List of films released posthumously


The following is a list of films released posthumously involving major cast or crew members who either died during production or before the film's release.

Directors

Screenwriters

A Perfect Gentleman, released just four days after Charles T. Horan's death from a heart attack.King Kong, released a year after Edgar Wallace's death due to complications from diabetes.Gone with the Wind, released nearly four months after Sidney Howard's death in a tractor accident. He won the 1939 Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay for Gone with the Wind, the first time a posthumous nominee for any Oscar won the award.The Shepherd of the Hills, released nearly eight months after Grover Jones's death.The Night of the Hunter, released four months after James Agee's death from a heart attack.Beach Party, released 15 days after Lou Rusoff's death from brain cancer.The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, released two years after Guy Trosper's death from a heart attack.The Legend of Lylah Clare, released seven months after co-writer Hugo Butler's death from a heart attack.The Manitou, released three months after William Girdler's death in a helicopter crash.The Buddy Holly Story, released two days after Robert Gittler's suicide.Arabian Adventure, released almost nine months after Brian Hayles' death at the age of 48.The Empire Strikes Back, released over two years after Leigh Brackett's death from cancer.

Producers

Zudora, a 20-part serial whose first installment was released just over three months after producer Charles J. Hite's death in an automobile accident.The Viking, given its public release over three months after producer Varick Frissell's death in an explosion, along with 26 other crew members, on board the SS Viking; the film, shot on location in Newfoundland by co-directors George Melford and Frissell in the winter of 1930–31, had been nominally complete when Frissell screened it privately at the Nickel Theatre at St. John's, [Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's] on March 5, 1931, but the producer came away feeling it needed more sensational and realistic footage from the Labrador ice floes. Within days, Frissell and his crew re-joined the SS Viking for its annual seal hunt to shoot more footage; however, the ship quickly became trapped in ice about off the Horse Islands. On March 15, 1931, while trying to film an iceberg, Frissell, cinematographer Alexander Gustavus Penrod, and 25 other film crew members were killed when a cache of dynamite loaded on the vessel, being used for Frissell's film to add to the sensationalism of giant explosions of icebergs, spontaneously blew up, destroying the back of the ship, blowing the stern off the vessel, and causing the Viking to catch fire and sink. The film that had been screened at the Nickel Theatre was subsequently polished and prepared for release by associate producer Roy W. Gates, who directed a prologue featuring Newfoundland explorer Sir Wilfred Grenfell, who had known and worked with Frissell, lionizing the producer and the men who had died with him. A French-language version of the film, Ceux du "Viking", shot simultaneously with Melford's English-language version by French director René Ginet and also produced by Frissell and featuring his nature footage, was released in February 1932, 11 months after Frissell's death.Marie Antoinette, released nearly two years after Irving Thalberg's death from pneumonia.The Lamp Still Burns, released over six months after Leslie Howard's death in a plane crash.The Naked City, released over two months after producer and narrator Mark Hellinger's death from a sudden heart attack; after Hellinger's death, executives at Universal Studios were ready to scrap the film, as they had no idea how to market it, and feared it would be a box office failure. Hellinger's widow, however, reminded the studio that Hellinger's contract for the film included a "guarantee of release" clause from Universal; having no choice, Universal released the film into theaters, and were subsequently surprised when it became a hit, garnering two Oscars for the studio.Apache Drums, released less than a month after producer Val Lewton's death from two massive heart attacks, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.Smiley, released over five months after Alexander Korda's death from a heart attack.Ben-Hur, released over a year after Sam Zimbalist's death from a heart attack, whilst shooting in Rome.Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man, released two months after Jerry Wald's death.Monkeys, Go Home!, Scrooge McDuck and Money, The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, The Happiest Millionaire, The Gnome-Mobile, The Jungle Book, Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar, and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, all released after Walt Disney's death.Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? and With Six You Get Eggroll, both released after Martin Melcher's death.The Only Game in Town, released two months after Fred Kohlmar's death.The Manitou, released three months after William Girdler's death in a helicopter crash.Mr. North, released a year after John Huston's death.

Composers and lyricists

El día que me quieras and Tango Bar, both released after Carlos Gardel's death in an airplane crash.The Army Mascot, Bambi, Saludos Amigos, Sky Trooper, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and Peter Pan, all released after Frank Churchill's death from suicide.Jungle Jive, released nearly three months after Bob Zurke's death from complications of neumonia.Big Jack, released two months after Herbert Stothart's death from cancer.Omar Khayyam, released over eight months after Victor Young's death.The Jet Cage, released five months after Milt Franklyn's death. As a result of his death, the remaining score was finished by William Lava.The Incredible Journey, following Oliver Wallace's death.Airport, released less than a month after Alfred Newman's death.Taxi Driver and Obsession, both released after Bernard Herrmann's death in December 1975.Funeral Home, released eight months after Jerry Fielding's death from a heart attack.Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Belle's Magical World, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, Waking Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Howard, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid, all released after Howard Ashman's death.Man Trouble and Rich in Love, both following Georges Delerue's deathLarger Than Life and 'Til There Was You, both following Miles Goodman's death.Against the Ropes, Boo, Zino & the Snurks and First Daughter, both released a year after Michael Kamen's death.Vadakkumnathan and Kalabham, both released a year after Raveendran's death.Black Christmas, released one month after Shirley Walker's death from a stroke.Behind the Candelabra, released nine months after Marvin Hamlisch's death.The 33, Southpaw and The Magnificent Seven, all released after James Horner's death from a plane crash.Mary Magdalene released a few weeks after Jóhann Jóhannsson's death.West Side Story and Merrily We Roll Along, both released after Stephen Sondheim's death.Nuclear Now, We Are Stardust and Beyond, Ode to the Earth, all released after Vangelis' death.Wonderwell, released six months after Angelo Badalamenti's death.Killers of the Flower Moon released two months after Robbie Robertson's death, although the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival three months before his death.The Inheritance of Flora released two years after Diego Bertie's death from a fall from the 14th floor of the building, with an original song as a main theme.

