Jon-Erik Hexum: A Life

                                                         
I did write a biography about him, but this is a little more in-depth and perhaps a little more revealing.  On this that would have been Jon-Erik's 61st birthday!

Jon-Erik Hexum born 5 November 1957, Englewood New Jersey.
Jon-Erik was how he liked to be known - however as said in his biography I wrote, it was spelled Jon-Eric.
Of Norwegian descent. His parents mother was Gretha and father 'Thor' Thorleiff Hexum a cook.  Older brother Gunnar.
Interests included: music, enjoyed playing the piano; singing, working out in the gym.  Watching Rocky movies and Taxi.  As well as concerts, plays and reading.  He drove a '54 Chevy.

Jon-Erik was friendly, outgoing, active.  Much like he was a little bit of everything rolled into one
"I can be serious, but I have a lighter side.  I have a good, very dry sense of humour and I'm insightful.  Sometimes moody."
He read every letter he received from fans and hoped to respond to all too.  Whoever got replies back from him were extremely fortunate.  Not everyone takes their time out to do that; even those starting out; let lone the well known and established actors.
He didn't like conceited people; his own disorganization trait.  Hated how it took so long to get anywhere, especially in television.

Throughout his childhood, he had singing and dancing lessons which set him up for the world of acting.  Appearing in high school and college plays.  Which in turn lead to soaps and commercials such as Coca Cola; Chevy trucks.  Regional theatre was always a must.  The show Voyagers marked Jon-Erik's TV debut...
 On Voyagers his message to fans: "hope you're enjoying watching!  Voyagers and threatening all your friends to do the same.
We have some very exciting episodes coming up.  Meeno says 'hi!'
- I just saw how uncannily similar my writing is to his!  Especially similar 'y's, 'g's, 'p's - in short, most letters!  Wow.

My writing, keep in mind it's just rough and not meant to be neat or anything!

Jon-Erik Hexum was a popular actor in the making.  He studied, acted in plays; regional theatre and most things not everyone wanting to break into the competitive world of acting was able to do.  He didn't have roles thrown at him - he had to be discovered, the mundane job of waiting tables.  many do it, not all make it.
His was a story of discovery in the true sense of the word - earning to work (yearning) in an industry he was destined for.
His perseverance paid off and he was cast for his debut TV role in Voyagers.  Jon-Erik was charismatic, charming, kind and unique - unlike any star you would meet today and by that I mean those classed as 'A listers'.  He brought an old-fashioned persona, charm and personality to the screen and everything he did off screen too.

Jon-Erik was real.  An actor's actor and not a selfish bone in his body and had good looks to boot.  Yet he was never arrogant about that - never vain!  His gorgeous blue eyes - forlorn and in many ways, hiding many a magical thought and expression.  He was witty - with exceptional comedic timing and so dramatic a presence.  Enabling him to take on any role.  When most of them appeared to be those calling for looking hunky and nothing more:- with little dialogue.  But he refused to give up and be the object - to be objectified.  He took control of his career by refusing the parts he wasn't and wouldn't be happy with.  Not caring about how they may have driven his career and I say "may have" - they wouldn't have gotten him far if they were mundane or type cast or based solely on looks.

He knew how to play the industry and specifically Hollywood at its own game,  Demonstrating his intelligence and something much deeper than being a blond 'airhead' as some would see him.
He also played the paparazzi at their own game too.  Always keeping a firm hand on his life - public and private.

Jon-Erik's father left the family when he was only 4.  Leaving his mother to struggle to bring the two boys up alone.  Perhaps the bright lights of the New World went to his head in deserting his family.  Instead of being there.  When his father saw Jon-Erik on TV in a college football game he got in touch with him.  No doubt wanting the fame that his son was soon to acquire by treading the boards of his highly earned and hard earned struggle and labour.  Apparently Jon-Erik told his "father" in no uncertain terms to 'get lost', since he couldn't "reap seeds you haven't sown  You blew it guy.  Go to hell!"  Kinda reminds me of  The Grapes of Wrath there.  Though the other saying that comes to my mind is, "as you sow, so shall you reap."  - Relevant in many ways.

Michigan State University saw him excel in many ways.  Not only with his radio programme and he had the most lovely, sublime and deep voice so suited for radio and TV too.  The content on the radio was of his own creation.
After graduating, New York called where he did things "my way."  Finding work cleaning an apartment in New York which just happened to belong to Bob LeMond: John Travolta's manager.  So enamoured with Jon, he signed him up and Jon-Erik began to work modelling gigs in Manhattan.    Slowly and surely he was on his way, but still had to tend bar and clean.
He studied Bio-medical Engineering and wanted to act from the outset.  "There is a negative stereotype about models - wrongly or rightly it hurts you - so I got out of that and went to LA."

