As a seasoned actor with a knack for portraying characters that often meet untimely ends, Sean Bean has made a conscious effort to steer clear of roles where his character bites the dust prematurely. His decision to survive on-screen, after decades of playing the grim reaper’s favorite dance partner, is not only commendable but also a testament to his versatility as an actor.
Even the most renowned action stars, respected leading actresses, and tough-as-nails characters have their limits, don’t they? Although death scenes that are filled with drama can leave lasting impressions and keep viewers eagerly following the storyline, not every performer enjoys repeatedly portraying their character’s demise on set. For some, it becomes tiresome to be the one constantly sacrificing themselves. Others simply yearn for more autonomy when deciding the fate of their on-screen persona.
Regardless of the motive, some prominent actors have been adamant about preventing their characters from dying in significant films and series. Instead of attending filming sessions or signing a contract that allows for death scenes, they’ve chosen alternative paths. It’s fascinating to ponder how certain franchises could have evolved if these stars had successfully negotiated their immortal roles. We’ve all been moved by shocking deaths on screen that continue to spark debates long after the credits roll. Contemplating this hypothetical scenario is an entertaining exercise.
Here are 10 actors who did not want to have their characters die on screen.
10 Steven Seagal
Executive Decision (1996)
In many high-octane action films, Steven Seagal, recognized for his imposing persona and martial arts skills, often vanquishes numerous villains. However, contrary to this pattern, he found himself displeased when his character met an untimely end in the 1996 film, “Executive Decision.” He assumed the role of Lieutenant Colonel Austin Travis, sharing the screen with Kurt Russell and Halle Berry. The story revolved around a Special Forces team attempting to save passengers on a hijacked plane. Interestingly, Seagal’s character was positioned as a crucial figure in the film, but it was a clever misdirection since he is shown giving up his life before even boarding the aircraft.
Director Stuart Baird originally aimed to surprise viewers by killing off Steven Seagal’s character earlier than expected, and in a more gruesome manner. Initially, Seagal desired his character’s head to burst due to lack of cabin pressure, but he also caused tension on set by refusing to allow his character to die altogether. He stubbornly refused to film the death scene for several days. In fact, Seagal went so far as to lock himself in his trailer and refuse to come out until the death scene was re-written. It wasn’t until Baird reminded Seagal that he was violating the contract that the actor relented. Eventually, both parties reached a compromise by filming a less graphic death scene where Travis is pulled from the plane.
9 Rita Simons
EastEnders (1985 – Present)
For more than ten years, Rita Simons breathed life into the character of Roxy Mitchell on the popular BBC soap opera, “EastEnders.” She portrayed Roxy as both tough and glamorous from 2007 to 2017. Roxy, along with her sister Ronnie, played by Samantha Womack, was a key figure in many gripping storylines. As the series unfolded, the writers crafted a dramatic ending for the Mitchell sisters, having them drown in a pool after suffering a heart attack caused by a drug overdose. However, while viewers witnessed this tragic end for Ronnie, Roxy was mysteriously absent from the scene.
This is due to the fact that Simons felt unsatisfied by the choice to write off Roxy’s character. She thought there was still more potential for her character and that her death would rule out any possibility of her reappearing on EastEnders. However, as it turned out, in 2023, her character, Roxy, made a comeback during Amy’s therapy session for a short while. Simons later shared her dissatisfaction with this decision in an interview with The Sun.
A few days prior to shooting the last scene, a higher-up stopped me aside and shared, ‘Many people in charge have issues with this…’ They hinted, ‘If you hope to revive Roxy’s character someday, you must reject the death scene.’ In that moment, I acted as if I was holding my breath throughout the scene. If you revisit it online, you’ll notice I barely appear at all… Since I refused to let them film me jumping into the pool, no one witnessed my ‘drowning’.
