Television shows and films are meant to sweep us into compelling worlds—teeming with pulse-pounding action, nail-biting stunts, and memorable performances. But too often, the magic is obtained at a cost. Backstage, actors, stunt crews, and crew are sometimes subjected to grave dangers to create these worlds. And worst of all, some never get to return home. Here’s a countdown of eight of the most tragic on-set fatalities and incidents that left an indelible impression on Hollywood and the world at large.
8. The Poltergeist Curse: A Haunting Legacy
The Poltergeist trilogy was renowned for its spooky, paranormal plots—but things that occurred off-screen were equally terrifying. Four actors passed away during or shortly following the production of the films, leading to whispers about a curse.
Don’t forget to read to the end. Dominique Dunne (Dana) was murdered by an abusive ex in 1982. Heather O’Rourke, the child actress who starred as Carol Anne, died at 12 from a misdiagnosed disease. Julian Beck and Will Sampson died soon after production as well. Throw in rumors of using real human skeletons as props, and it’s not hard to understand why this franchise has an eerie legacy. As Biography.com puts it, “Poltergeist’s success came with a creepy mystique, thanks to a string of real-life tragedies.”
7. Steve Irwin: A Wildlife Hero Lost Too Soon
Steve Irwin, better known as The Crocodile Hunter, was fearless when it came to animals—but a tragic accident claimed his life in 2006. While filming Ocean’s Deadliest, he was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray’s barb. In spite of efforts to rescue him at once, Irwin did not live. The world wasn’t only deprived of a television personality, but of an enthusiastic conservationist who introduced millions of people to nature in their own homes. According to Test-English.com, “His crew and emergency services attempted to save him, but Irwin didn’t live.”
6. Roy Kinnear: A Routine Stunt Turned Deadly
Seasoned actor Roy Kinnear was working on The Return of the Musketeers in 1989 when a horse-riding scene went awry. He was thrown from his horse and broke his pelvis—a bad break that caused a heart attack that killed him. Although the mishap appeared minimal initially, it left a sore reminder that even minor stunts have huge risks. Test-English.com conveyed, “Despite the severity of his injury, Kinnear insisted that filming should proceed. But his conditions deteriorated.”
5. Jon-Erik Hexum: A Fatal Blunder with a Prop Gun
Blanks are utilized when making films for shooting scenes, but they’re not harmless at all. During a break on the Cover Up set in 1984, while laughing with a friend, Jon-Erik Hexum placed a prop gun to his temple and fired it. The pressure shattered his skull, releasing bone shards into his brain. He was pronounced brain dead days afterward. According to NPR, “The bullet’s force shattered his skull. causing irreversible damage.” His death was a sad reminder of the perils of prop guns.
4. Vic Morrow and the Twilight Zone Tragedy
During a nighttime shoot for Twilight Zone: The Movie in 1982, a helicopter crashed during filming of a pyrotechnic scene with actor Vic Morrow and two child actors, killing them all instantly. The ghastly accident prompted criminal charges and compelled Hollywood to rethink its handling of special effects and use of children in hazardous scenes. As observed by Test-English.com, “Explosives were used, and the helicopter plunged into the river… Morrow and the two young actors died immediately.”
3. Brandon Lee: A Star Emerges Too Early
In 1993, during the making of the cult film The Crow, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts icon Bruce Lee, was fatally shot by a defective prop gun. A piece of a blank round from an earlier round was left behind in the barrel and fired during filming, striking Lee in the abdomen. He succumbed to the injuries shortly thereafter. The accident prompted universal demands for stronger gun safety on sets. As the Daily Mail reported, “Brandon Lee’s on-set death… ignited demands for greater safety precautions.”
2. Halyna Hutchins: Rust and the Industry Wake-Up Call
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in 2021 while working on Rust when a gun Alec Baldwin was practicing with discharged while he rehearsed a scene. The bullet struck director Joel Souza as well. Investigations uncovered glaring safety protocol lapses, such as live ammunition on set. It was a watershed in the dialogue concerning gun use on the set. As the University of Cincinnati Law Review noted, “This case is the first time an on-set gun death has resulted in criminal charges.”
1. The Continuing Crisis for Stunt Performers and Crew
Apart from headline-grabbing tragedies, thousands of behind-the-scenes workers put themselves in grave danger daily. Stunt doubles and crew are frequently the unheralded heroes, and too many have lost their lives. John Bernecker’s on-set fall on The Walking Dead, Joi Harris’s on-set crash death on Deadpool 2, Olivia Jackson’s horrific injury on Resident Evil, and Sarah Jones’s on-set death on Midnight Rider are just a few of the worst examples. Even A-list stars aren’t safe—Harrison Ford was badly hurt on a Star Wars set. As per AZ Hurt on the Job, “Between 1990 and 2014, there were nearly 200 serious accidents on U.S. sets—at least 43 of them deadly.”
The film industry has come a long way in safety, but tragedies like these remind us that there is more to be done. There are real individuals behind every box office hit and hit show—risking their well-being, and sometimes their lives, to create the magic of film. As an audience, it means respecting their work, also paying respect to the cost sometimes incurred for the magic of the film.