Eventually ending up in California and got an audition with Daryl Hannah in Summer Lovers.  However, Peter Gallagher got the part; leaving Jon to work as a busboy on Venice Beach.  This was thankfully for only a short time as he finally landed the pivotal role of Phineas Bogg in NBC's Voyagers.  A show that would well and truly propel him on the road to recognition and admiration from his fans.
Jon-Erik's first time in front of a camera meant his co-star on Voyagers,  Meeno Peluce had to tell him of the finer points of doing this.  However, only 20 episodes were filmed since ratings weren't so impressive and yet that showed the all-too fickle ratings system - still prevalent today.  Television (and film) is all about generating revenue at the end of the day - more so than the quality of the show and the acting.

Graduated 1980.  Drove taxis, washing rugs, floors.  Four months later he was on Voyagers.  "Kicked the butt out of this.'

He earned $30 a week as Johnny Browne on The Unsinkable Molly Brown in an Upstate New York stage production.  He didn't splurge out as most would do and was modest with his earnings.  Such is the price of a good show or acting job:- here today, gone tomorrow.  But being frugal didn't mean being stingy since Jon-Erik knew all to well the everyday struggles of making a buck.  Hollywood can chew you up and spit you out - as sooner watch you fall down that ladder you fought to climb!  Such is its indifference.

The Making of a Male Model (1983)  Joan Collins wanted him to appear in this.  One of those "smutty" films that are nothing but ogle worthy.  By smutty I mean its sheer objectifying and in many ways turning the tables on men who've done the same to women for decades and continue to do so even now.  Yet it was also the movie that would lead to Cover Up and playing a model again.  'Playing' being the operative word here since he would be undercover in that role.
Those model roles would become a bit of a guilty pleasure in so many ways.  Since Jon-Erick's magnetism and attractive personality drew you in - even if it was just to watch him and nothing else in that movie.

The role was no reflection on his real life.  In the film he, as Tyler Burnett, becomes famous practically overnight.  But rather than fame going to his head, it continues the other direction.  As he yearns for a quiet life on the farm.  Not so much the pressures of fame, but the boredom and monotony where everyone wants a piece of  'meat.'
                                                      

Strangely Jon-Erik had to film in such places as Times Square - where he must have experienced an uncanny sense of deja vu - as that's where he first started out; at least was attempting to.  However, in the film he also has to compete with another roommate.  He's discovered by Joan Collins after seeing him in a photoshoot in Nevada and she ensures he comes to New York.  Of course after taking up with him she dumps him for another nubile hunk.  Well sorry not as hunky or gorge as Jon-Erik!  Shallow for a show or film of sorts.  Causing Tyler to act out; booze it up and then gives it up when he finds his ODed roommate.  Joanie sees her loss, makes sure he fulfills his contract and even offers him a part in a TV series.  [Life imitating art or vice versa.]  She offered Jon a part in Dynasty alongside her too - but he refused.]  Do you even wonder sometimes how things would've turned out for him if he had taken that role?!  Cruel fate!

Tyler refuses the part in the film and opts for his trusty steed instead.  Waving goodbye to the major heartaches and anguish of an unfulfilling life - let alone way to earn a living.  Very little clothes and dignity in the sense of never being able to be seen as more than a plaything - having your mind and intelligence overlooked constantly for the body.
Tagline: with a naked Jon-Erik - "he's got it and he can get almost anything.  Anything he wants."

Jon-Erik bought a townhouse for his mother.
People magazine 1983: "I have no way to meet them [women] I'm alone when I go to bed at night.  gay, I ain't.  I don't want to be thought of as gay, although 80% of my friends are."  Some took this as a way of hiding his sexuality.  But he wanted to marry and have a family.  That's common knowledge.  He had dated; had a college sweetheart, dated Emma Samms and EG Daily: an actress, dancer and singer.  She sang the theme song to Cover Up, the cover of Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For A Hero.

Playing quarterback Pat Trammell in The Bear who was terminally ill, alongside Gary Busey, who commented on Jon-Erik and working with him and how it was "like jumping on a new trampoline - there was a lot of bounce there.  He was what I hope I was like when I first came to Hollywood from Texas.  It takes some kind of blind courage to step forth in this business and he had that."