8 Dennis Haysbert
24 (2001 – 2010)
In the popular action/spy series 24, the actor Dennis Haysbert, playing President David Palmer, symbolically bore the burden of American democracy. Being the first black president in the show’s fictional world, Palmer was a source of inspiration and strength for viewers, who closely followed his character development as well as his role in checking Jack Bauer’s aggressive strategies. However, it was a significant surprise when, in the opening episode of season 5, President Palmer was unexpectedly written out of the show. This plot twist was intended to intensify the series’ dramatic tension and leave fans reeling with shock.
Nevertheless, Haysbert firmly disagreed with this proposition, believing Palmer’s character was vital to the storyline of the show. His disapproval ran so deeply that it postponed the filming of that specific scene for several months. In a 2007 interview with Digital Spy, Haysbert expressed:
For several months straight, I held my ground and declined the offer. Eventually, one of my friends, who now oversees the show, was sent as a persuasive intermediary. He managed to convince me to participate since they needed to kick off the new season. They implied that without me, they wouldn’t be able to proceed… If given another chance, I would choose not to do it again.
7 Sarah Wayne Callies
Prison Break (2005 – 2017)
Sarah Wayne Callies played an impactful role as Sara Tancredi in Fox’s hit series, “Prison Break.” In her capacity as the prison doctor at Fox River State Penitentiary, Sara found herself deeply involved in Michael Scofield’s intricate escape plot, developing a complex romantic interest, and serving as a significant emotional foundation for the narrative. She was a recurring character throughout the first two seasons, and the showrunners intended for her to feature in numerous episodes during Season 3 before her character met a tragic end. However, Sarah, who was expecting a child at the time, objected to this decision.
There was a heated argument backstage between Sarah and Fox producer Matt Olmstead, who suggested that agreeing with the storyline might be beneficial for her. However, the disagreements ultimately resulted in Sarah choosing not to rejoin the show, leading the producers to conclude her character’s story by having Lincoln, Michael’s brother, discover Sara’s severed head in a box. This abrupt ending left many fans unhappy with the resolution, or lack thereof.
6 Queen Latifah
All of her Movies
Known for her unforgettable performances in numerous roles across comedy and drama, the esteemed actress Queen Latifah has captivated audiences throughout her illustrious career. Notably, she includes a special provision in her acting contracts – her characters are never allowed to meet their demise on screen. This fascinating tidbit was shared by Queen Latifah during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.
“You know, what happened at the beginning of my career… My characters died in the movies and apparently I died my ass off… I was like, ‘Wait a minute, if I keep dying in these movies, I can’t do a sequel.’… Henceforth, we kind of threw [the clause] in there… I was like, ‘No more dying. No more getting shot up by 300 bullets in this car.’”
The motivation behind this decision not only involves leaving an enduring positive impression on viewers and ensuring her characters’ legacies continue post-movies, but it also subtly hints at the possibility of future sequels. Though Queen Latifah doesn’t have many sequels under her belt, this approach has fostered imaginative storytelling in her films. For example, in “Last Holiday,” rather than ending tragically with Georgia’s terminal illness diagnosis, the movie unexpectedly reveals that she was misdiagnosed.
5 Ricky Jay
Deadwood (2004 – 2006)
Ricky Jay, a renowned magician and actor, pulled off an unforgettable performance during his stint on HBO’s gritty western series Deadwood. In this role as Eddie Sawyer, a sly and clever card player at the Bella Union Saloon, he frequently deceived and manipulated both allies and adversaries in the dangerous and cutthroat town. The show’s makers had planned a tragic demise for Eddie, intending to write him out in Season 2. However, upon learning this, Jay is said to have suffered a panic attack and retreated to his trailer, adamant that his character would not suffer such a fate.
What’s interesting is, Jay evaded his character’s fate simply by not showing up on the day the scene was to be shot. Matt Zoller Seitz’s recently released Deadwood Bible revealed that he only agreed to shoot the scene if the creators would agree to stage the scene as a stabbing rather than killing. They eventually agreed and crafted a narrative where Eddie escapes Deadwood, leaving his ending ambiguous. It was the one magic trick Deadwood could not have abandoned.
