Bio
Jon-Erik Hexum was only 26 years old at the time of his death, but has made a lasting impact on this world. He only starred in 2 television shows and 2 movies and yet to this day still has a devoted fan following. Many thought he was going to be the next big star. He touched many people with his looks, acting, sense of humor and his heart of gold. Even a brief glimpse of the great is better than nothing at all.
Jon-Erik (Jon Eric) Hexum was born to Thorleif & Greta Hexum in Englewood, New Jersey. His parents were of Norwegian descent and divorced when he was about 4. He grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. His father was a chef and his mother worked two jobs, waitress and secretary to support the family. He had not seen his father since he was about 9 years old and this was his choice. He felt that his father had not done his job (as a father). He has one brother, Gunnar and was very close with one of his cousins, Eric Paulsen. Jon Eric(his name) was the attempt to please grandfathers on both sides of the family. His family and friends knew Jon-Erik Hexum as “Jack”. He was 6’1”, weighed about 190 pounds, and had sandy blond hair and baby blue eyes.
In many articles and interviews, Jon-Erik fondly remembers the sacrifices his mother made for him and his brother. He told of the times she would take him into New York City to see Broadway shows. She would drop him off and state she was going to go and see some friends. She was always waiting for him when the show was over. Years later he found out that she would go to a local coffee shop and wait for him. This was because she did not have the money to pay for 2 tickets, but she wanted her son to see the show.
Jon-Erik attended Tenafly High School and graduated in 1976. He went to Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio majoring in Biomedical engineering. He transferred to Michigan State University (MSU) originally planning on a degree in bio-medical engineering. After about a year, he found himself struggling and changed his major. After attending his first home game, he decided that he wanted to join the team. He worked hard and became a member of the team the following year. Although he made the team, he never got the opportunity to play on the field during a game. He also was part of the drama department and had roles in West Side Story and Pirates of Penzance. He worked for local Michigan radio stations as a disc jockey and was known in that circle as “Yukon Jack”. He also worked for a radio station out of Detroit, Michigan, WVIC-FM. In 1980, he graduated from MSU with a major in philosophy and economics.
After graduation, Jon-Erik moved to New York and found a job bartending for about 5 weeks, while he was looking for work as an actor. He found lots of bit parts and commercials and went on more than 300 auditions. He was cast in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, but when the choreographer (Tommy Tune) was fired, his chorus line (which included Jon-Erik) went with him. He was a day player on a few of the soap operas that film in New York, those include Texas, Another World and The Doctors. He was cleaning apartments (part time, of course) and cleaned the apartment of a friend of Bob Le Mond’s. Jon-Erik once stated that the guy must have seen a lot of talent in the way he cleaned the Venetian blinds and set up a meeting for him with Bob. He stated that Bob became his manager and he relocated to Los Angeles.
In September 1981, he read for a part in the movie, Summer Lovers and decided to move to California. He did not get the part, but reluctantly stayed on the West coast. He had parts in productions of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”, “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Carousel”. He turned down roles in Chips, The Dukes of Hazzard and several soap operas, stating that they just did not feel right. In early 1982, he won his first major role on Voyagers!!. This show lasted only one season, but opened the door for him to make a few movies, The Making of a Male Model a made for TV movie and The Bear, a theatrical release. He was then cast as one of the leads in the series Cover Up.
Jon-Erik did not seem to have as much luck with his love life. He had two long term relationships when he was in high school and college. His college girlfriend stayed with him until he was starring in Voyagers and then left him because he was too devoted to work. After that he was known for dating many well-known actresses through out his short life. Some of those include Emma Samms (General Hospital, Dynasty) and Heather Thomas (The Fall Guy). He was dating Elizabeth Daily at the time of his death and they had been together for the last 10 months. One of his closest relationships other than his family was with Christy Jenkins. They met in 1983 when he went to her studio to appear in photo book. She ended up shooting a whole role of him and then went out with him. They did not date long, but the friendship lasted forever.
Jon-Erik’s life was cut short during the filming of what would be his last episode of Cover Up. On October 12, 1984, during a break in the filming, after what was seemingly a long shot, he put a prop gun to his head and pulled the trigger. What started out as a joke or tension breaker quickly turned to horror. The wadding loaded in the gun had sent a quarter-sized piece of his skull into his brain. He was rushed to the hospital and spent hours of surgery. After six long days in a coma, he was officially declared brain dead. Many of his organs were donated to people in need. In the end, many people questioned why a man with such a bright future died in such a tragic way. Speculations of suicide persisted but this was nothing more that a terrible accident that resulted in a loss of a great man.
