Sometimes accidents happen. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. When celebrities pass away, it can be shocking to all. And, though it is sad they passed away, their loss had inspired stricter changes in safety. But, the the thing here is-these protocols should have already been in place. No one should have to lose their life for changes to be put into place. Hrvoje Milakovic is a writer for MSN.com page Fiction Horizon. They put together a list of celebs who died on set or on stage
Tommy Cooper
-A massively successful British comedian, he suffered from a massive heart attack while appearing on a 1984 episode of the ITV variety show Live from Her Majesty's in London. He was known for his slapstick humor, which included physical collapsing. Many in the audience thought his fall was part of his routine, and the curtain drawn. Some realized it was not part of his routine and paramedics swarmed in
-When he passed away, it became one of the most heavily talked about events in British television history. This shock made people introduce new rules and regulations and medical preparedness. Fans and fellow comedians remember Cooper as one of those once in a generation comedians whose comedic timing and inspiration still hold strong today
Redd Foxx
-Known best for his appearance on the television program Sanford & Son, saying "You big dummy!" During a 1991 rehearsal for the CBS program The Royal Family, Foxx suffered from a heart attack and collapsed on set. Colleagues thought it was a bit weird considering on Sanford & Son he would always grab his chest as if having a heart attack and say something to the effect of "I'm coming to see ya, Elizabeth". His colleagues quickly realized this was no routine-it was real
-He unfortunately passed away and his death shocked many. His death sparked a new regulation on on-site medical staff for any medical emergencies. It also showed that sometimes the line between reality and art can become blurry, especially when some comedians use mortality as part of their routine
John Ritter
-This one still breaks a lot of people's hearts. For those who grew up watching Three's Company or 8 Simple Rules, the passing of John Ritter is still heartbreaking. He was working on the set of the 2003 ABC program 8 Simple Rules when he experienced a sudden cardiac event and was rushed to the nearby hospital. He unfortunately died at the hospital. His fellow cast mates, crew and viewers were left grieving his loss
-With his passing, this brought new awareness of aortic conditions and their warning signs. The show made an adjustment to honor his life and his colleagues remember him for his ability to make any set feel like a family home, his professional demeanor and his incredible kindness
Brandon Lee
-The son of martial artist / actor Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee's death came as a result of an accident. While filming the 1993 film The Crow, he was fatally wounded by a prop firearm that was mishandled. The prop gun had an actual bullet in it, along with a blank cartridge and when fired, the actual bullet hit him in his abdomen. His passing inspired far stricter protocols on handling functional firearms on set.
-As an eerie side note, almost the exact same type of situation happened later on, with actor Alec Baldwin. He was on the set of one of his movies and there was a scene requiring the use of a firearm. He thought there were blanks in the gun, not knowing that some of the crew were messing around with the guns, using real bullets for target practice and leaving one of the live bullets in the gun. Alec goes to shoot the gun and someone actually does die. He was brought into court for a long while until it was decided he was innocent, that he truly didn't know there was a live round in the gun he used. It was later discovered the crew had been using the prop gun for target practice, but left one of the live rounds in the chamber
Vic Morrow
-While filming a Vietnam segment for the 1982 film Twilight Zone: The Movie, he died in a helicopter incident, which involved him trying to save two Vietnamese children. The child actors were also killed and this tragedy led to stricter rules on set safety, including stunts, special effects and child actors
-With this incident, people started thinking about how to make sets and stunts safer for the people performing them
Jon-Erik Hexum
-While on the set of the 1984 TV program Cover Up, he, as a joke, put a blank-loaded prop gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He was unaware that the force of a blank at point blank range can be dangerous because of the concussive force. It killed him immediately. His death became the inspiration for stricter protocols on firearms on sets. That blanks are not toys and "cold" guns, also known as prop guns, require strict training in operation, safety and also respect
Steve Irwin
