Actor Playing Judas Dies During Hanging Scene
An actor playing Judas in an Easter Passion play took his role just a bit too seriously:
(CNN) — A Brazilian actor died after accidentally hanging himself during the play “The Passion of the Christ,” a local hospital said.
Tiago Klimeck, 27, was one of the actors from a local theater company taking part in an independent production of the play April 6 in the city of Itarare.
Klimeck died Sunday after spending more than two weeks in a medically induced coma due to extensive brain injuries from a prolonged lack of oxygen after accidentally hanging himself, according to the Hospital Santa Casa de Misericordia, in the neighboring city of Itapeva.
The cause of death was not immediately available. Photos taken by a local photographer show the final moments of the play as Klimeck, in the role of Judas Iscariot, hangs himself as described in the Bible in the book of Matthew.
Klimeck wore a harness under his robe during the play, according to CNN affiliate TV Record.
Police investigator Jose Victor Bassetti told the news station this was the third year the local fire department let the theater company borrow the harness for the play and that Klimeck was not supervised because he knew how to use the equipment.
Apparently, he didn’t really know how to use it.
Obviously a devotee of the Lee Strasburg School of method acting.
Probably a good thing they didn’t go with the “bowels gushed out” version found in Acts….