Actors and actresses

In several cases, actors or actresses have died prior to the release of a film: either during filming or after it has been completed, but is yet to be released. In the case that the actor dies during filming, their scenes are often completed by stunt doubles, or through special effects. Only people who actually appear in some capacity in a posthumously released film are listed here. Those who were scheduled to start a project, but died before filming began, are not included.

1910s

A Dash Through the Clouds, released just 23 days after aviator and actor Philip Orin Parmelee's death in a plane crash; he was piloting an airplane at an air show in Yakima, Washington, on June 1, 1912, at altitudes variously described from 400 to 2,000 feet, when air turbulence flipped over his airplane and caused it to crash, killing him instantly.A Woman's Way, In the Haunts of Fear, and The Blight, all released after Joseph Graybill's death at the age of 26—strangely, different records state conflicting information as to the cause of Graybill's death; the Internet Movie Database lists it as acute spinal meningitis, and the first death notice in the New York Times contradicts the death certificate as to the day of death—it lists the cause of death on August 2, not the 3, as a nervous breakdown—but an obituary on August 4 lists the cause as gastritis. Contradicting all of these, a 1913 Motion Picture Story magazine article states that he had a "nervous disorder of the optic nerve and died". Finally, Graybill's death certificate states that the cause of death was acute pachymeningitis and a contributory factor was alcohol poisoning; both the certificate and the first death notice note he entered Bellevue Hospital on July 24.Across the Border, released over a month after Grace McHugh's death during filming; while on location on the Arkansas River in Colorado, re-shooting a scene of McHugh fording the river on horseback, her horse lost its footing, and the actress was thrown into the swift current. Cinematographer Owen Carter stopped filming and plunged into the river to save her; together they succeeded in reaching a sandbar, which unfortunately proved to be quicksand, and they both drowned. Shooting of the picture was otherwise complete, and the film was released with the majority of Grace McHugh's work intact.The Great Romance, Shadows of Suspicion, and A Man of Honor, all released after Harold Lockwood's death in the 1918 flu pandemic; because he died before filming on Shadows of Suspicion was completed, changes were made to the script, and the film was completed using a double shot from behind to stand in for Lockwood.The Lone Star Ranger, Wolves of the Night, The Last of the Duanes, and The Spite Bride, all released after Lamar Johnstone's sudden death at age 34 from heart disease.Paid in Advance, released six days after William Stowell's death in a train accident, while scouting locations for Universal in the Belgian Congo.