4 Jeremy Renner
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Jeremy Renner’s escapades within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hawkeye have garnered global recognition. Yet, it’s worth noting that he also played a significant role in the Mission: Impossible series. He made his debut in the franchise with Ghost Protocol, portraying IMF agent William Brandt, who was set to become a potential successor to Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise. However, during the production of Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Renner’s character seemed to be noticeably absent from the film. Initially, the plan was to open the movie with a scene depicting Brandt’s demise, but Renner declined this part.
The director of “Fallout,” Christopher McQuarrie, shared in an interview with Empire that the concept originated due to the fact that Renner was occupied with numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, yet he found time for a brief cameo in the film.
Originally, I envisioned that the movie would open with one of the team members dying in a self-sacrificing act… So I pitched this concept to Renner, suggesting an introductory scene where your character dies heroically to save the team, and in the process, we lose the plutonium and suffer the loss of another team member. However, Jeremy politely declined, realizing it wasn’t a wise decision to accept a small paycheck for just three days of work and a dramatic on-screen death.
3 Kristen Stewart
Scream 4 (2011)
As a die-hard fan of cinema, I can’t help but reminisce about the time when I, Kristen Stewart, was famously known for my portrayal of Bella Swan in the Twilight series. Just as I was wrapping up the final chapter of this epic saga, I received an intriguing offer – to step into the shoes of a character reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s iconic role in the original Scream. This role was designed to echo Barrymore’s chilling opening scene where her character met a tragic end. The part I was offered was merely a cameo, but it would serve as the launching pad for the movie, setting its eerie tone.
Stewart declined the role, admitting she couldn’t match Barrymore’s iconic portrayal. In an interview with Slant, she said, “I was like, ‘I can’t be a Drew. I can’t compete with that.’ Isn’t that clear? As a result, they expanded the part from a single victim to a larger sequence, and Kristen Bell and Anna Paquin were among the additional victims in Scream 4, maintaining the franchise’s knack for self-referential storytelling.
2 Colin Baker
Doctor Who (2005 – 2022)
During Colin Baker’s time as the Sixth Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’, from 1984 to 1986, events unfolded differently compared to other seasons. This period was characterized by controversy and a challenging production phase. There were debates about ending Baker’s tenure early to make way for Sylvester McCoy as the next Doctor, but Baker wasn’t prepared to relinquish his role just yet. He believed that another season of exploring captivating destinations was essential to fully wrap up his Doctor’s narrative arc.
The unwillingness of the actor, Baker, to collaborate forced the producers to shoot an unappealing scene depicting the Doctor’s demise/regeneration without him. Instead, they used McCoy, who wore a wig and attempted to mimic Baker, then changed his makeup and portrayed the Seventh Doctor.
1 Sean Bean
Everything After Game of Thrones
As a devoted cinephile, I must admit that Sean Bean has undeniably mastered the art of on-screen demise. Known for his exceptional talent in portraying characters, he has left an indelible mark in countless productions, from epic sagas like The Lord of the Rings to the captivating world of Game of Thrones. It’s fascinating to note that, across his illustrious career, Bean’s characters have met their untimely ends close to thirty times in films, television, and video games.
In a 2019 interview with The Sun, Bean revealed the reason behind his conscious decision.
In my case, I’ve chosen to step away from certain roles. I’ve made it clear that since my character is involved, the inevitable outcome is death. To maintain suspense and avoid predictability, I had to eliminate those scenes and focus on survival instead. There was one instance where I accepted a job, only to be told they intended to kill me off. My initial reaction was dread, but when they suggested injuring me severely instead, I agreed as long as my character would survive this time.
As a cinephile, I’ve deliberately steered clear of on-screen demises to dodge being stereotyped. Instead, I’ve embraced roles that offer depth and longevity, such as those in “The Oath” and the TV adaptation of “Snowpiercer”.
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2024-10-05 23:32