 |
| Jon Erik Hexum |
Jon-Erik Hexum was one of the most handsome men of the 1980s. With piercing blue eyes, a sharp jawline, tall frame, and a muscular build, he looked like he was carved out of marble. He wasn’t just a pretty face, Jon-Erik was both a rising model and a promising actor, often compared to the likes of young Hollywood icons. He had it all, looks, charm, talent, and a future that seemed unstoppable.
But in a shocking twist, Jon-Erik Hexum died tragically young, at just 26 years old, in a freak accident that happened on set. And the most chilling part? It was something he accidentally did to himself, during what was supposed to be a harmless joke.
So what really happened to Jon-Erik Hexum? How did a man with so much promise vanish from the spotlight in the blink of an eye? Let’s go back and look at his story, the rise, the fame, and the heartbreaking fall.
Who Was Jon Erik Hexum?
Jon-Erik Hexum was born on November 5, 1957, in Englewood, New Jersey, to Thorleif Andreas Hexum, a Norwegian immigrant, and Gretha Olivia Paulsen, an American-born woman of Norwegian ancestry from Minnesota. He had an older brother named Gunnar, and after their parents divorced when Jon Erik was just four years old, the boys were raised by their mother in the suburban town of Tenafly, New Jersey.
Life wasn’t easy for the Hexum family. As a single mother, Gretha worked two jobs just to keep things afloat. But despite the financial struggles, she always made sure her sons had access to the arts.
Jon-Erik once said in an interview, “She was wonderful when we were growing up. Somehow she found money to buy us a piano. We got to go to the theater periodically, and I took singing and dancing lessons.”
At Tenafly High School, Jon Erik was a standout student, both academically and creatively. He joined the school marching band, even performing in the 1973 Rose Parade in Pasadena. In his senior year, he became the band’s drum major, and made school history by becoming the first male cheerleader. On top of that, he acted in school plays like Carousel and landed a lead role in The Pajama Game. He also served as senior class president, graduating in 1976.
Hexum initially enrolled at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland to study biomedical engineering, but later transferred to Michigan State University. There, he pursued a degree in political philosophy, while keeping busy with side jobs as a radio DJ and part-time actor in campus plays. In 1978, he even played football for the MSU Spartans, although mainly in a backup role.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political philosophy, but acting was clearly his passion.
Physically, Jon-Erik maintained a strong and athletic physique his entire life. He had been into football and soccer since he was 8 years old, and also trained in wrestling, swimming, and weightlifting. Even after reaching Hollywood, he stuck to a disciplined routine, hitting the gym three times a week to stay in peak shape for roles.
While waiting for success, he worked as a taxi driver, nightclub doorman, and carpet cleaner to make ends meet. He was also briefly a house cleaner and once joked that he could “scrub a toilet better than most people in Hollywood.”
His persistence eventually paid off. In 1983, he landed a breakthrough role opposite Joan Collins in the made-for-TV movie The Making of a Male Model. The film brought him national attention, especially since Collins was already a household name for her role in Dynasty, and Hexum was paid $50,000 for his part. His striking looks and natural charisma left a lasting impression on audiences and industry professionals alike.
But Jon Erik Hexum was far more than just a pretty face. He was a deeply multifaceted talent. He was a skilled pianist who could also play multiple instruments, including the guitar and drums. His mother had encouraged his musical development from a young age, scraping together money to buy a piano for the family.
He also had a deep love for animals, often volunteering at animal shelters in his free time. Friends recalled how he would stop to feed stray cats or rescue dogs he saw on the street. In one interview, he mentioned that if he hadn’t become an actor, he might have opened a sanctuary for abused animals.
Jon-Erik also had a great sense of humor. He was known for pulling lighthearted pranks on co-stars and crewmates, once even swapping out a co-star’s shampoo with whipped cream before a scene. His warm personality made him a favorite on set.
He was also an avid outdoorsman, passionate about hiking, camping, fishing, and anything that got him close to nature. He loved exploring national parks, often taking solo trips into the mountains to disconnect from the pressures of Hollywood.
Despite the attention and growing fame, Jon-Erik Hexum remained humble and grounded. He never lost touch with his roots or the people who supported him on the way up. He regularly took time to talk to fans, sign autographs, and support charitable causes, especially those related to children’s hospitals, animal welfare, and organ donation.
This grounded, multifaceted personality, equal parts athletic, artistic, compassionate, and charismatic is what made Jon-Erik Hexum so memorable to those who knew him, and to the countless fans he continues to inspire to this day.
