Making a movie is more than lights, cameras, and action. A lot goes on behind the scenes of what finally becomes the big picture. The directors of these projects entertain fears of possible factors that could interfere with the production. One of the greatest fears of a filmmaker is the demise of the main cast member in the middle of filming.
The concerns of these filmmakers are not unfounded as the death of an actor can lead anywhere from halting the production to a cancelation altogether. Unfortunately, many actors have met their untimely end in the middle of production, due to several reasons from accidents on set to natural causes, and ill-fated occurrences.
9 Heath Ledger Passed Away During The Production Of The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus
Heather Ledger was a spectacular actor. The Brokeback Mountain star delivered every role he starred in with a mix of charisma and panache. Ledger’s portrayal of the villain in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight still takes the crown for the best Joker performance so far.
In January 2008, the actor died in his Manhattan home from an accidental drug overdose. At the time of death, the posthumous Oscar-winning actor was in the middle of production for Terry Gilliam’s fantasy film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
8 Paul Walker Passed Away During Production Of Fast & Furious 7
For seven years, Paul Walker was the face of Universal Pictures Fast & Furious franchise. On November 30, 2013, The Young and the Restless star died from a traffic accident. The actor and his friend Roger Rodas were returning from Walker’s charity event when the fatal crash occurred, killing them both.
Walker’s death happened when the production of Fast & Furious 7 was underway, causing the producers to put an indefinite hold on the movie. Eventually, they employed CGIs and stunt doubles in finishing the project.
7 River Phoenix Was Filming Dark Blood When He Passed Away
Running on Empty star River Phoenix died on October 31, 1993, at the age of 23. The actor died from a combined drug intoxication outside The Viper Room in West Hollywood. At the time of his death, the Oscar-nominated actor was in the middle of production for Dark Blood. Phoenix's death set production of the movie back by almost two decades, eventually making it to the screens in 2012.
6 Natalie Wood Drowned During Production Of Brainstorm
On November 29, 1981, Natalie Wood was on vacation at the Santa Catalina Islands when she mysteriously died from drowning and other undetermined factors. Wood had taken a break from the ongoing production of the science fiction movie Brainstorm when the unfortunate event happened.
At the time of her death, Wood had reportedly filmed most of her scenes in the movie, but it took a two-year-long battle to take Brainstorm to the screens.
5 Brandon Lee's Death Was Tragic
Brandon Lee was the son of martial arts expert Bruce Lee. While Bruce Lee managed to survive a collapse during the production of The Game of Death, his son Brandon was not as lucky. On March 31, 1993, a tragic on-set accident led to the death of the 28-year-old. In a scene that required a shooting stunt, he was hit in the abdomen by a real bullet lodged in the prop gun.
4 Philip Seymour Hoffman Passed Away While The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Was Still In Production
Philip Seymour Hoffman was an embodiment of art from his journey through stage plays to the big screen. On February 2, 2014, the Oscar-winning actor died in a hotel room from a drug overdose. The Capote star relapsed into drug addiction in 2012, following years of sobriety. At the time of his passing, the production of the second installment of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay was ongoing.
3 Tyrone Power Filmed Most Of Solomon And Sheba Before Dying
Tyrone Power was a Hollywood icon. The Nightmare Alley actor starred in dozens of movies in his active years. On November 15, 1958, Power's passing caused a halt in the production of Solomon and Sheba. The producers were faced with a big dilemma as two-thirds of the movie had already been filmed.
They were stuck between canceling the movie and recruiting another actor for the role of Solomon. The production went with the latter, recruiting Yul Brynner to play Solomon.
2 Steve Irwin Passed Away While Filming A Documentary On The Great Barrier F
Steve Irwin was an Australian wildlife conservationist and adventurer. Growing up around crocodiles and reptiles nurtured his genuine love for wildlife. The wildlife expert achieved international fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter which became his alias.
On September 4, 2006, the Crocodile Hunter suffered a tragic fate. Irwin was killed after getting attacked by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. After his passing, Irwin was immortalized by several organizations and scientists.
1 John Ritter's Death Was Tragic For 8 Simple Rules
John Ritter was famous for playing the role of Jack Tripper on ABC’s sitcom Three's Company. On September 11, 2003, while filming ABC’s 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter, the Bad Santa actor suddenly took ill and was rushed to the hospital across the studio. Ritter was taken into surgery after a diagnosis of aortic dissection, but by evening, the actor was pronounced dead. Following Ritter's death, the show was renamed 8 Simple Rules.
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