Who is Rico Priem Wikipedia
Who is Rico Priem Wikipedia – The 9-1-1 family is mourning the loss of one of their own, Rico Priem, a crew member who tragically passed away on Saturday morning, May 12. Priem, who worked as a grip on the popular show, died in a car crash while returning home from a long shift.
9-1-1 Costs Mourns the Loss of Integral Family Member
9-1-1, an ABC first responder drama, follows the lives of firefighters, paramedics, and emergency personnel at the fictional Station 118 of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, the show premiered in January 2018 and quickly gained a devoted following. Its success led to a spin-off series, 9-1-1: Lone Star. The series stars notable actors such as Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kenneth Choi, and Ryan Guzman. After six seasons on FOX, the show was canceled in May 2023, only to be picked up by ABC for an eighth season.
Priem’s untimely death occurred just a month after the show’s renewal. According to reports, Priem was driving home after a 14-hour overnight shift filming on location in Pomona, California. The California Highway Patrol reported that Priem was driving his Toyota Highlander on the 57 Freeway near Via Verde Drive in San Dimas when his vehicle left the roadway, went up an embankment, and flipped onto its roof. The crash, which occurred around 4:27 a.m., resulted in Priem’s death at the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The news of Priem’s death has deeply affected the 9-1-1 team and the wider entertainment community. 20th Television, the studio behind the show, released a statement expressing their sorrow: “On behalf of the studio and everyone at 9-1-1, we send our sincere and deepest condolences to Rico Priem’s family and friends.” Priem was a member of the IATSE Local 80 union and had worked on various notable projects, including CBS’ S.W.A.T., Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, ABC’s The Company You Keep Star Trek, and Christmas With the Kranks.
IATSE Local 80 also issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to the safety and well-being of their members. “Workers have a reasonable expectation that they can get to work and come home safely. No one should be put in unsafe circumstances while trying to earn a living,” the statement read, highlighting the importance of safety in the industry.
Angela Bassett, who stars as Athena Grant and serves as an executive producer on 9-1-1, spoke about the loss at the 2024 Disney/ABC Upfront event held on May 14. “The studio, 9-1-1, we all extend our deepest condolences to his friends to his family,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “It was just a very, very sad moment. We’re all rocked by it, certainly.” She added, “It’s the first time we experience death. We have births, you know, we have weddings, and now to experience this, we just had to take a moment, just take time and take a moment. We thought it was important to come together and have whatever bit of service and offer whatever we can do to his family. ‘Cause we know that we’ll miss him, but we know they will miss him even more.”
Aisha Hints, who portrays Henrietta “Hen” Wilson on the show, also paid tribute to Priem in a heartfelt Instagram post. “Words…ever insufficient…none able to carry the harrowing heartbreak reverberating through our 9-1-1 family,” she wrote. “As the industry processes the passing of one of our invaluable and invested individuals—notably loyal, thus lauded and loved for his commitment to his craft and sharing the wisdom he’d gleaned from decades of working in this industry, hearts are heavy navigating feelings of grief and gratitude for the life of Rico Priem.”
Hinds went on to honor the often unrecognized crew members, describing them as the “unsung heroes” of the show and noting their integral role in 9-1-1’s success. “In this moment, I want to express deep love for our crew, and give thanks and reverence for the legacy of Rico Priem,” she concluded.
Priem’s death is a stark reminder of the often unseen challenges faced by those who work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. His dedication and contributions will be remembered by his colleagues and the many shows and films he helped bring to life.
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