Jon-Erik Hexum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon-Erik_Hexum
Jon-Erik Hexum (November 5, 1957 – October 18, 1984) was an American model and actor. He died as a result of an accidental self-inflicted blank cartridge gunshot round to the head on the set of the CBS television series Cover Up in which he played the male lead.
Only a few days after graduation, he moved to New York in 1980, in order to pursue his acting career. While working as an apartment cleaner, he met Bob LeMond of LeMond/Zetter Management, the manager of John Travolta. LeMond saw great potential in Hexum. At LeMond's urging, Hexum relocated to Los Angeles in September 1981 in order to audition for a movie called Summer Lovers, which was to be directed by Randal Kleiser. Though he lost the part to Peter Gallagher, Hexum attracted the notice of Hollywood powerbrokers, and in short time was cast in the lead role of Phineas Bogg in the NBC series Voyagers! after playing the character in Voyager from the Unknown, the pilot for the series. Voyagers! aired during the 1982–83 television season, with Hexum's role earning him $10,000 a week. Unable to sustain itself against CBS' newsmagazine, 60 Minutes, Voyagers! was canceled after one season. But Hexum's good looks and charm kept him marketable, and soon he was cast opposite Joan Collins in the made-for-television movie Making of a Male Model, starring also Jeff Conaway and Roxie Roker.
In 1984, Hexum guest-starred in an episode of ABC's prime time drama Hotel. He played Prince Erik, a Prince Charming-type character who sweeps his Cinderella off her feet.
Jon-Erik Hexum - 1984 News Coverage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjsFd4liAYs
On October 12, 1984, the cast and crew of Cover Up were filming the seventh episode of the series, "Golden Opportunity", on Stage 17 of the 20th Century Fox lot. One of the scenes filmed that day called for Hexum's character to load blanks into a .44 Magnum handgun. When the scene did not play as the director wanted it to play in the master shot, there was a delay in filming. Hexum became restless and impatient during the delay and began playing around to lighten the mood. Apparently, he had unloaded all but one (blank) round, spun it, and in what would appear to be a game of Russian roulette, at 5:15 p.m., he put the revolver to his right temple and pulled the trigger.Hexum was apparently unaware that his actions were dangerous. Blanks use paper or plastic wadding to seal gunpowder into the cartridge, and this wadding is propelled from the barrel of the gun with enough force to cause injury if the weapon is fired within a few feet of the body should it strike at a particularly vulnerable spot, such as the temple or the eye. At a close enough range, the effect of the powder gasses is similar to a small explosion so although the paper wadding in the blank that Hexum discharged did not penetrate his skull, there was enough blunt force trauma to shatter a quarter-sized piece of his skull and propel the pieces into his brain, causing massive hemorrhaging.Hexum was rushed to Beverly Hills Medical Center, where he underwent five hours of surgery to repair his wounds. On October 18, six days after the accident, Hexum was declared brain dead. With his mother's permission, his body was flown to San Francisco on life support, where his heart was transplanted into the body of a dying 36-year-old Las Vegas man at Pacific Medical Center. Hexum's kidneys and corneas were also donated: One cornea went to a 66-year-old man with cataracts, the other to a young girl. One of the kidney recipients was a critically ill five-year-old boy, and the other was a 43-year-old grandmother of three who had waited eight years for a kidney. Skin that was donated was used to treat a 3½-year-old boy with third degree burns. Hexum's body was then flown back to Los Angeles. He was cremated at Grandview Crematory in Glendale, California, and a private funeral was held. His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean, near Malibu, California, by his mother. Hexum's death was ruled accidental. His mother later received an out-of-court settlement from 20th Century Fox Television and Glen A. Larson Productions, the production team behind Cover Up.
The episode on which Hexum had been working was broadcast on November 3, 1984, two weeks after Hexum's death. Cover Up continued production without Hexum's character. Three weeks later, on November 24, Antony Hamilton was introduced as agent Jack Striker, posing as a new member of the modeling team. Hexum's character, Mac, is noticeably absent, said to be on another mission. At the end of the episode, Jack breaks the news that Mac has been killed on the other assignment and would not be coming back. As the tears flowed, the camera panned back, and a memoriam written by Glen Larson appeared onscreen:
Jon-Erik Hexum Remembered..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YCnDDlx3Wg
Jon-Erik Hexum Mysteries and Scandal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GfH9E2pL0M
Magnificent 1980s actor, Jon-Erik Hexum. Stunning good looks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFh6HjRiELM
Jon-Erik Hexum was born on 5th November 1957, in Englewood, New Jersey. He grew up in Tenafly, NJ, and from a very young age, showed promise in a wide variety of talents. He was well above his class average, academically, and was a gifted athlete, musician, and also had a likeable nature that drew people to him. He attended university in Michigan, and later made the move to Los Angeles, where he attended numerous auditions, before landing the role of Phineas Bogg in the TV series "Voyagers." He made the film "Making of a Male Model", alongside Joan Collins, in 1983, and appeared in "The Bear", with Gary Busey. His next series was "Cover Up", which tragically became his last acting role. On set on October 12, 1984, he accidentally wounded himself with a prop gun, and was rushed to a medical centre, critically injured. Jon-Erik Hexum died on 18 October 1984. He leaves behind a small body of work, but is still fondly remembered by many fans. He was blessed with extraordinarily good looks, and a truly impressive physique and voice, yet is also remembered for having a kind nature, a keen interest in the well-being of those around him, a total lack of the arrogance that one might expect from such a gifted man, and a healthy sense of humour about the whole Hollywood "game". Gone but not forgotten.
Joan Collins - Jon Erik Hexum The Making Of A Male Model
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OeqKOShtiM
Jon-Erik Hexum's brief but, memorable career deserves to be remembered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MkXi-xYN7o
Jon-Erik Hexum w/a crew cut interview 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqujw0ptP6k
Jon-Erik Hexum Interview (Merv Griffin Show 1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08q9GRCmBuY