Did Jon-Erik Hexum accidentally shoot himself in 1983 with a .38 special when checking to see if it was loaded were numerous headlines that appeared over the press back then.

Cover Up ad for the series premiere: "Undercover!  Under Fire!  She's the world's sexiest photographer.  He's fashion's hottest model!  They go where the government can't, helping Americans in trouble."  (See later.)
                                                            

Jon Erik Hexum wanted to prove himself as a serious actor and not just the customary 'pretty face.'  The only film that allowed him to show some remote semblance of this was his role in The Bear.  He liked this role, even if it wasn't that big.  He wanted to be seen as an actor and not cos of his looks.  In an interview he said he wanted to "play the romantic lead who dies."  The rest is perhaps best left unsaid as far as this goes in real life.
Jon-Erik was a 'heavy bencher' - had three stuntmen for The Bear and didn't get to play a game.

Rome: magazine shoots and did photos for New York magazines too.  "I don't worry about it [the 'beefcake' image] very much it's just a label people put on you to categorize you in certain things."
"I'm not like the people I play."  (1983) Cover Up was in development.

More serious projects:
The Morning Show where Jon made The Alabama Banana Skinny Shake: milk, crem, raisins, walnuts, banana, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey, protein powder, ice cream and Southern Comfort.

Had an audition five times with Joan Collins for Male Model, last time with her - they decided on the third scene he was 'the one.'  Got on well, but not as reported in the press.  Saw Joan in Playboy calling it "old news."  The interviewer was trying to match make Joan and Jon-Erik and interrogate him on his love life.

Merv Griffin Show:  wonder he went back on it to sing on this?

Jon-Erik said Cover -Up was "great fun."  But he wasn't offered The Return of Indiana Jones jokingly.  "This character [Mac Harper] has a good time; a lot of fun."  Moved to Burbank - on foreclosure apartment and slept on the floor - furniture less and didn't cook either.  He had ketchup in the fridge - well everyone has one of those, not necessarily in the fridge.  "Trappings [of fame] doesn't interest me a whole lot."  He was "kinda saving to finance my own movie - you never know what's gonna happen."  More prophetic words.
A Male Model was a great time - "moody, didn't wanna leave the ranch."

"Girls think I'm cheap."
Saw a drunk driver driving on the 405, cut him off, driving into others, followed him, drove to LA.  Cut him off and opened his door to give him a ride home and headed up at the police station - can't let him drive and he felt a little guilty cos Jon was nice.

Jon-Erik interview 17 December 1984 Don Harron released it after his passing - kept it for that long.  It became a tribute to him .
Cover-Up aired Saturday 10pm on CBS in 1984.  That was late.  "It'll be a good show, very exciting; lots of action; lots of adventures, lots of mystery.  Jennifer O'Neill's in it - very good reason to watch...designer clothes."
Don: "somebody said the two most beautiful people in the business are in the same series together."
Jon-Erik: "it's a fun show, it should do well."
Don: "you're really grounded in reality - your eyes are not in the clouds - you've been through the mill."
Jon-Erik: "because it goes slow - we work everyday like 15 hours - still gotta drive to work, still gotta do your wash and all that sorta thing.  A lot of things change, but a lot don't really."

"60 Minutes trampled us."
National Coalition Against TV Violence said, Voyagers was good.  Running against 60 Minutes for a year.  "Things move slowly."
On press: "they often write what makes good print at the moment."  Magazines and papers and that hasn't changed at all especially with the 'gutter' press.

A friend lavished him with champagne for them and his show only lasted 13 weeks. [Voyagers.]  So he was hesitant with overdoing the "celeb" extravagance thing.  Believed had a good chance with the show.  "I used to worry about it a lot more but if it doesn't work; it's gone and can get something else."

Twentieth Century Fox poster: two posters for Cover Up: a marine poster to publicize the show.  (See above).

                                                           
 Armani, Versace, Jeffrey banks, GQ - for magazine layouts.  Vogue, Harper's Bizarre, Cover of playgirl in November, but he didn't do this one.
Burt Reynolds - Cosmo Corner shoot - not many serious roles for Burt after he appeared in this for a while.  Jon-Erik found it "amazing how conservative Hollywood really is and the guys up in the offices  - the executives are all dressed up in their grey suit and ties...their projections of what the audience wants are very conservative - very Midwest and the Bible Belt and Jerry Falwell and his followers."

Daytime soaps if he was 30 years younger.
"I carried a bedpan once in the background at the doctors that's all I really did."
Don: "you come on as the most glamorous figure and contemporary showbiz and you talk about - down to earth fellow - that's all you are Jon."
Jon-Erik: "that's because life is like that."
Don: "you're a breath of fresh air" and more meaningful words were never spoken!

