18 Actors Who Died While Filming Movies

High-Profile Actors Who Passed Away While Filming

Hollyweird is filled with glitz, glam and heart-breaking tragedy that usually shakes us to our core, especially when those tragedies involve beloved actors whose lives were cut short at the height of their storied careers.

Hit the flip for a gallery of actors who died while filming movies.

Paul Walker

The “Fast & Furious” star died in a car wreck after leaving a charity event and was later digitally recreated to complete the latest film in the series.

Marilyn Monroe

The iconic blonde beauty died of an apparent drug overdose during the production of “Something’s Got to Give.”

Aaliyah

The budding R&B superstar was slated to play “Zee” in the Matrix sequels (and even filmed scenes as the character) before her tragic death in a 2001 plane crash.

Bruce Lee

The legendary martial arts star died from an unintentional mix of medical drugs before he could finish “Game of Death” which was later pieced together with footage filmed after his death.

Heath Ledger

Many believe it was the talented actor’s breathtaking (and terrifying) performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” that lead to his tragic drug overdose. He was filming Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” right before his death.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The Oscar-winning actor had already filmed most of his scenes in the two-part finale of the Hunger Games series when he was found dead in his NYC apartment of a drug overdose.

Brandon Lee

Bruce Lee’s son was killed in an eerie accidental shooting on the set of “The Crow.”

Chris Farley

The beloved green ogre Shrek was originally voiced by the hilarious comedian who died of an overdose during production and was eventually replaced by Mike Myers.

Robin Harris

The iconic comedian inspired the first animated film with an all-Black cast “Bébé’s Kids” that started as a live-action film starring Harris who died of a heart attack during pre-production.

David Carradine

The actor best known for his roles in “Kung Fu” and the Kill Bill series was found dead in his Bangkok hotel room closet while shooting “Stretch.”

John Candy

The beloved actor died of a heart attack in his sleep while filming “Wagons East.”

Steve Irwin

Famously known as the Crocodile Hunter, the Australian adventurer was killed by a stingray while filming the underwater documentary “Ocean’s Deadliest.”

Clark Gable

Many suspect that the actor’s stunt work caused the fatal heart attack that stalled production of “The Misfits.”

Heather O’Rourke

Before post-production was completed on “Poltergeist III,” the classic Horror trilogy’s child star died from cardiac arrest caused by septic shock.

Bela Lugosi

Best known for playing Count Dracula, the Horror legend died from a heart attack while filming “Plan 9 from Outer Space.”

Natalie Wood

The Oscar-nominated actress was killed in a boating accident before finishing “Brainstorm.”

Oliver Reed

The party animal actor died in a pub while filming Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning epic “Gladiator.”

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