Actors and actresses who died during filming

Dying on set: The final method

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Being a star has its risks: ego, addictions, and sometimes, a death in the spotlight. Some take their last breath between takes, and we're not speaking metaphorically.

Brandon Lee (1965–1993)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Son of Bruce Lee, he inherited both the talent and the family curse. In 'The Crow', a prop gun fired a real bullet. End of the act. Hollywood still wonders who watches over the prop master.

Vic Morrow (1929–1982)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Horror cinema with real consequences. During 'The Twilight Zone: The Movie', a helicopter decapitated him along with two child actors.

Heath Ledger (1979–2008)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

He was in the middle of 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' when he decided not to wake up. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell took turns replacing him. The myth surpassed the script. Of course, it did.

Paul Walker (1973–2013)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

He was filming 'Fast & Furious 7', but died in a luxury car outside the set. Irony level of a lazy scriptwriter. They resurrected him digitally using CGI and marketing tears. Vin Diesel cried, or so it seemed.

John Ritter (1948–2003)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

He collapsed on the set of '8 Simple Rules'. Everyone thought he was acting. Spoiler: no. He died at the hospital. The sitcom tried to carry on without him. No one remembers how it ended.

Steve Irwin (1962–2006)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

He had faced everything: crocodiles, snakes, cable television. But a stingray was too much. He died on camera, like any good showman. The footage exists. No one wants to see it. Well, almost no one.

Tyrone Power (1914–1958)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Sword in hand, chest tightened, intense gaze... and a heart attack. He fell in the middle of a fencing scene in 'Solomon and Sheba'. He died as he lived: in Technicolor, between takes, and with drama.

Roy Kinnear (1934–1988)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

He was filming 'The Return of the Musketeers' in Spain when he fell from a horse. Fracture, hemorrhage, death. The director never got over it.

Martha Mansfield (1899–1923)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Silent film actress. The fire did make noise: her dress caught fire from a cigarette butt on the set of 'The Warrens of Virginia’. She died wrapped in silk, smoke, and negligence. Lethal glamour.

Redd Foxx (1922–1991)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Comedian by profession, he collapsed on the set of 'The Royal Family'. Everyone thought it was a joke. It wasn't. Moral: if you're going to die acting, at least have someone react.

Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

Dying on set: The final method, Brandon Lee (1965–1993), Vic Morrow (1929–1982), Heath Ledger (1979–2008), Paul Walker (1973–2013), John Ritter (1948–2003), Steve Irwin (1962–2006), Tyrone Power (1914–1958), Roy Kinnear (1934–1988), Martha Mansfield (1899–1923), Redd Foxx (1922–1991), Tommy Cooper (1921–1984)

He died live, literally. In the middle of a TV show, in front of millions. The audience laughed. The lifeless body remained on stage. No one shouted "cut!". The show, cruel and British, continued.

Post Related