-Animal lovers still mourn the loss of "The Crocodile Hunter." He was filming one of his usual wildlife documentaries in 2006 when he startled a stingray, who threw up its deadly tail straight into his heart. Despite the best efforts by his crew, he passed away from the stingray venom. Fans and crew alike knew that, while he was fearless, he had a deep love and respect for animals. And that this was a simple accident. This led to the idea that nature documentaries need more protocols on safety, that there should be a discussion about risk and safety. His mission for conservation continues to this day through his family and the various institutions he's championed
Roy Kinnear
-He was what is called a character actor. While filming the 1988 film The Return of the Musketeers, he fell off of his horse and sustained injuries that would later prove to be fatal. The production of the film halted while fellow cast and crew processed the loss and tried to figure out how the accident occurred. He was known for his warmth and kindness, putting a dash of comedy into his roles. With his passing, scenes involving horse riding were now being evaluated a lot better to assess any risks there may be, especially when rough terrain and bad weather create additional hazards for the cast, crew, stunt doubles and rehearsals
Paul Mantz
-A legendary name in flying, he was a passionate aviator and stunt pilot. He died after performing a highly complex landing maneuver for the film The Flight of the Phoenix. His aircraft was a cobbled-together Frankenstein concoction made to resemble a desert airplane. While flying, he clipped some of the terrain crashed the plane, dying on impact
-His strong expertise in flying had raised the levels of aerial cinematography and with his passing, it showed the razor thin levels of safety in practical flying scenes. Stricter risk assessments were put into place involving airplanes on set and new specialized coordination between pilots, directors and camera teams went into place to protect everything and everyone
Leonard Warren
-The highly celebrated baritone opera singer Leonard Warren died in 1960 during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House. He was singing "La forza del destino". When the audience realized what happened, the evening was cancelled immediately. With his passing, it echoed throughout the opera world, prompting the need for an overhaul in emergency response regulations. He's lovingly remembered for his stunningly beautiful voice and setting the normal standards for any singer looking to interpret Verdi
Richard Versalle
-During a 1996 performance at the Met, tenor singer Richard Versalle passed away on stage during a performance of The Makropulos Case. He was on a ladder, but fell after delivering his opening line. The show was halted while medical professionals tried to save him. His passing brought about sweeping changes regarding risk assessment, with regards to ladders, rakes and any sort of elevated platform combined with singing. Fellow cast members remember Versalle for his artistry and integrity, putting strong emphasis on safety always being matched with stage talent
Giuseppe Sinopoli
-While leading a score called "Aida" in Berlin in 2001, conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli suffered a massive heart attack that proved to be fatal. The suddenness of the occurrence left the audience stunned speechless along with the orchestra, who had to stop mid-performance. Sinopoli was also a medical doctor and composer. He leaves behind a large legacy. With his passing, it prompted the need to have in-house heart defibrillators and response drills that can help shorten time in emergencies
Mark Sandman
-Lead singer and bass player for band Morphine, Mark Sandman collapsed on stage during a show in Palestrina, Italy in 1999. He suffered from a massive heart attack and unfortunately couldn't be revived. The band was known for simple stage sets and low sound. The audience didn't understand that something real was going on. After his death, venues took a hard look at their protocols for emergencies for festivals and outdoor concerts
"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott
-Any fan of Pantera knows this name. For one thing, his own brother, who goes by the name Vinnie Paul, was the drummer for this band. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was a guitarist for thrash metal band Pantera and Damageplan. While performing in Columbus, Ohio in 2004 with his band Damageplan, a gunman with mental health issues rushed the stage and killed not only Abbott, but several others. This murder shook many metal fans to their absolute core and made venues put into place new protocols for security. This includes entry screening to rapid response to emergencies. Fans honor and remember the influence Abbott had on the world of metal
Nick Menza
