Jon-Erik Hexum (/ˈhÉ›ksÉ™m/; November 5, 1957 â€" October 18, 1984)
was an American actor, known for his lead roles in the TV series
Voyagers! and Cover Up, and his supporting role as Pat Trammell in the
biopic The Bear. He died by an accidental self-inflicted blank
cartridge gunshot to the head on the set of Cover Up.Hexum was born in
Englewood, New Jersey in 1957 to Gretha and Thorleif Hexum, who were
of Norwegian descent. He and his elder brother, Gunnar, were raised in
Tenafly, New Jersey, by their mother after their parents divorced when
Hexum was four. After graduating from Tenafly High School, Hexum went
on to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland to study biomedical
engineering. He soon left that university, however, and 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, the manager of John Travolta. 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, which was to be directed by Randal Kleiser. Though he lost the
part to Peter Gallagher, Hexum attracted the notice of Hollywood
powerbrokers, and in short time was cast in the lead role of Phineas
Bogg in the NBC series Voyagers!. Voyagers! aired during the 1982â€"83
television season, with Hexum's role earning him $10,000 a week. When
NBC wanted to replace the show with its own news magazine show Monitor
to compete against 60 Minutes on CBS however, Voyagers! was canceled
after one season. Hexum's good looks and charm kept him marketable,
however, and he was 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
ABC's prime time drama Hotel. He played Prince Erik, a Prince
Charming-type character who sweeps his Cinderella off her feet.
was an American actor, known for his lead roles in the TV series
Voyagers! and Cover Up, and his supporting role as Pat Trammell in the
biopic The Bear. He died by an accidental self-inflicted blank
cartridge gunshot to the head on the set of Cover Up.Hexum was born in
Englewood, New Jersey in 1957 to Gretha and Thorleif Hexum, who were
of Norwegian descent. He and his elder brother, Gunnar, were raised in
Tenafly, New Jersey, by their mother after their parents divorced when
Hexum was four. After graduating from Tenafly High School, Hexum went
on to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland to study biomedical
engineering. He soon left that university, however, and 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, the manager of John Travolta. 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, which was to be directed by Randal Kleiser. Though he lost the
part to Peter Gallagher, Hexum attracted the notice of Hollywood
powerbrokers, and in short time was cast in the lead role of Phineas
Bogg in the NBC series Voyagers!. Voyagers! aired during the 1982â€"83
television season, with Hexum's role earning him $10,000 a week. When
NBC wanted to replace the show with its own news magazine show Monitor
to compete against 60 Minutes on CBS however, Voyagers! was canceled
after one season. Hexum's good looks and charm kept him marketable,
however, and he was 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
ABC's prime time drama Hotel. He played Prince Erik, a Prince
Charming-type character who sweeps his Cinderella off her feet.
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