1920s

The Skywayman, released just over a month after daredevil stunt flier and actor Ormer Locklear's death on the last day of filming; while shooting the finale by night, Locklear had to dive the plane, carrying himself and co-pilot Milton 'Skeets' Elliott, towards some oil derricks and appear to crash it. He forewarned the lighting crew to douse their lights when he got near the derricks, so that he could see to pull out of the dive; the lights remained full on, blinding him, and he crashed. The finished film showed this crash, and its aftermath, in gruesome detail.Everybody's Sweetheart, released less than a month after Olive Thomas' death, at the age of 25; on the night of September 5, 1920, Thomas and her husband, Jack Pickford, went out for a night of entertainment and partying at the famous bistros in the Montparnasse Quarter of Paris. Returning to their room in the Hotel Ritz around 3:00 am, Pickford either fell asleep or was outside the room for a final round of drugs. An intoxicated and tired Thomas accidentally ingested a large dose of a mercury bichloride liquid solution, which had been prescribed for her husband's chronic syphilis. Being liquid, it was supposed to be applied topically, not ingested. She had either thought the flask contained drinking water or sleeping pills; accounts vary. The label was in French, which may have added to the confusion. She screamed, "Oh, my God!", and Pickford ran to pick her up in his arms; however, it was too late, as she had already ingested a lethal dose. She was taken to the American Hospital in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, where she succumbed to the poison a few days later.Coincidence, released a year after Robert Harron's suicide; he fatally shot himself in the left lung with a revolver due to disappointment that director and mentor D.W. Griffith had passed him over for the starring role in Way Down East.Foolish Wives, released almost a year after Rudolph Christians' death from pneumonia; the German actor, father of Austrian stage and screen actress Mady Christians, was playing the central part of the cuckolded American envoy in Erich von Stroheim's film. As Christians died in the middle of production, von Stroheim was forced to bring in actor Robert Edeson to finish Christians' scenes.Wildness of Youth, released nearly two months after child star Bobby Connelly's death from bronchitis, brought on by a years-long battle with endocarditis and worsened by a heavy work schedule; Connelly was 13 years old. The Warrens of Virginia, almost a year after actress Martha Mansfield's death at the age of 24; on November 30, 1923, while working on the film on location in San Antonio, Texas, Mansfield was severely burned when a match, tossed by a cast member, ignited her Civil War costume of hoopskirts and flimsy ruffles. Mansfield was playing the role of Agatha Warren and had just finished her scenes and retired to a car when her clothing burst into flames. Her neck and face were saved when leading man Wilfred Lytell threw his heavy overcoat over her. The chauffeur of Mansfield's car was burned badly on his hands while trying to remove the burning clothing from the actress. The fire was put out, but she sustained substantial burns to her body. She was rushed to a Physicians and Surgeons Hospital in San Antonio, where she died in less than twenty-four hours; however, most of Mansfield's scenes had already been shot, so production on the film continued.Greed, released nearly a year after Frank Hayes' death from pneumonia.The Son of the Sheik, was publicly released a month following Rudolph Valentino's death from peritonitis, although the premiere was a month prior to Valentino's death.King of the Pack, released nearly four months after canine actor Peter the Great's death while protecting his master; an argument had broken out between owner Edward Faust and a friend of Faust's, culminating with Faust running back to his car while the friend came out of his house with a rifle—in the process, Peter leapt up to protect his master, and was shot in the neck, lingering for three more days before dying.The First Auto. Charles Emmett Mack died when a wagon struck his car broadside as he was driving to work. His co-star, Patsy Ruth Miller, had declined a ride because she was not needed for filming until later.The Wedding March, released a year after the deaths of both George Nichols and Hughie Mack.Two Masters, released nearly a month after Rex Cherryman's death from septic poisoning, which he contracted while sailing to France to read for a play in Paris; he died in Le Havre, France at age 31.The Rush Hour, released almost five months after Ward Crane's death from pneumonia, following an attack of pleurisy that sent him to a rest cure lodge at Saranac Lake, New York.Show Boat, released over three months after Ralph Yearsley's suicide.The Hottentot, The Argyle Case, and The Drake Case, all released after Gladys Brockwell's death in an automobile accident; the car, driven by her friend Thomas Brennan, went over an embankment on the Ventura Highway near Calabasas, and Brockwell, the passenger, ended up crushed beneath it. Brennan later said that a bit of dust had blown into his eye before the accident, temporarily blinding him. Seriously injured, Brockwell died a few days later in a Hollywood hospital from peritonitis; Brennan eventually recovered from his own injuries.

1930s

The Way of All Men, released just over three months after Anders Randolf's relapse and death following a kidney operation. Gentleman's Fate and The Sin Ship, both following Louis Wolheim's death.The Miracle Man, less than five months after Tyrone Power Sr.'s death. Power was in the midst of filming the title role in a remake of the 1919 film, but collapsed and died of a heart attack in the arms of his son, Tyrone Power Jr., while on the set; Power's part was taken up by Hobart Bosworth, but his work was not refilmed.Thirteen Women, released the night of Peg Entwistle's suicide by jumping off the Hollywood Sign.Tomorrow and Tomorrow, released over two months after Robert Ames' death from delirium tremens.I Cover the Waterfront, released just six days after Ernest Torrence's death following gall bladder surgery; while en route to Europe by ship, Torrence suffered an acute attack of gall stones, but after being rushed back to a New York City hospital, he died of complications following surgery.Tomalio, released over six months after Roscoe Arbuckle's death from a myocardial infarction.Wake Up and Dream, released just over a month after Russ Columbo's death in a shooting accident; the singer was shot under peculiar circumstances by his longtime friend, photographer Lansing Brown, while Columbo was visiting him at home. Brown had a collection of firearms and the two men were examining various pieces. Quoting Brown's description of the accident, "I was absent-mindedly fooling around with one of the guns. '' I had a match in my hand and when I clicked, apparently the match caught in between the hammer and the firing pin. There was an explosion. Russ slid to the side of his chair." The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo above the left eye. Surgeons at Good Samaritan Hospital made an unsuccessful attempt to remove the ball from Columbo's brain; he died less than six hours after the shooting. Columbo's death was ruled an accident, and Brown exonerated from blame.Jew Suss, released six months after Gerald du Maurier's death from colon cancer.El día que me quieras and Tango Bar, both released after Carlos Gardel's death in an airplane crash.Steamboat Round the Bend and In Old Kentucky, both released months after Will Rogers' death in an airplane crash; while being flown through Alaska by famed aviator Wiley Post, they became uncertain of their position in bad weather and landed in a lagoon to ask directions. On takeoff, the engine failed at low altitude, and the aircraft, uncontrollably nose-heavy at low speed, plunged into the lagoon, shearing off the right wing and ending inverted in the shallow water of the lagoon; both men died instantly.The Prisoner of Shark Island, released fifteen days after O.P. Heggie's death from pneumonia.The Last Four on Santa Cruz, released nineteen days after Max Schreck’s death from a heart attackFrankie and Johnnie, released over two years after Lilyan Tashman's death from abdominal cancer.Counterfeit and Poppy, both released just two months after character actor Tammany Young's death from a heart attack.The Devil-Doll and China Clipper, both released after Henry B. Walthall's death from influenza and a nervous condition.Saratoga, following Jean Harlow's death, with 90% of filming completed; a body double and two voice doubles completed the filming in Harlow's role.Rikas tyttö'', released less than two months after Finnish actress Sirkka Sari's death; Sari played the lead role in the film. At a party with the rest of the cast and crew, while shooting at the Aulanko Hotel, Sari and one of the men there went up to the roof of the hotel; on the flat roof, there was a several-feet high chimney, with a ladder leading up to the top. Sari mistook this chimney for a scenery balcony, climbed up, and fell into a heating boiler, where she died instantly. Because of Sari's death, the end of the film needed to be changed a bit; the crew shot further away, and so another woman had to replace Sari on these final shots. It was only Sari's third film; she was 19 years old.

