Gladiator and Gangs of New York actor David Hemmings has died of a heart attack aged 62.
He suffered a coronary attack as he filmed what was his 77th acting role in movie in Romania on Wednesday.
Agent Liz Nelson said: "He had just finished his final shots of the day and was going back to his dressing room, as far as we know."
Paramedics on the scene tried to treat him but were unable to revive him.
The actor was known for his boyish good looks as a young man and in 1968 appeared alongside Jane Fonda in Barbarella and Vanessa Redgrave in Blowup, for which he will be best remembered.
The iconic film saw him play a groovy photographer - based on David Bailey - who believes he may have unwittingly photographed a dead man. Scenes in which he photographed a model were listed in Channel 4's 100 sexiest moments countdown.
He also had a successful career behind the camera directing 24 films and programmes for cinema and TV including the A-Team, Quantum Leap and Magnum PI. "People thought I was dead. But I wasn't. I was just directing The A-Team," he once remarked.
But he returned to on-screen work in 2000 playing Cassius in Ridley Scott's epic Gladiator and Mr Schermerhorn in Gangs of New York.
He has since been busy with a number of roles including playing the Governor alongside Vinnie Jones in Mean Machine and Last Orders, but was most recently seen in The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen alongside fellow veteran Sir Sean Connery.
Hemmings - who is survived by his third wife Lucy Williams - was working on a film called Samantha's Child.
"They´ll scramble jets from Washington to get this thing, won´t they Michael?" "They´ll try but Spaceguard´s too high for any conventional interceptor."
Very eerie!! I had been collecting the Airwolf series on DVD through Columbia House and had just recieved "Moffett's Ghost" in the mail a couple of weeks ago. I'll watch it again with remembrance of the great actor/director.
Yes its very sad i found out at 3pm while i was at work one of my colleagues was reading the news and announced it because i am the youngest at my workplace everyone assumed i did not know who he was when i mentioned Airwolf they all looked at me blankly. He was featured being interviwed on televison over here in the uk in a program called top 100 greatest sexy moments he was interviewed because the film Blow up was in the top 100, he looked in decent nick he made me laugh because just before the break before the top 10 was going to be shown he looked at the camera and said something along the lines of "I am the sexiest moment!" that was a nice memory
Rest in Peace David Hemmings/Charles Henry Moffet. My condolenses to his family.
Shadow of the Hawke (AIRWOLF): Archangel: Hell Hawke even if you where to give it Back, there´s no way in Hell the president would actually let us keep it!
I just saw him on Channel Four's "100 Greatest Sexy Moments" - I can't believe this! My condolences for his family and friends.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert McCall:"I removed the bug you planted, from the telephone in my bedroom, from the fireplace in my living room, and the lamp in my guest-room. Don´t waste anymore government money (!)"
The Pilot Episode of "The Equalizer" (CBS, 1985-1989)
I really can't believe this myself - it was great to see him back on the screens acting again after a period behind the lens. I can't believe he was also only 62 - that was really no age - look at Ernie - old as the hills!
As everybody has said here - I think all our thoughts are with his family and friends.
This is very sad news, I must say that I didn't expect him to die so soon! I had just posted a topic too about his great career improving with appearances in recent blockbusters. If there is ever another "Airwolf" movie now he won't be in it and he won't be able to give us interviews anymore either - one of my favorite actors/writers/directors is gone...
According to the IMDb, he was about to shoot a movie with John Malkovich! That's a real shame. I wonder too what they'll do for the movie he was currently working on...
This is truly a sad day. This is a gigantic loss to the acting world. David was always a wonderful actor, and he'll be missed ...
Sadly, another "Airwolf" alumni deceased to add to the already too long list ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am the real ´St. John Hawke´ from the old "Airwolf" Forum. I´m back ...
------------------------- Young Jack: Daniel, will you tell them who I am, please? Daniel: Okay, love to, who are you? ------------------------- Daniel: What´s going on? Young Jack: (yells) Daniel! Daniel: Sounds like him... at least, the loud, grating parts.
Season Seven´s Fragile Balance --------------------------------
Yeah, this is very sad news. Rest in Peace David Hemmings
------------------ But it`s written in the starlight And every line on your palm We`re fools to make war On our brothers in arms Dire Straits - `Brothers in Arms`
Hemmings had problems with alcohol (thus the weight gain in the 1990s) much in the same way as JMV, the only difference being his professionalism... he never brought it to the set from what I've read and was a true professional at all times. In later years he'd money problems too partially caused by all the kids from his first 3 marriages he had being put through college more-or-less at the same time. You usually also don't get a deep drawl in your voice like his without smoking heavily.
I also read that the one event in his life that affected him (apart from getting bored very easily) was in the early days in theatre when his father came back-stage and told him how bad an actor he was despite bringing the house down that particular evening. It has been widely reported over the years that this truly affected him for the rest of his life in that he always tried to prove his father wrong.
It was also strange that he died in almost exactly the same way as his buddy Oliver Reed -- in the middle of shooting a movie, at the end of a day's shoot.
All-in-all, like Oliver Reed, Hemmings had a very full and colourful life and if most of us have half the life experiences he had, then we'll be doing well. It's funny the legacy he's left me personally... I actually smile anytime my PC crashes or there's a power-cut as I say: "that's Moffett's Ghost again".
I just found out. The news hit me really hard; David Hemmings was always the AW cast member I most wanted to meet. My condolences to his family, he will be missed. I think I will watch the 'Pilot' tonight in his honour. Funny how it hasn't been on the TV news though......
David Hemmings- rest in peace.
"You think you can´t get hurt Doctor, because this is America; home of apple pie, and all that jazz? Well my job is to keep the apple pie on the table, and no-one asks me how I do it..." - Adam Chance, Agent for H.A.R.M
Funny how it hasn't been on the TV news though......
I saw it on CNN. So it has been on TV news. That's how I heard about it ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am the real ´St. John Hawke´ from the old "Airwolf" Forum. I´m back ...
I thought maybe i should do something, so even though I'm not religious I'm going to go to the cathedral where my gran works, light a candle and leave a prayer on the board. I'm also going to email Mark and Lard on Radio 1 and see if I can get them to read something out. I'll let you know how it goes.
"You think you can´t get hurt Doctor, because this is America; home of apple pie, and all that jazz? Well my job is to keep the apple pie on the table, and no-one asks me how I do it..." - Adam Chance, Agent for H.A.R.M
David Hemmings has died...
Posted - 12/04/2003 : 14:28:40
that was a nice memory 
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