Actor Christian Oliver, known for “Speed Racer” and “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” is one of four people who died in a plane crash Thursday in the Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Caribbean police said. the Grenadines. He was 51 years old.
Police said in a statement shared on Facebook that the accident west of Petit Nevis off the coast of Bequia also claimed the lives of Oliver’s two daughters: Madita Klepser, 10, and Annik Klepser, 12. The pilot, Robert Sachs, also died.
The plane left JF Mitchell Airport in Bequia’s Paget Farm en route to St. Lucia, a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, at 12:11 p.m. local time, police said.
“Moments after taking off, the aircraft experienced difficulties and fell into the ocean,” authorities added. In a separate statement shared on Friday, police said they appreciate the efforts of Bequia fishermen and divers who worked with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard to recover the bodies.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, the Associated Press reported, and police launched an investigation. The four bodies were taken to Kingstown Mortuary, which will conduct “post-mortem examinations” to discover the causes of the victims’ deaths.
“The RSVGPF expresses its condolences to all those negatively affected by this tragic incident,” Thursday’s statement said. “The RSVGPF will update the public as more information is gathered.”
Days before his death, Oliver, who shared his daughters with his wife and Pilates instructor Jessica Klepser, celebrated the New Year on Instagram and shared a photo of a seaside sunset.
“Greetings from somewhere in paradise!” he wrote. “To community and love…2024 [here] we come !”
Christian Oliver, his wife Jessica Mazur and their daughters at the Los Angeles premiere of “Home” on March 22, 2015 in Westwood, California.
(Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Oliver, whose real name was Christian Klepser, was born in Germany and began his acting career playing Brian Keller, a transfer student from Switzerland, on NBC’s “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” according to IMDB. He has starred in several television series, including Prime Video’s “Hunters,” the CW’s “The Outpost,” and Netflix’s “Sense8.”
He also appeared in the films “Rattlesnakes,” “Animal Among Us,” “Valkyrie,” and “The Good German.” The video games “Medal of Honor: Underground” and “Call of Duty: WWII” also contributed to Oliver’s varied acting career. Before his death, Oliver was to appear in the film “Forever Hold Your Peace” and the short video “London Blue.”
In addition to acting, Oliver was a producer and writer. He served as a producer on the 2009 comedy “Ready or Not,” the 2018 horror adventure “The Outer Wild” and the 2020 miniseries “Abe,” among other titles.
