Actors Involved in Real-Life Killings

Stories about actors sometimes spill far beyond sets and stages into tragic real-world events. Below are notable male actors whose lives intersected with killings—whether by conviction, civil liability after a criminal acquittal, fatal crashes, or historic assassination. Each entry focuses on clear, verifiable facts such as dates, charges, legal outcomes, and sentences. These cases range from 19th-century history to recent headlines.

John Wilkes Booth

A prominent 19th-century stage actor, John Wilkes Booth assassinated U.S. President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, and fled the scene through the theater’s back passageways. He evaded capture for nearly two weeks before being cornered and fatally shot on April 26, 1865. Booth’s act was part of a broader Confederate-sympathizer plot that also targeted the vice president and secretary of state. Historical records from Ford’s Theatre and the National Park Service document Booth’s actions and escape route in detail.

Spade Cooley

Western swing bandleader and film/TV personality Spade Cooley—who also acted in Hollywood westerns—was convicted of first-degree murder in 1961 for killing his wife, Ella Mae Cooley. Court records note the brutality of the attack and his subsequent life sentence. He suffered a fatal heart attack in 1969 shortly after performing at a sheriff-approved benefit while on a brief release. Multiple legal and archival sources outline the conviction and sentence.

Michael Jace

Best known for ‘The Shield’, Michael Jace was convicted in 2016 of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of his wife, April Jace, in Los Angeles. Jurors returned the guilty verdict after a trial that reviewed 911 recordings and forensic evidence. He received a sentence of 40 years to life in prison. Local court coverage at the time summarized the verdict and sentencing range.

Johnny Lewis

‘Sons of Anarchy’ actor Johnny Lewis killed his 81-year-old landlady, Catherine Davis, in September 2012, then died after falling from a roof at the scene. Authorities found evidence of a violent assault on Davis and noted Lewis’s fall occurred immediately afterward. Reports also documented his legal troubles and head injuries in the year prior. The coroner ruled his death accidental; toxicology did not find common illicit drugs.

Lane Garrison

‘Prison Break’ actor Lane Garrison pleaded guilty in 2007 to vehicular manslaughter and other charges stemming from a December 2006 DUI crash in Beverly Hills that killed a 17-year-old passenger. He also admitted to providing alcohol to minors before the crash. Garrison faced a maximum term of 6 years, 8 months and later served prison time before release on parole. Newswire coverage contemporaneous with the plea detailed the charges and penalties.

Matthew Broderick

On August 5, 1987, Matthew Broderick was involved in a head-on collision in Northern Ireland that killed two occupants of the other vehicle. He was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving but was convicted of the lesser offense of careless driving and fined. Broderick and passenger Jennifer Grey were injured but survived. Biographical and news summaries of the incident record the charge reduction and outcome.

Robert Blake

Actor Robert Blake was acquitted in March 2005 of the murder of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, who was fatally shot in 2001. Later that year, a civil jury found him liable for her wrongful death and awarded $30 million in damages (later reduced on appeal). Blake’s criminal acquittal and civil liability mirrored the differing standards of proof between the two systems. Legacy reporting and case roundups cover both verdicts.

O. J. Simpson

Known also for acting roles like the ‘Naked Gun’ films, O. J. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In 1997, a civil jury found him liable for their wrongful deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages. Major outlets have repeatedly summarized the split outcomes and subsequent developments, including coverage following his death in 2024.

Gig Young

Oscar-winning actor Gig Young and his wife, Kim Schmidt, were found dead in their Manhattan apartment on October 19, 1978; police determined Young had shot Schmidt and then himself. The murder-suicide occurred three weeks after their wedding. Contemporary accounts and later retrospectives detail the basic findings of the investigation and lack of a discovered note. Biographical records summarize the incident as the official determination.

Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle

Silent-era star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was accused in 1921 in connection with the death of actress Virginia Rappe and tried three times—resulting in a full acquittal in 1922, with jurors issuing a written apology. Despite the not-guilty verdict, the scandal effectively ended his mainstream career for years. Historical summaries and legal retrospectives cover the trials’ outcomes and the acquittal language. Encyclopedic entries on both Arbuckle and Rappe recount the case chronology.

Share your thoughts on these cases—and any others we should research—in the comments.