-A former drummer for Megadeth, he died on stage in 2016 during a set with OHM at a Los Angeles venue called The Baked Potato. He suffered from a sudden medical emergency during the concert and paramedics on scene couldn't save him. He was known for his powerful yet precise drumming, and his death was a reminder to clubs and small venues that there should be strict emergency response regulations in place, including the importance of emergency equipment and clear access to responders, especially in small, intimate venues, to prevent this sort of thing from happening again
Les Harvey
-A guitarist with Stone the Crows, he was fatally electrocuted on stage in 1972 at a concert in Swansea, Wales after he touched a microphone that was improperly grounded. Concert goers witnessed his death on stage. This incident prompted new and stricter regulations for electrical equipment for live shows, including regular PAT testing to mandatory grounding checks. His talent is still talked about to this day
Tiny Tim
-This often quirky musician, with his high pitched voice, is known for singing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." While performing at a benefit concert in 1996, he collapsed on stage and died moments later. He was known for having cardiac concerns but still insisted on performing, a decision that seems to be a debate by those close to him. After his death, venues started adopting regulations regarding health policies for those whose health might be questionable
Ian Cognito
-This British comedian, who often joked about health, collapsed on stage during his show in Bicester in 2019. Minutes prior, he had been joking about having a stroke. When he collapsed on stage, the audience thought it was part of the act. His death signaled a unique risk that comes with comedy-that the audience and even the comedians themselves can sometimes misinterpret genuine medical emergencies as part of their shows. Clubs and venues made new revisions to their regulations for stopping shows, getting medical assistance as soon as possible and checking unresponsive performers to avoid this sort of incident from repeating itself
Mitsuharu Misawa
-This legendary Japanese professional wrestler incurred a cervical injury that proved to be fatal during a 2009 match in Hiroshima. The bout was stopped as medical professionals did what they could, including rushing him to the hospital. But it was too late. He died en route to the hospital. His death highlighted the need for ring safety, move sets and the need for trained medical professionals at the shows. His wrestling abilities are still talked about to this day
Perro Aguayo Jr
-This Mexican Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling) star died after he sustained a cervical injury during a 2015 bout in Tijuana that involved Rey Mysterio. There is video of the incident that brings up hard questions about delays in recognizing a genuine medical emergency. This error highlights the need for medical personnel to be on site during wrestling bouts, along with clear communication between wrestlers, referees and the doctors. He was known for his charisma and entertaining performances all across Mexico
Owen Hart
-This one still shocks many to this day. Owen Hart is the younger brother of Bret "The Hitman" Hart. In fact, the whole Hart family is practically wrestling royalty. During a 1999 pay-per-view "Over the Edge" performance, Owen Hart fell 78 feet from the rafters during a dramatic entrance to the ring. He was initially attached to a harness and was lowered into the ring, but the quick release mechanism activated too early and he fell the 78 remaining feet to the ring, sustaining blunt force injuries that would later prove to be fatal. It would be considered controversial, but the show went on as planned
-His death signaled a need for reviewing aerial stunts and stricter harness regulations in live wrestling and more. Fans and fellow wrestlers celebrate his life, keeping his memory alive through various foundations and tributes
Godfrey Gao
-While filming the 2019 Chinese reality competition show Chase Me, actor and model Godfrey Gao collapsed. After being rushed to a nearby hospital, he died. The show suffered mass scrutiny and inspired conversations about the grueling and or often punishing schedules. This prompted the need for on-site medical personnel and the risks associated with high-stakes variety shows. Fans remember him best for his graciousness with fans
Costa Titch
-This South African rapper collapsed on the stage during a concert in 2023 in Johannesburg. He died not long afterwards. Video showed the event playing out before fans eyes as dancers and other crew realized something wasn't right. With his death, this created the need to create new regulations regarding heat, fatigue and cardiac events at high energy concerts, especially given the intense stage lighting and staging. The tributes were overwhelming and showing an artist whose career was rising fast and crossover appeal was becoming quickly visible
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