Michael Massee dead: 24 villain dies at 64

Michael Massee, a prolific actor with nearly 80 screen credits in film and television between 1991 and 2016, has died at age 64, a representative at his talent agency, Greene & Associates, confirmed to EW.

Massee died of cancer on Oct. 20 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, though news of his death did not break until Wednesday morning.

Massee is perhaps best known for his guest-starring role across 12 episodes of 24‘s first season in 2001, during which he played Ira Gaines, a leader of a terrorist cell. He also appeared on several episodes of HBO’s Carnivàle from 2003-2005 before taking parts on ABC’s Alias and Flashforward, The CW’s Supernatural, the NBC miniseries Revelations, and TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles.

Massee was the actor who pulled the trigger on a faulty prop gun that accidentally killed Brandon Lee during production of a scene on 1994’s The Crow. The Kansas City, Missouri, native also appeared in several major films, including 2004’s Catwoman, 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man, and the latter’s 2014 sequel.

As news of Massee’s death broke, his peers took to Twitter to mourn their former collaborator.

“My heart is heavy to hear of his passing,” wrote Angie Harmon, who starred opposite Massee on Rizzoli & Isles. “He was IMMENSELY talented & had the kindest soul. I am privileged to have known him.”

Jon Cassar, one of 24’s executive producers, echoed Harmon’s sentiment. “Sad to hear of the passing of Michael Massee who played Ira Gaines, 24‘s first villain in season #1 RIP,” he tweeted.

Massee is survived by his wife, Ellen, whom he married in 1997, and two children, Lily, 17, and Jack, 13.