Jon Erik Hexum Height
Jon-Erik Hexum stood at an impressive 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall. His tall, athletic build made him a natural fit for modeling and action-packed roles on television. With broad shoulders, a chiseled jawline, and striking features, Hexum embodied the classic American heartthrob image of the 1980s.
His height and physical presence were part of what made him so captivating on screen, whether he was playing the adventurous Phineas Bogg in Voyagers! or the mysterious model-turned-undercover agent Mac Harper in Cover Up. His commanding stature added to his charm and helped solidify his status as a rising star in Hollywood.
From Modeling to Hollywood
A few days after graduating from Michigan State University, Jon-Erik Hexum packed his bags and headed to New York City in 1980, determined to pursue a career in acting. Like many aspiring actors, he worked odd jobs to stay afloat, including cleaning apartments.
During this time, he had a chance encounter with Bob LeMond, of LeMond/Zetter Management, who had previously managed John Travolta. LeMond immediately saw promise in Hexum's look and presence.
On LeMond’s advice, Hexum moved to Los Angeles in September 1981 to audition for the film Summer Lovers. Although he didn’t get the part, it went to Peter Gallagher, his drive didn’t go unnoticed.
His first major break came in 1982 when he landed the lead role in the NBC adventure series Voyagers!, playing Phineas Bogg, a swashbuckling time-traveler. Despite its creative premise, the show struggled to compete with 60 Minutes, which dominated the Sunday primetime ratings. Voyagers! was canceled after one season, but it was enough to get Jon-Erik on the industry’s radar.
In 1983, Hexum starred alongside Joan Collins in Making of a Male Model, a TV movie produced by Aaron Spelling. It was a massive ratings success, landing in the Top 10 the week it aired. The film featured Hexum in several shirtless scenes, which quickly turned him into a TV heartthrob and sex symbol. Still, he had mixed feelings about the project. He later admitted,
“It turned out to be a lot more exploitative than I anticipated. I didn’t realize how they were going to package the show, how many scenes were going to be shirtless for no apparent reason.”
Despite the criticism, the film boosted his visibility. Riding on that momentum, he made a guest appearance in ABC’s drama Hotel in 1984, playing Prince Erik, a fairy-tale character opposite Emma Samms.
That same year, Hexum landed his most high-profile role yet, Mac Harper, a former Green Beret-turned-undercover CIA operative posing as a fashion model in the CBS action-drama Cover Up, co-starring Jennifer O’Neill.
Cover Up premiered in 1984, and Hexum’s star continued to rise. Around the same time, he was featured in the November 1984 issue of Playgirl. The spread included both clothed and shirtless photos, though not nude, further cementing his image as a rising male sex symbol.
Later in 1984, he also appeared in his only feature film role, a small but memorable part in The Bear, a sports biopic about University of Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, played by Gary Busey.
Hexum portrayed the terminally ill quarterback Pat Trammell, a real-life athlete who had been close to Bryant. In preparation for the role, he cut his hair short and even visited Alabama to meet with Trammell’s family and former teammates.
The Bear was released just three weeks before Jon-Erik's tragic death.
At the time of his passing, Hexum had just begun a relationship with actress and singer E.G. Daily. Despite his growing fame, those close to him described him as frugal and grounded. He owned a modest home in Burbank, California, sparsely furnished, and drove a vintage 1954 Chevy Bel Air. He also had ambitions beyond acting, having recently launched his own film production company, with plans to direct and produce his own projects.
The Cover Up Role That Changed Everything
In 1984, Cover Up became Jon-Erik Hexum’s breakout, and final role. He played Mac Harper, the lead in CBS’s glossy new spy drama combining high fashion with covert operations. The show followed his character, a rugged ex-Green Beret-turned-undercover model, as he traveled the globe solving dangerous missions alongside Jennifer O’Neill’s character.
The concept was unusual, but audiences were drawn to Hexum’s action-hero presence and model-worthy looks. Whether he was saving lives or walking a runway in disguise, he made it believable and exciting.
Although critics gave Cover Up mixed reviews, Hexum’s popularity surged. Off-screen, he was known for being friendly, humble, and full of wit, quickly becoming a favorite among cast, crew, and fans. The role felt like just the beginning of a much bigger career… until tragedy struck.
Jon-Erik Hexum Cause Of Death
On October 12, 1984, the cast and crew of Cover Up were filming the seventh episode of the series, titled “Golden Opportunity,” on Stage 18 of the 20th Century Fox lot. That day, Jon-Erik Hexum’s character was supposed to load cartridges into a .44 Magnum revolver for a scene. For realism, a functional firearm loaded with blanks was provided on set.
