Deaths on Stage

I know Dick Shawn (one-man show) and David Burns (70 GIRLS, 70) died on stage (or in Burns' case very nearly so), but I don't know that either was playing a character who died in that same scene.

(The only time I ever "hanged" an actor on stage, we attached the rope to the rafters with scotch tape. There was no way I was taking a chance on actually hurting him.)

I missed all those deaths, Phyllis. Do you know the names of any of the deceased?

Heh. I totally misread the post.

Is it awful if I say I got a little worried when Elaine Stritch choked and died and the end of Night Music?

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There have been two deaths on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera (one in the old house which I was too young to see and one in the new house whcih I did)

During a performance of La forza del destino Leonard Warren died on stage. Eyewitnesses including Rudolf Bing (Director of the MET at that time) report that Warren had completed La Forza's Act III aria, which begins Morir, tremenda cosa ("to die, a momentous thing"), and was supposed to open a sealed wallet, examine the contents and cry out "E salvo, o gioia" (He is safe, oh joy), before launching into the vigorous cabaletta. While Rudolph Bing reports that Warren simply went silent and fell face-forward to the floor, others state that he started coughing and gasping, and that he cried out "Help me, help me!" before falling to the floor, remaining motionless. A man holding a spear on stage didn't do anything for a long moment before bending over him. He looked up and glanced from side to side before saying something to the people backstage and the curtain was closed. A few minutes later he was pronounced dead and the rest of the performance was canceled by Bing stepping out from behind the closed curtain and announcing the death to the audience. The cause of death was determined to be a massive cerebral hemorrhage; Warren was only forty-eight years old.

The second one, which I was witness to, was on January 5, 1996 the opening night of a Metropolitan Opera production ended prematurely only a few minutes into Act 1 when tenor Richard Versalle, 63, suffered a heart attack while climbing the 20-foot ladder which was part of the set, fell, and died on stage immediately after singing Vitek's line: "Too bad you can only live so long" The image of his falling off that huge ladder still haunts me.

Updated On: 12/13/12 at 09:22 AM

This list includes many who don't fit the OP's criteria, but several who do. And it's fascinating (if morbid) reading.
Died Onstage

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Re: David Burns in 70 Girls 70: The show was in previews. He was on stage doing a scene in which the old folks are being questioned by the police about a string of robberies. In order the throw the cops of their tracks, the old folks are deliberately acting senile, hard of hearing, etc. Burns slumped forward in his chair, as if he had fallen asleep. The other actors though he was trying a new comedy bit - until it was time for him do deliver a line. the show was stopped.

Opening was delays and he was replaced by Hans Conreid.

Nelson Eddy collapsed from a massive cerebral hemorrhage in 1967 while performing his cabaret act at a Palm Beach hotel. He died a few hours later.

The British comedian/magician Tommy Cooper suffered a heart attack onstage while conducting his act at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. The performance was televised, so it was caught on camera:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b77_1240142064

(Notice the audience continue to laugh 'cause they think it's all part of the act.)

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Okay, i saw this on another thread too, and I've been wondering. Who is Simone?

Heard Annie was devestated at Simone's passing. So was her husband Noah Wan.

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Yes! They also teamed up with Sam Badtie to do that revue a few years back. Excellant show!

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