Jon-Erik Hexum

 Jon-Erik Hexum (November 5, 1957 – October 18, 1984)

After graduating from Tenafly High School, Hexum went on to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland to study biomedical engineering. He soon transferred to Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. During that time, he worked as a radio disc jockey, played on the 1978 Michigan State Spartans football team, and acted in minor stage roles. A few days after graduation, he moved to New York in 1980 to pursue his acting career. While working as an apartment cleaner, he met Bob LeMond of LeMond/Zetter Management, John Travolta's manager. LeMond saw great potential in Hexum. At LeMond's urging, Hexum relocated to Los Angeles in September 1981 to audition for a movie called Summer Lovers. Though he lost the part to Peter Gallagher, Hexum was soon cast in the lead role of Phineas Bogg in the series Voyagers! Hexum was then cast opposite Joan Collins in the made-for-television movie Making of a Male Model, also starring Jeff Conaway and Roxie Roker. In 1984, Hexum guest-starred in an episode of Hotel, playing Prince Erik. That same year, Hexum played terminally ill quarterback Pat Trammell in the feature film The Bear, a tribute to University of Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. In 1984, Hexum began playing Mac Harper, an undercover CIA operative posing as a male model, in the TV series Cover Up, opposite co-star Jennifer O'Neill.

It was during filming of one of the episodes that he had his fatal accident. On October 12, 1984, it had been a long day of filming with one delay after another. The gun to be used in the next scene was left out loaded with blanks. Apparently believing the gun to be unloaded, he discharged it against his right temple. The force drove a piece of his skull into his brain. Doctors spent hours in surgery trying to save him, but were unsuccessful. He died six days after the accident, age 26. Hexum was cremated at Grandview Crematory in Glendale, California, and a private funeral was held. His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean, near Malibu, California. There is a cenotaph marker for him at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California. His mother later received an out-of-court settlement from 20th Century Fox Television and Glen A. Larson Productions, the production team behind Cover Up.