Hollywood actor Christian Oliver - known for his roles in films like Speed Racer and Valkyrie - has died alongside his two young daughters and a pilot in a horror plane crash.
According to the Daily Mail, the 51-year-old actor - along with his two young daughters, Madita Klepser, 10, and Annik Klepser, 12 - were killed after the single-engine plane they were in - piloted by Robert Sachs - crashed into the sea. The incident occurred off the coast of the tiny Caribbean island of Bcquia, which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The ill-fated flight was en route to the neighboring island nation of St. Lucia, NBC News reports.
The devastating incident occurred shortly after the plane took off from Becquia, and local fishermen and divers rushed to the scene to assist before the Coast Guard could recover four bodies, all of whom were pronounced dead.
The bodies have been taken to a mortuary in St. Vincent, where post-mortems will be conducted to officially determine the cause of death.
Christian Oliver, originally from Frankfurt, Germany, was a well-known actor with a prolific career in both film and television.
He had played a detective in the long-running German TV series Alarm für Cobra 11 and had numerous other TV and film credits to his name. The actor had recently appeared in the latest installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Oliver's colleagues and friends have expressed their condolences and shared their memories of him. Actress Bai Ling, who was working with Oliver on the film Forever Hold Your Peace, paid tribute to him on Instagram, describing him as "a brave actor and a beautiful gentle person."
"Love to you Christian and your two beautiful daughters," Ling added.
Oliver had recently completed filming for Forever Hold Your Peace and was in the Caribbean with his daughters. He had posted a photo on social media just days before the crash, captioned: "Let love rule. Wishing all of you the best for 2024."
The movie's director, Nick Lyon, also paid tribute to Oliver, posting a picture on their last day of filming, writing: "We talked about producing a film together for years and finally did it! Thank you for being a great colleague, actor and friend."
Oliver's journey in the entertainment industry began when he moved to the United States at the age of 21. He quickly found success, landing roles in commercials and television shows like Saved by the Bell.
In a 2008 interview, he spoke fondly of his love for the American way of life, which he discovered during a year as an exchange student in North Carolina when he was 16.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, and the circumstances surrounding the accident remain a subject of inquiry.
Our thoughts are with Oliver's family, friends, and fans at this time, as well as anybody else impacted by this tragedy.
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