1940s

  • The Great Awakening, released one month after Barnett Parker's death from a heart attack.To Be or Not to Be, released one month after Carole Lombard's death in a plane crash.Pluto Junior, released a year after Lee Millar's death.Above Suspicion, released one month after Conrad Veidt's death from a heart attack.The Masked Marvel, released two months after David Bacon's mysterious death; he was seen driving a car erratically in Santa Monica, California before running off the road and into the curb. Several witnesses saw him climb out of the car and stagger briefly before collapsing. As they approached, he asked them to help him, but he died before he could say anything more. A small knife wound was found in his back – the blade had punctured his lung and caused his death. When he died, Bacon was wearing only a swimsuit, and a wallet and camera were found in his car. The film from the camera was developed and found to contain only one image, that of Bacon, nude and smiling on a beach.Captain America, whose later segments arrived at theatres following Dick Purcell's death from a heart attack, just a few weeks after shooting had wrapped.Alaska, She Snoops to Conquer, Off Again, on Again, Diamond Horseshoe, Nob Hill and Incendiary Blonde, both released after Bud Jamison's death from mesenteric thrombosis.Hangover Square, two months after Laird Cregar's death, due to complications from stomach surgery following a crash diet that included prescribed amphetamines.The Bashful Buzzard, released one year after Kent Rogers' death in a training flight accident during World War II.House of Horrors, The Brute Man, and The Spider Woman Strikes Back, all released after Rondo Hatton's death from a heart attack, due to his acromegaly.Lost City of the Jungle, following Lionel Atwill's death, from pneumonia caused by poor health due to lung cancer, while filming this serial; Atwill was playing the mastermind villain, Sir Eric Hazarias, a chief foreign spy. Universal could not afford to throw out the footage already filmed, so they were forced to adapt the serial: Firstly, another villain was introduced as the boss of Atwill's character to take over most of the villain requirements of the film; secondly, a double of Atwill was used to complete his remaining scenes. The double was filmed from behind and remained silent. The villain's henchmen were filmed repeating their orders back to the silent double and stock footage of Atwill was edited in to show a response.The Walls Came Tumbling Down and The Imperfect Lady, both released after Miles Mander's death from a heart attack.The Naked City, released over two months after producer and narrator Mark Hellinger's death from a sudden heart attack; after Hellinger's death, executives at Universal Studios were ready to scrap the film, as they had no idea how to market it, and feared it would be a box office failure. Hellinger's widow, however, reminded the studio that Hellinger's contract for the film included a "guarantee of release" clause from Universal; having no choice, Universal released the film into theaters, and were subsequently surprised when it became a hit, garnering two Oscars for the studio.The Return of October, released nearly seven months after May Whitty's death from cancer.Noose and Brass Monkey, both released after Carole Landis' suicide; Landis was reportedly crushed when her lover, actor Rex Harrison, refused to divorce his wife, Lilli Palmer, for her. She took an overdose of Seconal at her Pacific Palisades home. She had spent her final night with Harrison. The next afternoon, he and the maid discovered her on the bathroom floor. Harrison waited several hours before he called a doctor and the police. According to some sources, Landis left two suicide notes; one for her mother, and the second for Harrison, who instructed his lawyers to destroy it. During a coroner's inquest, Harrison denied knowing any motive for her suicide and told the coroner he did not know of the existence of a second suicide note.Red River and So Dear to My Heart, both released after Harry Carey's death from a combination of lung cancer, emphysema, and coronary thrombosis in 1947; both films had been delayed due to lengthy post-production problems, including the addition of several animated sequences to the latter, a Disney film.Little Women, released nearly four months after C. Aubrey Smith's death from pneumonia.

