We love it when our favorite stars play killers on screen because it’s just acting. But every so often, reality pulls a stunt no one asked for, and actors end up in headlines for real-life tragedies. Some of these are heartbreaking accidents, others are full-on crimes, but all of them remind us that Hollywood’s scripts can’t compete with the tragedies of real life. So, here’s a rundown of actors who have killed people in real life.
1. Alec Baldwin
In 2021, Alec Baldwin was rehearsing on the set of Rust when a prop gun he held discharged live rounds. During the horrific incident, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed, and director Joel Souza was injured. Even though Baldwin had a major breakdown and insisted that he never pulled the trigger, investigators later said otherwise. Since then, he has faced charges and is still awaiting trial, while the film’s armourer has already been convicted for negligence.
2. Matthew Broderick
Fresh off Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, while vacationing in Northern Ireland with girlfriend Jennifer Grey, tragedy came calling for Matthew Broderick. Their rented BMW collided with another car, killing Anna Gallagher and her mother, Margaret Doherty. Broderick survived with serious injuries, was fined $175 for careless driving, and has carried the weight of the incident ever since.
3. Brandy Norwood
Singer and actress Brandy Norwood found herself in the worst headline possible in 2006. Driving on a Los Angeles freeway, she rear-ended another car that triggered a chain crash that left driver Awatef Aboudihaj dead the next day. Even though no charges were filed, Brandy spoke openly later about the pain of being branded a ‘murderer.’
4. Ryan Grantham
On ‘Riverdale,’ Ryan Grantham played the driver who killed Archie’s dad. In real life, his story turned even darker. In 2020, he shot and killed his mother, then reportedly planned more violence before surrendering to police. Grantham told the court he was sorry, but the crime was so brutal that he was sentenced to life in prison.
Related: Why Did ‘Riverdale’ Actor Ryan Grantham Kill His Mother?
5. Amy Locane
She was once a rising star of the ’90s. But in 2010, after drinking at a wrap party, Amy got behind the wheel and caused a crash that killed Helene Seeman and injured her husband. Locane was found to be three times over the legal alcohol limit. She’s been in and out of prison ever since, with her sentence extended after a judge ruled the first was too lenient.
6. Lane Garrison
In 2006, Lane crashed his Land Rover while drunk and high, killing 17-year-old passenger Vahagn Setian. Garrison pleaded guilty, served just over two years, and later returned to acting in shows like ‘Yellowstone.’ Still, it’s safe to say his career never fully broke free.
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7. Charles S. Dutton
Before Dutton became popular as an actor, he killed a man in a knife fight after being stabbed seven times himself. Due to this, at 17, he was convicted of manslaughter and served nearly a decade in prison, where he made a promise to turn his life around. He later won a scholarship to Yale Drama and reinvented himself completely.
8. Michael Massee
In 1994, Michael Massee accidentally fired the shot that killed Brandon Lee while filming ‘The Crow.’ A prop gun was improperly prepared, and a fragment lodged in the chamber killed Lee instantly. Massee took a year off and later said he never got over it.
Related: 10 Actors Who Hated Their Characters Being Killed Off On TV Shows
9. Rebecca Gayheart
The life of Rebecca Gayheart changed forever in 2001, after becoming popular in the 90s. Driving in Los Angeles, she hit nine-year-old Jorge Cruz Jr., who was chasing his soccer ball across the street. Gayheart pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter, did community service, and supported the family financially. But the trauma never went away.
10. Johnny Lewis
In 2012, actor Johnny Lewis shocked Hollywood when he killed his landlady, Catherine Davis, and her cat before falling to his own death. Though reports suggested mental health struggles, no clear cause was ever found.
