French actor Gaspard Ulliel passed away yesterday following complications after a skiing accident in the French Alps. The Moon Knight star was 37.
Per the Associated Press, Ulliel collided with another skier on Tuesday afternoon, which led to the fatal injury. Following an investigation by local police in Savoie, a statement was released saying that the actor was hit by another skier while attempting to cut across an intermediate slope, most likely to join friends on an adjoining slope. Both Ulliel and the other skier fell in the collision, and while the other person was unharmed, Ulliel remained unconscious when the rescue crew arrived. He was rushed to Grenoble University Hospital in critical condition, and was pronounced dead at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday after attempts to revive him failed.
Ulliel has a long and celebrated film history and is an extremely well known French actor. His first English-speaking role was in Paul Webber’s Hannibal Rising, but soon many viewers will come to know him as Midnight Man in Marvel’s new Moon Knight series. The show premieres on March 30, and will feature one of Ulliel’s final performances before his untimely passing.
Who is Midnight Man in Moon Knight?
Ulliel’s death marks the first time we’re hearing about Midnight Man featuring in the Moon Knight series, so we are only just discovering that this character will appear in the show at the same time as we learn of the death of the actor who plays him. Ulliel was not in the recently released trailer for Moon Knight, so we have yet to get our first glimpse of him in the role.
Anton Mogart aka Midnight Man is an accomplished art thief and recurring villain in the Moon Knight comics, whose m.o. is to steal rare works of art and jewels at exactly midnight. He doesn’t steal for the money, but simply to own these priceless artifacts. Midnight Man’s antics eventually lead him to cross paths with Moon Knight, who thwarts one of his heists and seemingly kills him. Midnight Man survives and holds a serious grudge; he becomes a longtime enemy of Moon Knight.
The tragic death of Gaspard Ulliel occurred barely two months before Moon Knight’s premiere. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels