Jeffrey Hunter was a major star during the 1950s and 1960s, with the star landing leading roles in the likes of Star Trek and The Searchers.
His role in the iconic sci-fi series was only fleeting, with the actor deciding to film only the original pilot episode. He declined to continue with the series due to his budding film career, explaining: "I was asked to do it, but had I accepted, I would have been tied up much longer than I care to be.
"I have several things brewing now and they should be coming to a head in the next few weeks. I love doing motion pictures and expect to be as busy as I want to be in them."
His most famous film role came in 1956 when he starred as Martin Pawley in the Western epic The Searchers, appearing opposite John Wayne. However, he also appeared in Seven Angry Men, The Great Locomotive Chase and King of Kings, in which he played Jesus Christ.
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His final role came in the 1969 Spanish-Italian crime film ¡Viva América!. The actor would tragically die just months after filming was completed, and he was injured while on set. Here's what happened to the late actor…
How did Jeffrey Hunter die?
Jeffrey died at the age of 42 following an intracranial haemorrhage, which caused him to fall down the stairs. He left behind his wife, actress Emily McLaughlin, and four sons.
In the lead-up to his death, the actor was injured several times while filming movies. During shooting for ¡Viva América!, a prop window accidentally exploded inwardly instead of outwardly.
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Jeffrey was caught in the blast, sustaining a serious concussion. Things took a turn for the worse when the actor flew back home, with his wife saying that he went into "shock" and "could not speak". However, when he was assessed by doctors, they only found a displaced vertebra and a concussion.
Months later, while filming a movie in Spain, he was thrown against a train compartment, which caused him to suffer from dizzy spells. Just a few weeks later, he suffered an intracranial haemorrhage after falling down the stairs.
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When he was discovered, Jeffrey was immediately rushed to hospital, where he underwent brain surgery. Sadly, he passed away the following day, on 27 May 1969.