From Jon's interviews, it was obvious how down to earth he was.  Modest and above all approached his success with caution.  Knowing full well the fecklessness and how short the brief stint in Hollywood could be.  Nothing's ever permanent and guaranteed to last and I'm not going to go into the cliche about life's too short and we should live it fully each day.  Expecting the unexpected anytime but not dwelling on it.  Yet since I have mentioned it, let me add this is what he did.  He was hesitant about getting too carried away with making it big on the back of one show or two.  Fame is fleeting.  People may bemoan his frugality but he did what he felt was right for him.  He bought a house and one for his mother too.  He was selfless.  Anything else didn't need to be rushed - no fancy cars or clothes.

Jon: "it's a handicap if you want to expand your horizons and become somewhat of a credible actor.  It's somewhat of a heap in the beginning when that sort of type is commercial at the moment, which it is or was or I think is evolving out of.  So it's becoming a little bit of a problem but no big deal.  I'll get out of it - just try and keep my shirt on and try and choose subsequent roles frequently."

A hunk?  "I suppose; they'd define hunk very loosely around here.  The magazines for the most part I think the word 'hunk' and 'beefcake' is an excuse to put a whole bunch of guys in a magazine and put 'em on a cover and get people to buy the magazine."
Ten thousand copies sold of his poster - the half-naked one, which has been said contradicted what he said and the idea of his 'image' and looks being used to sell magazines.  Yet he's already built like that.

His rise and stardom:
"It doesn't surprise me that much because I expected it - I wanted it to be like that...Everybody wants it to be like that.  I went at it very conventionally. I came out here or I went to start in New York for six months and went to a lot of auditions all the time and met a lot of people."
Read for Voyagers and producers didn't want him to because they wanted him to be 40 years old with a beard, moustache."
Jon-Erik liked the role of Phineas - a worldly pirate and they "cast me."

Joan Collins: "Jon-Erik is a credible actor with a bright future...I think that he could be [a major star] very easily.  He's very good, he's got a lot of charisma.  I know that everybody - young girls all think that he's terrific.  I certainly hope that he will be."  [People Magazine interview.]
"This talented 26 year old New Jersey native is someone you'll be hearing a lot about in the near future."

West 57th Interview:

Jon: "I like this character a lot, I'm having a fun time and I'm happy and they pay me a lot of money.  But that's not important [laughs] still described as a hunk.  America's latest hunk.  Beefcake and biceps beginning to achieve the fame that only Hollywood can bestow."

Of course the press hounded him even in death - as they followed his DB to the transplant hospital determined to find out who would receive his heart.  Which is quite frankly morbid and if not macabre, so very disrespectful to his memory, his family and that of the recipients.
Met 36 year old Michael Washington a Vietnam War hero.  Receiving Bronze Star for valour  Wounded twice in action.  He knew he had Jon-Erik's heart.  Jon's brother, Gunnar, "it's a hard thing to confront, to be asked to be giving away his body.  I think we have a lot of ritual about death."
Teaching emergency medical procedures at the University of Massachusetts.

Jon had the same eyes and was almost similar sounding to his younger brother.
Jon was on a respirator for 6 days.  They were there with him the entire time. "We have something to offer and let's give it without any other expectations."  When deciding what to do with Jon's organs.
Michael: "I'm alive because of him so now I wanna know about Jon-Erik Hexum.  I'm asking questions.
Gunnar: "spaghetti and ketchup was the norm."
Michael: "it brought tears to my eyes because of this man I'm alive today - it's real personal.  I feel like part of their family."
Gunnar: "he'd want to do the same thing...too painful for me" to know - "live his life and I want him to never forget Jon-Erik."

Jennifer O'Neill: "I don't think I ever met anyone that wanted stardom more than Jon-Erik and was willing to work for it."

"Jon-Erik was really living his dreams, people were really seeing him as the next big star."
Jennifer: "anybody who does a lead on a television series and were co-leads understands that you have no time and no life and you just work these ridiculous hours - 14-16 sometimes hours a day.  I believe that day he was very tired.  A lot of times accidents happen when you're not paying attention.  So I believe that Jon was overtired and overworked."