Jon-Erik (Jon Eric) Hexum was born to Thorleif & Greta Hexum in Englewood, New Jersey. His parents were of Norwegian descent and divorced when he was about 4. He grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. His father was a chef and his mother worked two jobs, waitress and secretary to support the family. He had not seen his father since he was about 9 years old and this was his choice. He felt that his father had not done his job (as a father). He has one brother, Gunnar and was very close with one of his cousins, Eric Paulsen. Jon Eric(his name) was the attempt to please grandfathers on both sides of the family. His family and friends knew Jon-Erik Hexum as “Jack”. He was 6’1”, weighed about 190 pounds, and had sandy blond hair and baby blue eyes.
In many articles and interviews, Jon-Erik fondly remembers the sacrifices his mother made for him and his brother. He told of the times she would take him into New York City to see Broadway shows. She would drop him off and state she was going to go and see some friends. She was always waiting for him when the show was over. Years later he found out that she would go to a local coffee shop and wait for him. This was because she did not have the money to pay for 2 tickets, but she wanted her son to see the show.
Jon-Erik attended Tenafly High School and graduated in 1976. He went to Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio majoring in Biomedical engineering. He transferred to Michigan State University (MSU) originally planning on a degree in bio-medical engineering. After about a year, he found himself struggling and changed his major. After attending his first home game, he decided that he wanted to join the team. He worked hard and became a member of the team the following year. Although he made the team, he never got the opportunity to play on the field during a game. He also was part of the drama department and had roles in West Side Story and Pirates of Penzance. He worked for local Michigan radio stations as a disc jockey and was known in that circle as “Yukon Jack”. He also worked for a radio station out of Detroit, Michigan, WVIC-FM. In 1980, he graduated from MSU with a major in philosophy and economics.
After graduation, Jon-Erik moved to New York and found a job bartending for about 5 weeks, while he was looking for work as an actor. He found lots of bit parts and commercials and went on more than 300 auditions. He was cast in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, but when the choreographer (Tommy Tune) was fired, his chorus line (which included Jon-Erik) went with him. He was a day player on a few of the soap operas that film in New York, those include Texas, Another World and The Doctors. He was cleaning apartments (part time, of course) and cleaned the apartment of a friend of Bob Le Mond’s. Jon-Erik once stated that the guy must have seen a lot of talent in the way he cleaned the Venetian blinds and set up a meeting for him with Bob. He stated that Bob became his manager and he relocated to Los Angeles.
In September 1981, he read for a part in the movie, Summer Lovers and decided to move to California. He did not get the part, but reluctantly stayed on the West coast. He had parts in productions of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”, “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Carousel”. He turned down roles in Chips, The Dukes of Hazzard and several soap operas, stating that they just did not feel right. In early 1982, he won his first major role on Voyagers!!. This show lasted only one season, but opened the door for him to make a few movies, The Making of a Male Model a made for TV movie and The Bear, a theatrical release. He was then cast as one of the leads in the series Cover Up.
Jon-Erik did not seem to have as much luck with his love life. He had two long term relationships when he was in high school and college. His college girlfriend stayed with him until he was starring in Voyagers and then left him because he was too devoted to work. After that he was known for dating many well-known actresses through out his short life. Some of those include Emma Samms (General Hospital, Dynasty) and Heather Thomas (The Fall Guy). He was dating Elizabeth Daily at the time of his death and they had been together for the last 10 months. One of his closest relationships other than his family was with Christy Jenkins. They met in 1983 when he went to her studio to appear in photo book. She ended up shooting a whole role of him and then went out with him. They did not date long, but the friendship lasted forever.
Jon-Erik’s life was cut short during the filming of what would be his last episode of Cover Up. On October 12, 1984, during a break in the filming, after what was seemingly a long shot, he put a prop gun to his head and pulled the trigger. What started out as a joke or tension breaker quickly turned to horror. The wadding loaded in the gun had sent a quarter-sized piece of his skull into his brain. He was rushed to the hospital and spent hours of surgery. After six long days in a coma, he was officially declared brain dead. Many of his organs were donated to people in need. In the end, many people questioned why a man with such a bright future died in such a tragic way. Speculations of suicide persisted but this was nothing more that a terrible accident that resulted in a loss of a great man.
