Emmy Winner Dies After Falling Off Balcony On Set Of Tom Hanks Movie

Emmy award winning crew member James Emswiller has died after falling from a balcony on the set of Tom Hanks’ upcoming Mr. Rogers movie

Mr. Emswiller, who had been a member of the sound crew, had been taking a cigarette break on a second-storey balcony when it is believed he suffered a heart attack in Lebanon, PA.

TMZ have reported how other crew members had heard the sound of somebody falling from the balcony.

An on set nurse attempted to save Mr. Enswiller, but he was in full cardiac arrest by the time medics arrived to take him to UPMC Mercy Hospital. He was pronounced dead three hours later.

It has been reported Tom Hanks had been on set at the time of the tragedy, which occurred Thursday, October 11. The crew had been filming for You Are My Friend, a biopic of the life of iconic Pittsburgh resident Fred Rogers.

61-year-old Mr. Emswiller won an Emmy in 2015 for outstanding sound mixing for a limited series or a movie for the HBO series Bessie.

As reported by CBS Pittsburgh, witness at the scene, Vince Passerini, said:

All of a sudden all of these lights were just everywhere, and they started inching closer toward us shining into the bar, and I was like what is happening out there, and there was just people everywhere, people on the curb sitting,

We asked, what’s happening inside and they said they’re making a Mr. Rogers movie or something.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of James Emswiller at this difficult time.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.

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