When the scene didn’t work out the way the director wanted during the master shot, filming was delayed. The waiting dragged on. Hexum, known for his energetic and playful personality, grew bored and frustrated. According to reports, he joked to those nearby, “Can you believe this crap?” as the delay continued.
Trying to lighten the mood, Jon-Erik began fooling around imitating a game of Russian roulette. He unloaded all the chambers of the gun except one, spun the cylinder, then raised it to his right temple and pulled the trigger.
The gun fired a blank round, which despite having no bullet released an intense muzzle blast. At point-blank range, the force shattered part of his skull, sending a bone fragment the size of a quarter into the center of his brain. Contrary to what some believe, the blank did not penetrate the skull, but the pressure alone was devastating.
Hexum immediately collapsed. He had reportedly lost several pints of blood before paramedics arrived. He was rushed by ambulance to Beverly Hills Medical Center, where he underwent five hours of emergency surgery performed by Dr. David Ditsworth. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, the damage was irreparable. Hexum was placed on life support.
On October 18, 1984, six days after the accident, Jon Erik Hexum was declared brain dead at just 26 years old.
His accident later prompted discussions around stricter gun safety measures on film sets, an issue that continues to make headlines today.
A Legacy of Giving
Hexum had signed a California organ donor card, and his mother gave permission for his organs to be donated. His heart was transplanted into a 36-year-old Las Vegas man at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. His kidneys went to a critically ill five-year-old boy and a 43-year-old grandmother of three who had waited eight years for a match. His corneas helped restore sight to a 66-year-old man and a young girl. Donated skin was used to treat a 3½-year-old boy with third-degree burns.
Jon-Erik’s body was flown back to Los Angeles, cremated at Grandview Crematory in Glendale, and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean, near Malibu, by his mother. His estate was estimated to be worth $255,000.
His death was officially ruled an accidental shooting.
Fallout and Final Farewell
Following the accident, Jon-Erik’s mother filed a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox Television and Glen A. Larson Productions, alleging negligence on set. The case was resolved through an out-of-court settlement.
The episode Jon-Erik had been working on was broadcast on November 3, 1984, just two weeks after his death. Three weeks later, on November 24, in the episode “Writer’s Block,” the show introduced Antony Hamilton as Jack Striker, the new lead character. Hexum’s character, Mac Harper, was said to have been killed during an off-screen mission.
At the end of that episode, CBS aired a special tribute in place of the closing credits:
“When a star dies, its light continues to shine across the universe for millenniums. John Eric Hexum died in October of this year … but the lives he touched will continue to be brightened by his light … forever … and ever.”
Behind the Smile: Stress and Unspoken Worries
Though known for his charm and playfulness, those closest to Jon-Erik said he had been feeling stressed and overwhelmed during the final weeks of his life. His girlfriend at the time, Elizabeth (E.G.) Daily, told The Sun:
“He was very stressed, more stressed than I remember him ever being… He just wanted things to move so quickly. And he was in such a rush that he didn’t even get to enjoy his life. The ambition itself is what actually killed him.”
Hexum also had a known fascination with guns, which made his Cover Up co-star Jennifer O’Neill uneasy especially since she had accidentally shot herself two years earlier at her home. She often asked him to be more cautious. According to author Douglas Snauffer, even the show’s producer Glen Larson claimed that Hexum insisted on using the .44 Magnum, one of the most powerful handguns in the world, for authenticity.
Daily remembered him as someone “athletic, playful, and always acting like a big kid.” She added:
“He was very accident-prone anyway, always getting a cut or a scrape. So when I heard he got hurt, I never thought it would have been life-threatening, not in a million years.”
A Career Cut Tragically Short
Before his death, Jon-Erik Hexum had shown great promise. He starred as Phineas Bogg in NBC’s Voyagers!, appeared in The Bear alongside Gary Busey, and played a lead role opposite Joan Collins in Making of a Male Model. In Cover Up, he was just beginning to break into the mainstream, showing the kind of on-screen charisma that could’ve made him a major Hollywood star.
After Hexum’s death, Cover Up continued for just 14 more episodes before being canceled.
Though his career lasted only a few short years, Jon-Erik Hexum left behind a legacy of talent, heart, and kindness, and through organ donation, quite literally saved lives even in death.
Remembering Jon-Erik Hexum
Beyond the headlines, Jon-Erik Hexum was more than just a handsome face. He was deeply curious, philosophical, and warm-hearted. Friends and coworkers often described him as intelligent, generous, and kind, someone who took his craft seriously and never let fame get to his head.
His fanbase continues to honor his legacy, and photos of him, particularly from his modeling and Voyagers! days, remain widely shared across the internet.