Entertainers Who Died During A Performance

These Performers Found Their Lives Tragically Cut Short While Doing What They Loved

Imagine how scarring it would be to witness a performer die in front of you during a play or concert. Here are 40 instances of it happening. 

Mr Cummins

An actor referred to only as Mr. Cummins suffered onstage of aortic stenosis in 1817 while performing in the play The Tragedy of Jane Shore in Hunslet, England. Tragedy is certainly an appropriate term. 

National Library of Poland, Wikimedia Commons

Madame Delinsky

There are, unfortunately, many examples throughout history of people dying through failed “bullet catch” tricks. The first in history was Madame Delinsky, who was one-half of a magician duo, in 1820.

Performing Arts Posters, Wikimedia Commons

Sam Patch

Being a “daredevil” always, well, comes with the risk of a stunt going badly. This came true for Sam Patch, who fell to his end while making a jump into the High Falls of upstate New York in 1829.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Clara Vestris Webster

In 1844, during a performance of The Revolt of The Harem, dancer Clara Vestris Webster’s dress caught fire, burning her. She succumbed to the wounds three days after the performance. 

NYPL, Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Macarte

Performing with animals is always a risk, to say the least. The case is especially true when the animal in question is a lion. Unfortunately, Thomas Macarte met his end after performing a live lion act in 1872. 

Gibson & Co., Wikimedia Commons

Matilda Pascaly

Romanian actress Matilda Pascally’s passing served as an example of what happens when stagehands don’t do their job. Acting in the role of an angel during a play, the wires were fumbled and she fell to a tragic end. 

Constantin I. Stăncescu, Wikimedia Commons

Annie Von Behren

If a gun is used in a play or movie, ensure it’s never loaded. This rule wasn’t followed during an 1882 performance of the play Si Slocum in Cincinnati, which led to the tragic end of actress Annie Von Behren. 

Bellows, George, Wikimedia Commons

Armand Castelmary

During a performance of the opera Martha in New York, star Armand Castelmary collapsed and passed. Allegedly, the crowd thought it was an actorly gesture and applauded it.

Fermepin, Wikimedia Commons

Emil Hasda

Dramatic gestures take place both in art and real life. Case in point, Polish stage actor Emil Hasda shot himself on stage during a performance because his co-star had turned down his marriage proposal. 

Knox College, Wikimedia Commons

Sigmund Neuberger

Vaudeville act Sigmund Neuberger came to a tragic end during a 1911 performance in Edinburgh. A stage lamp broke and caused a fire that killed him alongside multiple other performers. 

Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ormer Locklear

Silent-era actor and aviator Ormer Locklear came to his end while filming the 1920 adventure film The Skywayman. A complicated nighttime plane stunt ended in him crashing into the sludge pool of an oil well.

Bain, Wikimedia Commons

Eugenie Blair

American actress Eugenie Blair had reportedly made note of feeling unwell during the production of the play Anna Christie. After one performance, she left the stage, sat down, and died. 

William McKenzie Morrison, Wikimedia Commons

Conrad Wells

Aerial scenes have always thrilled moviegoers, but filming them certainly risks a lot of danger. This was evidenced in cinematographer Conrad Wells dying during a plane collision while filming the 1938 film Such Men Are Dangerous.

Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc., Wikimedia Commons

Joseph Greenwald

Stage actor Joseph Greenwald had the extreme misfortune of dying during an April Fools’ Day performance in 1938. His last line? “I waited for this moment all my life”.

Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892), Wikimedia Commons

Ken “Snakehips” Johnson

British swing bandleader Ken “Snakehips” Johnson came to an untimely end when a German bomb hit the nightclub he was performing in during the blitz of 1941. He would at least become immortalized forever.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Tyrone Power

Tyrone Power was a considerably big classical-era film star who perished during the production of the biblical epic Soloman And Sheba. He was struck with a heart attack while filming a duel scene. He was only 44. 

Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons

Mike DiBiase

There’s a considerably large number of professional wrestlers who’ve left us while in the ring. One of the earliest examples of this was Mike DiBiase, who suffered from a fatal heart attack during a match in 1969.

FOTOKITA, Shutterstock

Mitr Chaibancha

Thai action picture Golden Eagle has the distinction of capturing its star, Mitr Chaibancha, dying on film. A complicated helicopter stunt that was supposed to end the film proved tragic. 

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

JI Rodale

JI Rodale was a public agriculture expert, not something that bears that many public appearances. Yet during an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show, he suddenly shuffled off this mortal coil on air. Understandably, the episode never aired.

John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Les Harvey

As a performer, your equipment can always betray you. Member of the Scottish band Stone the Crows, Les Harvey learned this the unfortunate way when he was electrocuted by his microphone while performing.

