5 Stars Who Died in the Middle of Filming

And what became of their projects

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 9, 2014 6:54 AM CST

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5 Stars Who Died in the Middle of Filming — This March 21, 2013 file photo shows actor Paul Walker wearing a creation from the Colcci summer collection at Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

When he died, Philip Seymour Hoffman had just days of filming left to finish out his role in the Hunger Games trilogy. Filmmakers are considering digitally re-creating him in order to complete one crucial scene. Radar rounds up 10 more actors who were mid-project when they died:

Paul Walker: Was filming Fast & Furious 7 when he died; producers are writing his character out of the franchise.
John Ritter: Was the lead on TV series 8 Simple Rules when he died; David Spade and James Garner later took his place.
Heath Ledger: Was filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus when he died; filmmakers brought in other actors to play fantasy versions of his character.
Brandon Lee: He died while filming The Crow, when a prop gun was accidentally loaded with real bullets. The movie was completed using a stunt double and special effects.

Click for the complete list, including one actor who was in the middle of filming a movie—that then took 19 years to be released. (Read more Philip Seymour Hoffman stories.)