RIP: Sanctum’s Mike deGruy & Andrew Wight, NOTLD’s Bill Hinzman & Josephine Streiner

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of not just Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight – the two filmmakers (SANCTUM) perished during a sudden helicopter crash Saturday night off the east-coast of Australia – but also to those of genre stalwarts Bill Hinzman and Josephine Streiner. Too many lost over this Super Bowl weekend!

As you may have heard, SANCTUM filmmakers Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight tragically died in a sudden helicopter crash on Saturday night. The two men were scouting locations for a new movie they were planning. Wight was piloting the aircraft. Frequent collaborator James Cameron issued a joint statement of confirmation that read: “the deep-sea community lost two of its finest.”

Wight, a foremost expert on underwater exploration, produced the documentary series ADVENTURES OF THE QUEST (1995-2000), and worked with Cameron on his 2003 doc GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS. deGruy was an award winning cinematographer whose final credit came in 2007 with the TV movie EXPEDITION PACIFIC ABYSS. “Mike and Andrew were like family to me,” Cameron said.

“They were my deep-sea brothers and both were true explorers who did extraordinary things and went places no human being has been.”

Unfortunately, that’s not the only bad news we have today.

Bill Hinzman, George A. Romero’s go-to-bit player (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE CRAZIES) also perished over the weekend, succumbing to his long bout with cancer. While certainly recognizable onscreen, it’s perhaps Hinzman’s behind-the-camera work he should be remembered for. He directed two feature: MAJORETTES (1987) and FLESHEATER (1988), shot a half dozen more (THE CRAZIES, SANTA CLAWS, CHILDREN OF THE LIVING DEAD) and appeared in even more than that.

Last but certainly not least, rest in peace Josephine Streiner, who also appeared in Romero’s classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. She, in her only acting credit, played an uncredited female zombie in the 1968 groundbreaker.

Mike, Andrew, Bill, Josephine…RIP…you will all be missed!