Fotopersbureau De Boer, Wikimedia Commons

Zero Mostel

One of the most famous entertainers to pass away during a performance was legendary comic actor Zero Mostel, who suffered from an aortic aneurysm during a preview performance of a Broadway play.

Graphic House, Wikimedia Commons

Karl Wallenda

Amongst the many risky stunt performer jobs is high wire artist. An example of the risk occurred in 1978 when Karl Wallenda fell to the ground while walking between two buildings in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Florida Memory, Wikimedia Commons

Mal “King Kong” Kirk

The passing of wrestler Mal “King Kong” Kirk during a 1987 match had great repercussions, as his opponent Big Daddy was accused of killing him via a body slam. The coroner later ruled that Kirk had his heart attack before the other wrestler’s move. 

PA Images, Getty Images

Joseph “Amazing Joe” Burrus

Sometimes, an escape artist doesn’t, well, escape. During a 1990 performance, Joseph Burrus’ life ended after the glass coffin he was trapped in collapsed from the weight of the cement poured on top of it. The disturbing coincidence was that it was on the anniversary of Harry Houdini’s passing.

Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

Redd Foxx

A common trait of comedian Redd Foxx’s character on Sanford And Sons was his faking heart attacks. That led his co-stars on The Royal Family to think he was pulling a prank when he actually suffered from a heart attack during production on an episode. 

ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

Brandon Lee

Up-and-coming action star Brandon Lee became immortalized after an on-set accident during the production of the 1994 comic book adaptation The Crow. It also led to increased safety regarding guns on set. 

Miramax, The Crow (1994)

Anthony Wheeler

It’s very grim when someone accidentally kills themself. British actor Anthony Wheeler did so during a 1997 production of Jesus Christ Superstar when he failed to attach the rope for a hanging scene to a safety harness, thus leading to his strangulation on the stage. 

Martina Clara, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ty Longley

A tragic 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island led to the end of 99 people. One of them was Great White band member Ty Longley, who reportedly re-entered the club after escaping for unknown reasons.

Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dimebag Darrell

The memorably named Dimebag Darrell, best known for his time as a member of the heavy metal band Pantera, came to an unfortunate end while performing with his new band, Damageplan, in 2004. His life was taken on stage by a fan. 

Annamaria DiSanto, Getty Images

Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin made a global name for himself as The Crocodile Hunter. He came to his end after being struck by a stingray while filming the television show. 

Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dawn Brancheau 

Dawn Brancheau made a name for herself as a trainer of orcas at SeaWorld. Unfortunately, one of the orcas dragged her underwater during a show in 2010.

Ed Schipul, TX, US, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Devon Clifford

The Canadian indie band You Say Party! We Say Die! had to shorten its name after drummer Devon Clifford suffered a brain hemorrhage in the middle of an April 2010 performance.

Thibault Trillet, Pexels

Irma Bule

Indonesian performer Irma Bule suffered the freak occurrence of being bitten by a king cobra snake during a performance in April 2016. While she initially continued singing, she ended up dying 45 minutes after being bitten.

Anil Sharma, Pexels

Polina Menshikh 

A casualty of the Russia-Ukraine conflict was Polina Menshikh, who was shelled by Ukrainian forces while performing for the country’s servicemen in November 2023.

susumunda, Shutterstock

Ayres Sasaki 

Brazilian performer Ayres Sasaki perished on stage in July 2024 after being allegedly hugged by a soaking-wet fan and then being hit by a cable, electrocuting him to a fatal end.

Clam Lo, Pexels

Renato Di Paolo

One of multiple examples of an actor accidentally dying while playing Judas on stage, Renato Di Paolo’s life came tragically cut short after poor preparation led to him hanging himself onstage during a production of a passion play.

Monica Silvestre, Pexels

George O’Hanlon

George O’Hanlon, the voice of George Jetson, succumbed to a stroke while recording voices for The Jetsons Movie in February 1989. He had to be quickly replaced. 

NBC, Wikimedia Commons

Jon-Erik Hexum

While filming the television show Cover Up, actor Jon-Erik Hexum became bored between takes and started playing with his prop gun to amuse himself and the crew. Unfortunately, while doing a fake game of Russian Roulette, real consequences occurred.

Christie Jenkins, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Sib Hashian

Performing on a cruise is a common act for legacy acts, which rock band Boston found themselves doing in 2017. Unfortunately, drummer Sib Hashian left us after collapsing on stage during the performance. 

Icon and Image, Getty Images

Vic Morrow

Produced by Steven Spielberg, The Twilight Zone: The Movie was a high-profile production that saw co-director John Landis not follow standard safety protocol. It unfortunately resulted in star Vic Morrow, alongside two child extras, being decapitated by a helicopter blade. Eerily, Morrow had predicted his tragic demise—years before the incident, he said he thought he'd die in a helicopter crash. 

Warner Bros., Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)