In Memory of Actor Jon-Erik Hexum: 40 Years After His Accidental, Self-Inflicted Tragic Death

Photo byPinterest.com

It's been 40 years since actor Jon-Erik Hexum died of an accidental self-inflicted gun shot on October 18, 1984 in Los Angeles. He was only 26 years old, and this is his story.

A Closer Look

Jon-Erik Hexum was born November 5, 1957, in Englewood, New Jersey, the son of Thorleif Hexum (from Norway) and Gretha Paulsen (from Minnesota).

Hexum studied music at a young age, and excelled in playing the horn, violin, and piano. He eventually enrolled at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, before transferring to Michigan State University, where he initially studied bio-medical engineering and then changed to philosophy. He also played football, and was a DJ, nicknamed, "Yukon Jack," at several local radio stations

The charismatic actor was eventually discovered by talent manager Bob LeMond, who oversaw the career of John Travolta.

Then Came Television and Movies

After rejecting offers to play on TV shows like CHiPs, Hexum agreed to take the lead as Phineas Bogg in the 1980s NBC sci-fi time-travel series Voyagers!

During this time, Hexum co-starred with Joan Collins in the ABC TV-movie Making of a Male Model, and on the big-screen film, The Bear, which starred Gary Busey. In the latter, a biopic, Hexum played the supporting role of quarterback Pat Trammell.

In 1984, Hexum made a guest appearance the ABC drama Hotel, Soon following, he was cast opposite Jennifer O'Neill in the CBS adventure show, Cover Up, in which he portrayed Mac Harper, an undercover CIA operative posing as a model.

Then Came Tragedy

It was on the set of Cover Up that Hexum accidentally shot himself in the head with a prop gun that contained a blank cartridge.

The impact caused a fracture to his skull, forced a small bone fragment into his brain, which ignited severe hemorrhaging. He was rushed to hospital, had five hours of surgery, and six days later, Hexum was declared brain-dead on October 18, 1984.

Subsequently, his Cover Up character was killed, and replaced by another, this time, played by British thespian Antony Hamilton. However, the show only lasted for 14 more episodes.

A few years later, Hexum's mother Gretha Hexum won an undisclosed out-of-court settlement with Twentieth Century Fox Television and Glenn Larson Productions, both alligned with Cover Up.

Immortal Legacy

In life, Jon-Erik Hexum was dedicated to organ donation. In death, that meant meant five other lives were assisted or saved with his harvested organs.

That includes Michael Washington, the recipient of the actor's transplanted heart.