Halyna Hutchins
When filmmakers die on the set
Fatal accidents occurred while filming “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (left) and “Top Gun”.
© imago images / Everett Collection
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of Rust. There were tragic accidents in these productions as well.
Currently tragic news from Hollywood is making the rounds. During the shooting of the western film “Rust”, a prop gun from lead actor Alec Baldwin (63) is said to have misfired. Director Joel Souza (48) and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were hit, the latter died from serious injuries. On social media, users wonder how this tragic accident came about. In fact, several filmmakers have died while filming.
Actor Michael Massee shot and killed co-star Brandon Lee
The Hutchins case reminds many film fans of the death of actor Brandon Lee (1965-1993). The son of martial arts icon Bruce Lee (1940-1973) died in 1993 while filming “The Crow”. Co-star Michael Massee (1952-2016) was scripted to fire a prop gun at Lee. Back then, real cartridges were used for some scenes, from which only the gunpowder was removed. A jammed projectile was fired from the said scene by the pressure of blank cartridges and fatally injured the then 28-year-old Lee.
Several actors died on the set of “Unheimliche Schattenlichter” (1983). Two child actors shot a scene with explosions. The resulting debris hit a helicopter, which skidded and crashed. The two children and lead actor Vic Morrow (1929-1982) died in the crash.
Actors are usually spared dangerous scenes. However, some stunt women and men already lost their lives for spectacular shots. 1985 stunt pilot Art Scholl (1931-1985) crashed while shooting the film “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise (59) with his Pitts Special machine. Scholl, who sank in his plane in the Pacific, was never found. The coast guard was only able to recover aircraft parts, as the “Los Angeles Times” reported at the time.
Paragliding accident on the set of Vin Diesel’s “Triple X”
In 2002 there was also a tragic accident in the air on the set of “xXx – Triple X”. Vin Diesel’s (54) stunt double Harry O’Connor (1957-2002), a former Navy SEAL, collided with a pillar of the Palacký Bridge in Prague while paragliding. The action professional broke his neck and died. In the finished film you can see the scene that O’Connor succeeded in the first attempt.
Christopher Nolan’s (51) “The Dark Knight” (2008) is associated with two tragic deaths. Joker actor Heath Ledger (1979-2008) died a few months after filming ended. Stuntman Conway Wickliffe (1966-2007) had an accident on the set. When he was filming a scene leaning out of the Batmobile, his car crashed into a tree. According to “The Guardian” if he suffered severe head trauma, he died on the set.
Milla Jovovich’s “Resident Evil”: Amputation and fatal car accident
“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (2017) was the conclusion of the action franchise with Milla Jovovich (45). Two serious accidents occurred during the filming. First, Jovovich’s stunt double Olivia Jackson (38) was seriously injured. She lost her left arm in a motorcycle crash. Only two months later, her colleague Ricardo Cornelius was hit by an off-road vehicle and died.