Some movies are hard to watch. Not because they have crappy storylines or shoddy special effects, but because when certain actors show up — particularly actors who died while filming that movie — you can’t help but get emotional (see: Furious 7 with Paul Walker, The Dark Knight and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus with Heath Ledger, and The Matrix Reloaded with Aaliyah).
It’s an unfortunate reality that some films will always be associated with the death of a star.
Ahead, we’ve listed 16 actors who died during the filming of a movie and how producers had to deal with the loss in terms of the film. At times, the part was recast or a stand-in was used, and in some cases, production ceased altogether. In the end, though, these actors will always be remembered for their incredible talent.
A version of this article was originally published in April 2015.
Vic Morrow
Vic Morrow and two child actors, Renee Shinn Chen and Myca Dinh Le, died on the last day of filmingTwilight Zone: The Movie in 1982. They were killed when a helicopter pilot lost control and crashed into them. The film was released in 1983.
Heath Ledger
When Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose in 2008, he was in the middle of filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. After a brief suspension of production, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp each played a version of Ledger's character in the film.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah had filmed part of her role as Zee in The Matrix Reloaded when she died in a plane crash in 2001. The role was ultimately recast, with Nona Gaye, Marvin Gaye's daughter, filling in.
Clark Gable
Clark Gable had almost completed his work on The Misfits when he died of a heart attack in 1960. To complete the scenes that were left to shoot, a body double filled in for Gable.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman had only one scene left to film on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2when he died of a drug overdose in 2014. Production on the film was not affected.
Paul Walker
Paul Walker had completed filming on a significant portion of his scenes for Furious 7 when he died in a horrific car crash in 2013. To complete production of the film, his brothers, Cody and Caleb, were used as stand-ins.
James Dean
When James Dean died in a car accident in 1955, he had actually completed filming on the movie Giant, for which he received a posthumous Oscar nomination. One scene in the film, however, required dubbing in order for the words Dean was saying to be audible. Nick Adams lent his voice to the scene so the movie could go on.
Marilyn Monroe
Production of Something's Got to Give was under way when Marilyn Monroe died in 1962. The film was never completed.
River Phoenix
When River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993, the film he had been working on, Dark Blood, was 11 days away from being completed. Production on the film ceased. However, director George Sluizer decided to complete it two decades later and presented it at the Netherlands Film Festival in 2012.
Chris Farley
The character Shrek was originally meant to be voiced by Saturday Night Live's Chris Farley, who had nearly completed his work on the eponymous film when he died of a drug overdose in 1997. Mike Myers ended up taking over the role.
John Candy
John Candy died of a heart attack in 1994. At the time of his death, he was close to completing work on the film Wagons East. A body double was used to finish the scenes Candy hadn't yet filmed.
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood had nearly finished filming Brainstormwhen she drowned in 1981. Because her part was nearly complete, the footage was adjusted to enable the film's release.
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was working on the film Saratoga when she suddenly died of kidney failure in 1937. A stand-in was used to complete the film.
Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed had shot most of his scenes for the blockbuster Gladiator when he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1999. The use of body doubles and some clever editing enabled the film to be completed.
Bruce Lee
At the time of his death from an allergic reaction to painkillers in 1973, Bruce Lee had yet to complete filming for Game of Death. To finish the film, body doubles and, remarkably, a cardboard cutout of Lee were used.
Brandon Lee
Bruce Lee's son, Brandon, also died in the middle of filming. However, in Brandon's case, he was accidentally shot while working on The Crow. At the time of his death, the movie was nearly done, but body doubles were needed to complete the film.
Leave a Comment