1950s

Riding High, released over nine months after Harry Davenport's death from a heart attack. The Furies, which premiered in Tucson, Arizona, over three months after Walter Huston's death from an aortic aneurysm.The Chump Champ, released two months after Frank Graham's suicide.Morris the Midget Moose and Alice in Wonderland, both released after the death of Dink Trout, who voiced the King of Hearts in the latter film. The latter film was also released two months after the death of Larry Grey, who voiced Bill the Lizard and a card painter.My Son John, released eight months after Robert Walker's death, from an allergic reaction to sodium amytal given to him by his psychiatrist. Because Walker died in the middle of production, parts of the film were heavily rewritten; several scenes use a double shot from behind, and others recycle footage of Walker from Strangers on a Train. The final scene, where a recording of John delivers an anti-Communist speech, is lit with a halo around the tape-recorder.The Golden Blade and Socko in Morocco, both released after Harry E. Lang's death from a heart attack.Here Come the Girls, released nine days after Millard Mitchell's death from lung cancer.All the Brothers Were Valiant, released three months after Lewis Stone's death from a heart attack.World for Ransom, released over three months after Nigel Bruce's death from a heart attack.Return to Treasure Island, released over eight months after Porter Hall's death from a heart attack.Sign of the Pagan, released over a month after Moroni Olsen's death.East of Eden, released over six months after Harry Cording's death.Jail Busters and Dig That Uranium, both released after Bernard Gorcey's death from a traffic collision.Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, both following James Dean's death in an automobile accident in September 1955, just days after filming on the latter was completed; due to his trademark mumbling rendering him inaudible on his final scene of the film, his speech in that scene was overdubbed by his friend Nick Adams after his death. Dean received a posthumous Best Actor Oscar nomination for his work on Giant.Lady Godiva of Coventry, released eight months after Alec Harford's death.Husbands Beware, Creeps, Flagpole Jitters and For Crimin' Out Loud, both released after Shemp Howard's death from a heart attack. The next four Three Stooges shorts were released using archive footage of Shemp from previous shorts.The Great Locomotive Chase, released one year after Robert Kent's death from coronary arteriosclerosis.High Society, released two months after Louis Calhern's death from a heart attack.The Ambassador's Daughter and Miami Exposé, both released after Edward Arnold's death from an intracerebral hemorrhage.The Vagabond King, released a year after Walter Hampden's death from a stroke.Around the World in 80 Days, released almost seven months after Robert Newton's death from a heart attack, brought on by chronic alcoholism.Our Mr. Sun, released over two years after Lionel Barrymore's death from a heart attack.How to Murder a Rich Uncle, released one month after Katie Johnson's death.Jeanne Eagels, released over four months after Gene Lockhart's death from a coronary thrombosis.Boyhood Daze, released a year after Marian Richman's death.Pablo y Carolina, Tizoc and Escuela de rateros, both released after Pedro Infante's death in a plane crash.Paul Bunyan and Sleeping Beauty, both released after Bob Amsberry's death in a car accident.Kathy O' and Onionhead, both released after Ainslie Pryor's death from cancer.Born Reckless, The Buccaneer and Gidget, all released after Ed Hinton's death in a plane crash.The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, released six months after Robert Donat's death.Invisible Invaders, released nearly four months after Philip Tonge's death.The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock and The World of Abbott and Costello, both released after Lou Costello's death.Plan 9 from Outer Space, released nearly three years after Bela Lugosi's death. He died having filmed two minutes of footage. This footage, not shot for Plan 9, but for two separate, unfinished Ed Wood projects, was combined and then inter-cut with new footage featuring a double, Tom Mason, who looked nothing like Lugosi, to put a credit for Lugosi on the picture.Solomon and Sheba, following Tyrone Power's death of a sudden heart attack; having completed 75% of the required shooting, Power's death forced the production to recast the role with Yul Brynner and reshoot most of Power's scenes. Footage of Power, however, was retained for long shots, such as in the sword fighting sequence toward the end of the film, and reels featuring the rest of Power's performance are rumored to be kept locked away in vaults to this day.Cuban Rebel Girls, released two months after Errol Flynn's death from a heart attack.