Actress/girlfriend, EG (Elizabeth) Daily felt something wasn't quite right that fateful day and felt she had to see him on the set.  He argued with someone and went home.  Two hours later she got that call.
Meeno: "the whole investigation shut down immediately.  Case closed - it's an accident.  I don't believe that."  Many didn't and still don't think it was accidental.
Jon met EG in a play and called her at 2am.  Said he'd fallen in love with her - dinner and coming to the show.  "He was like a kid in a grown man's body - he used his body like he could do backflips and he was this big man!

The late Richard Anderson: "sad - would be my best observation of it.  A mystery - maybe."

Jon-Erik Hexum archivist Alan J Carell thought it felt like "it was swept under the carpet."  Particularly as a replacement was sought so soon after.
It was reported: "Glen Larson Productions and Twentieth Century Fox are conducting ongoing auditions to fill the male lead in the CBS TV series Cover Up. following the death last Thursday of 26 year old Jon-Erik Hexum."
Allan: "this guy's gonna drop off the face of the earth, he deserves better."

Allan saw Jon as "quiet and personable."  One of three leads in Pippin.
Christie Jenkins - photographer and friend of Jon.  September 2 1981 California.  Eric Paulson cousin: he wouldn't make it in Hollywood: "Pushy a bit and idealistic and I cite a bit but not totally."

Live at Five 1 December 1982.
"I was the old timer on the set and Jon was brand new to it...he pulled him aside and said, ' how come you're on the other side of the camera.'  I [Meeno] said, 'Jon this is your close-up.'  He approached everything with single-mindedness."
Meeno said Jon had a good familiarity with weapons on set and were meant to be guarded by stunt co-ordinators.

[Mysteries and Scandals 10 July 1983]
Jon Erik: "I love tragic heroes.  I love Rocky, I love that kind of film - that kind of character.  That fights to win but doesn't."
Meeno: "great to watch his career take off."
Christie: he was not at all egotistical about his good looks!"
Richard Anderson: "hot new sensation...you had to deliver a full hour to go on the air every week.  No time for yourself and a great deal of stress involved."
Jennifer O'Neill: "Jon also had a bigger than life sense of himself.  It was not unusual to come to work on Monday and he would have tales of how he chased a drunk driver down and did a citizen's arrest.  I think he believed  his own press."
In my opinion better to have done something for someone else than to just let it pass and not even think about others.

EG Daily: "Jon acted like a ticking time bomb and I didn't know when he was going to go off."
Christie: "complained about the Cover Up set.  His were too late for them."
The role would use guns - Jennifer O'Neill would get angry if he waved them around.  "I was pretty tough about it because they scare me."
They were shooting episode 1.7.
Richard Anderson: "the procedure is always that the gun is empty.  There is never anything in the gun.  Before a shot that required any kind of gunfire.  The property master would come and say, 'I'm gonna load it.'
Jennifer: tinkering with gun and playing Russian roulette, kidding with crew on set.  But no one was around when it happened, so there wouldn't be anyone to kid around with.  It just doesn't make sense, unless that's not what happened and it was all hushed up.
EG: "was odd because Jon had used prop guns a million times."
Meeno: "supposedly no one saw him get hurt.  Why would he be playing around with a gun if no one was around to enjoy his playing.  He liked an audience."  Jennifer was in trailer.  Loading and unloading revolver.  Closed door - heard bang.  Property master explained to Frank what had happened. - Why would he be playing Russian roulette by himself?
Eric: "was a wad of paper in his skull."
Jennifer O'Neill: "couldn't see anything visibly wrong with him.  He looked just perfect - like get up - wake up.  It was such a waste, so sad."

EG: "agonizing week of 'is he gonna make it?'  Sleeping on floor.  Braindead."
Eric: "some part of Jon-Erik still alive."
Christie: "so silly when one of the tabloids said that he had a deathwish.  Jon-Erik was a lifewish.  I haven't cried about him in a long time."  Along with so many others.  Everyone said it was "stupid."
Eric: "a big goofy cousin who got to be a movie star."
Jennifer O'Neill: "I think that Jon would like to be remembered as a star and he was."

It's been said his ghost haunts Stage 17 on the Twentieth Century Fox set (1999.)
Whatever maybe a fanciful notion to some, but who knows.  Maybe a little of him does remain here, not just as a ghost but in all those he gave life too and consequently in their children too.  But he was a wonderful actor and a great human being.  A romantic notion if he is still around and somehow a little sweet.  Then again maybe he is at eternal peace and rest which is what I like to believe about anyone who has passed and sadly so young.
No matter your thoughts, it is true that the world lost someone very endearing!

Earlier biography here:
http://mila255.blogspot.com/2016/11/jon-erik-hexum-biography.html