Michael Massee dead at 61, The Crow actor accidentally shot Brandon Lee

Actor Michael Massee, who starred in ‘24’, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘The Game’, ‘Seven’, ‘Lost Highway’, and ‘The Crow’, has died at the age of 61.

Massee’s death was confirmed by French actor Anthony Delon on Wednesday night. Delon, who co-starred with Massee in the 2014 French TV series ‘Interventions’ took to Instagram to reveal the news, writing ,”R.I.P. my friend Michael. You were ‘five seconds away from a clean getaway.’”

Massee was born on August 15, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1993 he was cast as Fun Boy in ‘The Crow’ opposite Brandon Lee, the son of legendary actor Bruce Lee.

Tragedy struck on Marcy 31, 1993, though, when Michael Massee fired what he believed to be a prop gun at Lee while filming a pivotal scene. However a fatal mix-up meant that it was improperly prepared and Massee fired off a blank bullet with the force of a real one, which later that day resulted in the death of Brandon Lee at the age of 28.

Director Alex Proyas was later given permission by Brandon Lee’s family to finish ‘The Crow’, as there was only eight days left of filming at the time of the accident. But when it was released in May of 1994 Massee couldn’t bring himself to watch it, and he later admitted that he never would.

Director Alex Proyas was later given permission by Brandon Lee’s family to finish ‘The Crow’, as there was only eight days left of filming at the time of the accident. But when it was released in May of 1994 Massee couldn’t bring himself to watch it, and he later admitted that he never would.

Speaking in 2005 about the incident, Massee admitted, “I don’t think you ever get over something like that.” Massee decided to take a year long break from acting after the tragedy, but later returned to the profession.

He forged out a successful career, too, taking the role of Ira Gaines in the first season of ‘24’, as well as roles in ‘The X-Files’, ‘Carnivale’, ‘Supernatural’, ‘Flashforward’, and ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’.

On the big-screen Michael Masse was directed by David Fincher in both ‘The Game’ and ‘Seven’, David Lynch in ‘Lost Highway’, while he also appeared in the superhero films ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’, and ‘Catwoman.’

Michael Massee is survived by his wife Ellen, who he married in 2001, and their two children.

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[Images via The CW & Miramax]