1960s

Once More, with Feeling!, released five months after Kay Kendall's death from leukemia.Person to Bunny, released five months after Arthur Q. Bryan's death from a heart attack.The Sins of Rachel Cade, released four months after Douglas Spencer's death from complications of diabetes.101 Dalmatians, released three months after Basil Ruysdael's death from complications following surgery.The Misfits, released on what would have been Clark Gable's 60th birthday; he suffered a heart attack two days after filming ended and died ten days later, on November 16, 1960.The Big Gamble, released over seven months after Gregory Ratoff's death.The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, released nearly a year after Ernest Thesiger's death.Advise & Consent, where, appearing in two scenes as Senator McCafferty, who whenever awakened from a deep sleep automatically responds "Opposed, sir! Opposed!", was 87-year-old Henry F. Ashurst, one of the first senators elected by the state of Arizona and served five terms. Ashurst died on May 31, 1962, a week before the film's premiere.Merrill's Marauders, released nearly a year after Jeff Chandler's death from pneumonia.That Touch of Mink, released about eight months after Jack Livesey's death from an aneurysm.Billy Rose's Jumbo and The Slime People, both released after Robert Burton's death from cancer.Papa's Delicate Condition, released five months after Bob Hopkins's death.From Russia with Love, released nearly four months after Pedro Armendáriz's suicide, following a long development of cancer that turned terminal during filming.The Thrill of It All and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, both following Zasu Pitts' death from cancer; the latter film was also released nearly seven months after Don C. Harvey's death.McLintock!, released five months after Gordon Jones's death from a heart attack.The Incredible Mr. Limpet, released nearly five months after Larry Keating's death from leukemia.A Tiger Walks, released just over three months after Sabu Dastagir's sudden death from a heart attackThe Carpetbaggers, released about ten weeks after Alan Ladd's death.Muscle Beach Party and The Patsy, both released after Peter Lorre's death from a stroke.My Fair Lady, released nearly a year after Henry Daniell's death of a myocardial infarction.The Pumpkin Eater, released three months after Cedric Hardwicke's death from emphysema.Young Fury, released about two months after William Bendix's death from lobar pneumonia.The Satan Bug, released over two months after John Larkin's death.Cat Ballou, released four months after Nat King Cole's death from lung cancer.Fluffy, released eight months after Sammee Tong's death.The Greatest Story Ever Told, released fifteen months after Joseph Schildkraut's death.Hercules and the Princess of Troy, released a month after Everett Sloane's death.Uncle Tom's Cabin, released in West Germany two months after John Kitzmiller's death.The Ugly Dachshund, released ten months after Dick Wessel's death from a heart attack.Madame X, released eight months after Constance Bennett's death from a hemorrhagic stroke.The Glass Bottom Boat, released three months after Alice Pearce's death from ovarian cancer.The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming and Incubus, both released after Milos Milos' suicide in January 1966; the latter film was released just twelve days after Milos' co-star, Ann Atmar, also committed suicide.A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, released over eight months after Buster Keaton's death from lung cancer.Manos: The Hands of Fate, released a month after John Reynolds' suicide; it was the only film appearance of Reynolds, who played the infamous character Torgo in the film.The Defector, released in the United States nearly four months after Montgomery Clift's death from a heart attack.Casino Royale, released less than a month after Duncan Macrae's death.The War Wagon, The Reluctant Astronaut, The Last Challenge and The Shakiest Gun in the West, all released after Frank McGrath's death from a heart attack.The Gnome-Mobile, released over a year after Ed Wynn's death from throat cancer.The Tiger Makes Out, released about six months after Roland Wood's death.Who's Minding the Mint?, released nine months after David J. Stewart's death.The Jungle Book, released over ten months after Verna Felton's death from a stroke; Felton had voiced Colonel Hathi's wife, Winifred the elephant, in the film.
  • * The film's producer, Walt Disney, died the day after Felton.Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, released six months after Spencer Tracy's death from a heart attack and emphysema. Tracy died only seventeen days after filming wrapped, and was in failing health during the shoot – the filming schedule was altered to accommodate him. All of Tracy's scenes were filmed between 9:00 AM and noon of each day in order to give him adequate time to rest. For example, most of Tracy's dialogue scenes were filmed in such a way that during close-ups on other characters, a stand-in was substituted for him. Tracy posthumously received his ninth Oscar nomination for his work on the film.The Young Girls of Rochefort and Billion Dollar Brain, both released after Françoise Dorléac's death at the age of 25; the older sister of French actress Catherine Deneuve died when she lost control of the rented Renault 10 she was driving and hit a sign post ten kilometers from Nice at the end of the Esterel-Côte d'Azur motorway. The car flipped over and burst into flames. Dorléac had been en route to Nice airport and was afraid of missing her flight. She was seen struggling to get out of the car, but was unable to open the door; police later identified her body only from the fragment of a cheque book, a diary, and her driving license. The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz and The Picasso Summer, both released after Theodore Marcuse's death.The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield and Single Room Furnished, both released a year after Jayne Mansfield's death from brain trauma sustained in an automobile crash; the latter film was shot in 1966, but had its release delayed for two years.Never a Dull Moment, released a year after Philip Coolidge's death.Fever Heat and Mission Mars, both released after Nick Adams' death from a drug overdose.The Bamboo Saucer, released four months after Dan Duryea's death from cancer.Autopsia de un fantasma, released over fifteen months after Basil Rathbone's death from a heart attack.Skidoo, released about four months following Phil Arnold's death from a heart attack; another cast member, Fred Clark, died only two weeks prior to the film's release.The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, released two weeks after Fred Clark's death.The Night They Raided Minsky's, released a year after Bert Lahr's death from pneumonia and undiagnosed terminal cancer; while working on the film, Lahr agreed to shoot an extensive night scene outdoors in New York City on a cold December night, causing him to develop the pneumonia that killed him. Due to his death occurring in the middle of production, his role was posthumously made smaller, and what footage needed to be reshot for scenes where Lahr had completed his close-ups employed burlesque legend Joey Faye, shot from behind, to fill in for Lahr.Once Upon a Time in the West, released seven months after Al Mulock's suicide; Mulock, a noted Canadian character actor, played the gunslinger Knuckles in the opening sequence. This sequence, the last filmed in Spain on the production, was scheduled for four days; Mulock committed suicide after the third day's shooting, for reasons that are still unclear, by jumping from his hotel room window, several floors up, in full costume. Production manager Claudio Mancini and screenwriter Mickey Knox, who were sitting in a room in the hotel, witnessed Mulock's body pass by their window. Knox recalled in an interview that while Mancini put Mulock, still in his costume, in his car to drive him to the hospital, director Sergio Leone said to Mancini, "Get the costume! We need the costume!" As Mulock had already shot most of his close-ups and a few medium and wide shots, only a double, of similar height and build, was needed to complete the sequence; looking similar enough to pass, screenwriter Knox was drafted into taking Mulock's place for those shots. Mulock's absence is obvious in the last few minutes of the sequence; while the other two gunslingers, played by Woody Strode and Jack Elam, get close-up reaction shots to Charles Bronson's character, Knuckles gets none before he is shot to death.The Wild Bunch, released over a year after Albert Dekker's death by autoerotic asphyxiation; Dekker had played Pat Harrigan, the unscrupulous railroad detective, in the film.The Thirteen Chairs, released in Italy two months after Sharon Tate's murder.The Comic, released a year after Pert Kelton's death from a heart attack.The Reivers and The Pursuit of Happiness, both following Ruth White's death from cancer; the former was also released almost a month after Roy Barcroft's death.

