“Life is unpredictable”
You have heard this proverb multiple times. Haven’t you? It is needless to say that this is true. Life is utterly unpredictable. We never know what will happen to us the next moment. Even if we do not know this, it is the propensity of human beings to overthink.
We often overthink what will happen next. However, it is impossible to know what will happen next. We live on the basis of expectations. Our tomorrow is based on the expectation that we will live. It is normal, absolutely, and completely normal, but sometimes this expectation is broken unexpectedly because nobody knows when death will come for us.
This is something that is the same for every living being. Every living organism wishes to live. Every human being base their present and future on the expectation of staying alive regardless of their position in society. However, death does not see anyone’s social position. Death can strike anyone at any time. Common people as well as celebrities, everybody has to go through this norm of the universe. It is unfortunate, and there is no lie in this.
Actors Who Died Before Finishing a Film
| Name | Died Before Which Movie? |
|---|---|
| Chadwick Boseman | Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom |
| Heath Ledger | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (During) |
| Paul Walker | Fast and Furious 7 |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman | The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 |
| Marilyn Monroe | Something’s Got to Give |
| Bruce Lee | Game of Death |
| Vic Morrow | Twilight Zone: The Movie |
| Brandon Lee | The Crow |
| River Phoenix | Dark Blood |
| Chris Farley | Shrek in 1997 |
| James Dean | Giant |
| Aaliyah | The Matrix Trilogy |
| Roy Scheider | Iron Cross |
| Oliver Reed | Gladiator |
| Natalie Wood | Brainstorm |
In this article, we will discuss 15 actors who died before finishing a film. Some of them may be from our period, and some of them will not be from our period, but all of them have faced the same fate. You will have to read further in order to know why these actors faced their death and how it affected the movies they were working on.
1. Chadwick Boseman (Blackpanther)
People also know him as T’Challa from Black Panther. He is also known in the Marvel Universe. Boseman lost his life to colon cancer in 2020 before the film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was released. He played the role of Levee Green there. The film was nominated for numerous Oscars, and the late actor was himself nominated in the category of Best Actor.
2. Heath Ledger
The Hollywood industry lost the legend at a very young age. He passed away when he was only 28 in 2008. The cause of his death is due to overdose of prescription drugs. Heath Ledger passed away during the filming of the movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. After the death of Heath Ledger, production of the movie was shut down for some months.
In this unfortunate turn of events, the production studio managed to finish the film with the help of some intellectual writers in cooperation with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrwell, and Jude Law. The movie was completed as it was intended to be, and it was dedicated to Heath Ledger. The earnings from the movie were generously handed over to Heath Ledger’s daughter by the people involved in the production to secure the child’s future.
3. Paul Walker
You probably must have heard his name. He was associated with the famous movie franchise Paul Walker. Paul Walker was caught up in a tragic car accident that claimed his life only at the age of 40. At that time, he was filming Fast and Furious 7 in 2013. Following his death, the production of the movie was canceled for a few months. It was announced that his character would die in the movie. This 7th movie of the series has been dedicated to Paul Walker in his memory.
4. Philip Seymour Hoffman
We lost this legend on 2nd February 2014. He was in the process of filming The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 & 2. Hoffman died of a drug overdose. He played a major role in the Hunger Games series. Before his unfortunate death, Hoffman already shot numerous major scenes for the movie. However, some of the major scenes were still left to be shot. The production house did not want to recast. Instead, they decided to CGI his face on a stand-in actor in order to finish the filming of the second part of the movie.
5. Marilyn Monroe
The famous Marilyn Monroe. She was an icon and will always remain one. Even years after her tragic death, movies have been dedicated to the star. Monroe passed away on 5th August 1962. She died of a drug overdose while filming Something’s Got to Give.
Marilyn was already suffering from various other issues. There are rumors that the production house warned they would fire her if she did not arrive on time. Her co-star, Dean Martin, was against the idea. Martin refused to work with anyone but Monroe. Ultimately, everything came to an end when she passed away. The film was abandoned. People got to know about this from the documentary Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days.
6. Bruce Lee
Even if you have not watched any of his films, you must have heard about this legend at least once. Bruce Lee passed away at the tender age of 32. He had cerebral edema. Bruce Lee was in the middle of filming Game of Death. While he took a break from the movie in order to shoot for Way of the Dragon, he passes away before he could finish Game of Death over which he wanted to have complete control.
Robert Clouse finished the film six years after the actor passes away using various techniques. Many people consider this a disgrace, but Robert Clouse’s endeavor to finish the movie cannot be dismissed.
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7. Vic Morrow
Actor Vic Morrow lost his life due to a helicopter crash when he was filming Twilight Zone: The Movie. An accident on the set resulted in his death including two child actors. Controversies were surrounded regarding his death. The production house did not use any stand-ins to fill up his position, they ended his segment in the movie with whatever scenes they had shot. The storyline had been changed a bit and its interpretation has been left to the audience.
8. Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, lost his father when he was only eight. Like his father, he too faced death while he was filming a movie, The Crow. He died of a gunshot. Several issues surrounding his death ensued from the freak accident. Paramount decided to back out of the movie since the crew members were leaving following Lee’s death. However, Miramax took over and finally released the film in theatres as it was planned.
9. River Phoenix
River Phoenix died when he was filming Dark Blood as the main antagonist. Many important scenes for the movie were not shot due to his unfortunate death resulting from drug-induced heart failure. The movie was ultimately abandoned. In 2012, George Sluizer narrated how the important scenes required for finishing the film were missing resulting in its abandonment at the Netherlands Film Festival.
10. Chris Farley
Chris Farley lost his life due to a drug overdose and coronary atherosclerosis while filming the film Shrek in 1997. Most of the dialogue in the scene was recorded for the film. Nevertheless, the film was on hold until a replacement Mike Myers was found. He was given the role, and the lines were re-recorded. As a tribute to the late actor, Shrek used air quoted as homage.
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11. James Dean
In 1955, James Dean lost his life due to a car accident. He was filming Giant then. James lost his life at the very young age of only 24. Towards Giant’s end when James lost his life. The last monologue of the film had to be reshot because Dean was intoxicated while shooting in the thought of giving the scene realistic effect, but it did not turn out to be so. Nick Adams was used to overdubbing the scene by the studio after Dean passed away.
12. Aaliyah
Aaliyah lost her life at the young age of 22. She died due to an airplane crash. The Matrix Trilogy was affected ensuing her death. The studio at first decided to write out her role, but the role was ultimately given to Nona Gaye. Aaliyah was ultimately replaced by Gaye.
13. Roy Scheider
Roy passed away when he was filming Iron Cross due to multiple myeloma at the age of 75. Since he did not shoot any major scenes, the studio thought to obliterate his part from the movies. However, after the director’s father passed away due to the same cause, it was decided that Roy’s role will be made up through CGI effects but not abandoned.
14. Oliver Reed
Reed passed away at the age of 61 due to a heart attack when he was filming Gladiator. His footage was kept by the studio, and a double was used to finish off Reed’s scenes. Shadow techniques and CGI were also used to compensate for his loss in the scenes that followed his death.
15. Natalie Wood
She died of drowning at the age of 43. Although there were steps towards abandoning the film Brainstorm which she was filming, in the course of which she met her unfortunate death, Douglas Trumbull had the ultimate say. He finished the film using various techniques to fill in Wood’s absence.
FAQS
Yes. Some of them died while filming the movie.
Yes. Vic Morrow died on set.
Heath Ledger died at the age of 28.
Chadwick Boseman had colon cancer. He died of a terminal illness.
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