JON-ERIK HEXUM
05 November 1957 ~ 18 October 1984
Biography*:
Jon-Erik Hexum was born to Norwegian immigrants, Thor and Gretha, on
November 5, 1957 in Tenafly, NJ. His father abandoned the family when
Jon-Erik was four so his mother single-handedly raised him and his older
brother, Gunnar.
At Tenafly High School (Class of 76), Jon-Erik played the horn and later
the violin in the orchestra, the organ in church for two years and the piano
since age 9. He was also senior class president and the first guy in the
school's history to become a cheerleader.
Jon-Erik attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, for a
year before transferring to Michigan State University (graduated 5/80, BA
in Social Science). At MSU, he studied bio-medical engineering but a year
into it, switched to philosophy. He also played football and spent his nights
deejaying as "Yukon Jack" at six local radio stations. He did odd jobs in
New York until he was "discovered" by John Travolta's manager, Bob LeMond.
Filmography*:
-
"Voyagers!" (TV series, 1982) ... Phineas Bogg
-
" Hotel" - Tomorrows (TV episode, 1983) ... Prince Erik
-
The Making of a Male Model (1983) ... Tyler Burnett
-
The Bear (1984) ... Pat Trammell
-
"Cover Up" (TV series, 1984) ... Mac Harper
According to Bob LeMond, "There's no denying his looks but everyone under
25 is gorgeous these days. Managers don't handle many people, so you go with
people you believe will be stars. Jon-Erik has what I call star energy."
Boy, did he ever! Jon-Erik have "the look" - 6'1", 190-lb. physique,
a chiseled jawline, stunning Adriatic blue eyes, deeply resonant voice, and
brawny, well-contoured muscles - what woman doesn't remember the first time
she gazed into those incredible blue eyes and feel hopelessly in love?
Despite his good looks, Jon-Erik was no airhead. He was a man of tenacious
ambition. He turned down CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard, Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers, the Broadway hit Fifth of July and
countless daytime soaps. He left New York for California in September 1981,
four months later landing the role of Phineas Bogg on Voyagers!. In
October 1983, after a self-funded, self-promotion tour, Jon-Erik was cast
as Tyler Burnett in The Making of a Male Model opposite Joan Collins.
On landing the role of Mac Harper in Cover Up, he said, "I consider
myself phenomenally fortunate, but I kind of hoped for more creatively."
His scene in the movie The Bear with Gary Busey ended up on the cutting
room floor.
When his career began, Jon-Erik earned $10,000 a week for Voyagers!
and $50,000 for Male Model but saved his money to finance his film
production company. He didn't date much but the Hollywood rumor mill linked
him with Joan Collins, Emma Samms and various other stars. On the other hand,
"underground" rumors spread like wildfire that Jon-Erik was gay. Instead
of getting angry, he played along. "I don't care if people think I date a
lot or a little, if they think I'm gay or if they think I'm aborigine. Who
gives a s***! I would rather people didn't think I was gay but I don't 'rather'
it a whole lot. It doesn't upset me a whole lot, and I've been to gay bars
with friends and I don't worry about it..."
When asked if he was anxious to become a big star, Jon-Erik replied, "I don't
have any perverted desire about fame. I don't think about it much. What I
think about all the time is the quality of my work - I have a lot of anxiety
about that. I'm real unhappy with a lot of things about Cover Up,
but I'm sure that a lot of people at Exxon are unhappy with the way that
company is run ... but I'm wildly appreciative to be here."
Who would imagine a month later, he would be gone?
A Tragic End*:
Jon-Erik Hexum had a bright career ahead of him until October 12, 1984.
Filming on Cover Up had been delayed all day. The script called for
"Mac" to pretend to shoot "Dani's" assistant. Jon-Erik dozed off on the set
only to awaken to yet more delays. Bored and very frustrated, he put a .44
Magnum to his head, said, "Can you believe this crap?" and pulled the trigger.
The sight gag turned fatal. Although the gun was loaded with blanks, the
concussion from the wadding fractured his skull. After five hours of surgery,
Dr. David Ditsworth explained, "... the blast effect caused disruption of
the remainder of the brain. An injury of this magnitude is virtually always
fatal." Family and friends kept vigil for a week as Gretha arranged for her
son's organs to be donated. Jon-Erik Hexum was officially pronounced dead
on October 18, 1984, the day he was taken off life support.
We'll never know what would have been if Jon-Erik had lived. All that remains
are the memories.
*The narrative portion of this page is my own. The facts came from the November,
1984 Playgirl interview by Sue Russell,
The Internet Movie Database
and E! Online