1970s

Skullduggery, released over nine months after Rhys Williams' death.Patton, released nearly three months after James Edwards' death from a heart attack.Myra Breckinridge, released three months after William Hopper's death from pneumonia.The Syndicate: A Death in the Family, released over five months after Eduardo Ciannelli's death.There Was a Crooked Man..., released over five months after Byron Foulger's death from heart problems.Rabbit, Run, released five months after Nydia Westman's death from cancer.Monte Walsh, released nearly 11 months after Roy Barcroft's death.Road to Salina, released in the U.S. nearly ten months after Ed Begley's death from a heart attack.Man of Violence and Underground, both released after Andreas Malandrinos' death.Golden Eagle, released a month after Mitr Chaibancha's death from a helicopter accident while filming the last scene in the film.Cold Turkey, released almost five months following Edward Everett Horton's death from cancer.Valdez Is Coming, released about ten months after Frank Silvera's death from electrocution.Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?, released three months following David Burns' death from a heart attack.The Blood on Satan's Claw, released a year after Patrick Wymark's death.Cauldron of Blood, Isle of the Snake People, The Incredible Invasion, Fear Chamber and House of Evil, both following Boris Karloff's death from emphysema.Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Support Your Local Gunfighter, both released posthumously two months following Roy Glenn's death from cardiovascular disease.The Last Child, released about three months after Van Heflin's death from a heart attack while swimming.Octaman, released nearly two months after Pier Angeli's death from a barbiturate overdose.The Ruling Class and Gawain and the Green Knight, the first released nearly four months, the second a year, after Nigel Green's death from an overdose of sleeping pills.Fuzz, released two months after Steve Ihnat's death from a heart attack.Endless Night and Psychomania, both following George Sanders' suicide.Soylent Green, released three months after Edward G. Robinson's death from bladder cancer; Robinson had died twelve days after shooting on the film wrapped.Bang the Drum Slowly, released about a month after Patrick McVey's death.The Exorcist, released following the deaths of Jack MacGowran and Vasiliki Maliaros. This was the latter's only film appearance.Enter the Dragon and Game of Death, both following Bruce Lee's death from cerebral edema, due to a severe allergic reaction to an Equagesic tablet; the latter was completed using several voice and body doubles throughout the film.The Outfit and Executive Action, both following Robert Ryan's death from lung cancer.Tales That Witness Madness, released three months after Jack Hawkins's death.Herbie Rides Again, released about a year after Alan Carney's death from a heart attack.The Mutations, The Abdication and Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks, all released after Michael Dunn's suicide in 1973.The Strongest Man in the World and The Rescuers, both released after Joe Flynn's death in 1974.Smoke in the Wind, released over six months after Walter Brennan's death from emphysema.Monty Python and the Holy Grail, released three months after Irish actress Bee Duffell's death; Duffell played the Old Crone whom King Arthur and Sir Bedevere shout "Ni!" at.Trial by Combat, released nine months after Margaret Leighton's death from multiple sclerosis.Rogue Male and The Littlest Horse Thieves, both released after Alastair Sim's death from lung cancer.Mr. Billion, released nearly seven months after William Redfield's death from leukemia.Nasty Habits, released five months after Edith Evans' death.Scott Joplin, released about a year after Godfrey Cambridge's death from a heart attack.The Mouse and His Child, released nine months after Andy Devine's death from leukemia.The Seniors, released a year after Alan Reed's death from a heart attack.Watership Down, released a year after Zero Mostel's death from an aortic aneurysm, following a respiratory disorder due to a nutritionally unsound diet he took in the last four months of his life.The Deer Hunter, released nearly nine months after John Cazale's death from lung cancer.The Mafu Cage and A Woman Called Moses, both released after Will Geer's death from respiratory insufficiency.Force 10 from Navarone and Avalanche Express, both following Robert Shaw's death from a heart attack, while on break from shooting Express; the role was completed with a double filmed from behind. Because Shaw was so ill during filming, his voice and delivery were subsequently very weak and shaky. After his death, his voice was dubbed by actor Robert Rietty, although impressionist Rich Little also dubbed three words near the end of the picture, and six words in Shaw's own voice were deemed usable.Last Embrace, released nearly five months after Lou Gilbert's death.The Muppet Movie released nine months after Edgar Bergen's death from kidney disease; he had died during the film's production, after filming his scene.Porridge, released five months after Richard Beckinsale's death.The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone and Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All, both released after Ted Cassidy's death following complications from heart surgery.

