role in Goodfellas, died in May 2022, at the age of 67, while filming the thriller, Dangerous Waters, in the Dominican Republic. He passed away in his sleep, with the cause attributed to heart and respiratory system issues.
River Phoenix died in 1993, at the age of 23, from heart failure, outside the Viper Room nightclub, in Los Angeles. At the time, he was in the final stages of filming the thriller, Dark Blood. The film was shelved after his death but was later completed and released in 2012.
In 1982, Vic Morrow died on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie, along with two child actors, during the filming of a helicopter scene. Pyrotechnics disrupted the aircraft, causing it to crash. Morrow and the children were killed instantly. Director John Landis, and several crew members, faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, though they were later acquitted. Witnesses testified that Landis shouting for the helicopter to fly Lower, moments before it crashed.
Heath Ledger died in 2008, at the age of 28, while The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was still in production. His death shocked fans and the film industry. To complete the film, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, stepped in to play altered versions of Ledger's character.
Malayalam cinema's action star, Jayan, died in 1980, at the age of 41, while filming the movie, Kolilakkam.
American actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, died in 2014, at the age of 46. At the time, he was filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.