1980s

City in Fear and High Ice, both released after David Janssen's death from a heart attack.Brubaker, released just under a year after Richard Ward's death from a heart ailment.The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu, released less than a month after Peter Sellers' death from a heart attack. A second film, Trail of the Pink Panther, which went into production a year after his death in 1980, used deleted footage from The Pink Panther Strikes Again and various flashbacks to other previous films in the series to construct a "performance" from him.George and Mildred, released after the death of Yootha Joyce.The Secret of Nikola Tesla, released six weeks after Strother Martin's death from a heart attack.Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen and The Wall, both released after Rachel Roberts' death from a drug overdose.Under the Rainbow, released eight months after Leonard Barr's death from a stroke.Heavy Metal, released after Douglas Kenney's death from a fall in 1980. Douglas posthumously voiced a regolian.The Woman Inside, released two years after Joan Blondell's death from leukemia.They All Laughed, released exactly a year after Dorothy Stratten's murder by her estranged husband and manager, Paul Snider; he committed suicide the same day.Ghost Story, released four months after Melvyn Douglas' death. The Hot Touch, which also featured Douglas, was released over a year after his death.Reds, released following the deaths of the following "Witnesses": Roger Nash Baldwin; Andrew Dasburg; Will Durant; George Jessel; Isaac Don Levine; Arthur Mayer; and Henry Miller. Jessel would later have another posthumous release, The Other Side of the Wind.Barbarosa, released seven months after George Voskovec's death from a heart attack.My Body, My Child, released almost five months after Jack Albertson's death from colorectal cancer.Hey Good Lookin', released over a year after Frank de Kova's death from heart failure.Kamikaze 1989, released just over a month after Rainer Werner Fassbinder's death from heart failure, due to a lethal mixture of sleeping pills and cocaine.Blue Thunder and Tough Enough, both following Warren Oates' death.Twilight Zone: The Movie, following the deaths of Vic Morrow and Eduard Franz. The former died in a helicopter accident on the set, which also claimed the lives of two child co-stars.Yellowbeard and Slapstick of Another Kind, both following Marty Feldman's death in December 1982 from a sudden heart attack; his work on Yellowbeard had not yet been completed at the time of his death, and a stunt double, filmed later, was used to kill his character off and finish the role.Class and Grandview, U.S.A., both released after George Womack's death.

1990s

The Exorcist III, released two months after Barbara Baxley's death from cardiac arrest.The Sheltering Sky, released two months after Jill Bennett's death from a suicidal drug overdose.Down the Drain, released a year after John Matuszak's death from a drug overdose.Awakenings, released eight months after Dexter Gordon's death from kidney failure and laryngeal cancer.Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair and The End of Innocence, both released a year after Rebecca Schaeffer's murder.King of the Wind, released just over seven months after Anthony Quayle's death from hepatocellular carcinoma.Thieves of Fortune, released about five months after Lee Van Cleef's death from a heart attack.Jetsons: The Movie, released a year after George O'Hanlon's death from a stroke and Mel Blanc from emphysema and coronary artery disease in 1989; O'Hanlon and Blanc were, respectively, the voices of George Jetson and Mr. Spacely. Because they both died during production before finishing their recordings, Jeff Bergman had to fill in remaining lines for both characters.

2000s

An Extremely Goofy Movie, released four months after Paddi Edwards' death from respiratory failure.Two Family House, released a year after Richard B. Shull's death from a heart attack.Gladiator, following Oliver Reed's death; a body double, augmented by CGI, was used to complete Reed's scenes.Unbreakable, following Elizabeth Lawrence's death.Train Ride, following Esther Rolle's death in 1998.Sex and a Girl, released five months after David Dukes' death.Daddy and Them and Atlantis: The Lost Empire, both released a year after Jim Varney's death from complications of lung cancer. Because Varney died during production of the latter, Steven Barr recorded additional dialogue for Cookie.Osmosis Jones, released nine months after Joe C.'s death.Out Cold, released nine months after Lewis Arquette's death.Queen of the Damned, following Aaliyah's death from a plane crash in August 2001.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Kaena: The Prophecy, both released after Richard Harris' death from Hodgkin's lymphoma.Avenging Angelo, following Anthony Quinn's death.Pacino Is Missing, released three years after Dana Plato's death.Crime and Punishment, released four years after Patricia Hayes' death.Mail Order Bride, released two years after Michael Squicciarini's death.Anger Management, following Lynne Thigpen's death.House of 1000 Corpses, released in 2003 but filmed in 2000, following Dennis Fimple's death in 2002.Kill the Poor, released eight months after Cliff Gorman's death from leukemia.Out of the Ashes, Rambo and Rambo: Last Blood were released after Richard Crenna's death from heart failure.

2010s

2020s

First Cow and Cortex both released after René Auberjonois' death.Dil Bechara released a month after Sushant Singh Rajput's death from suicide by hanging.Bill & Ted Face the Music, released twelve years after George Carlin's death. The film used archival footage of Carlin from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure involving Rufus with Piotr Michael providing the character's voice.Son of the South and Long Day Journey, both released after Brian Dennehy's death from cardiac arrest due to sepsis.The Wolf of Snow Hollow and Grave Intentions, both released after Robert Forster's death from brain cancer.