Sean Bean has faced death a number of times on screen, but there is one to rule them all: that of Boromir in Lord of the Rings.
One does not simply watch a Sean Bean movie expecting him to get out alive. After all, it’s a bit of a running joke that if Sean Bean is cast, he’ll be getting a death scene. That’s some reputation right there–but at least the actor takes it in stride, recently revealing that one stands out above the rest. Can you guess which one?
Speaking with Screen Rant, Sean Bean said that his sacrificial death in the first Lord of the Rings movie stands as his personal favorite. “I suppose the best death was Boromir in Lord of the Rings, that was a very epic kind of death, it was very emotional, very moving, and Peter Jackson allowed me enough time to die and milk it, and get the music and pathos. I like that one.”
Sean Bean also fondly recalled his first on-screen death, in 1986’s Carvaggiowhich was his second credited movie, meaning he was already being killed off in half of his features! “That was my first death, I got my throat slit, which is okay, it’s your first day, so you’re thinking, ‘Oh great.’” But that slashing would, interestingly enough, prove to introduce his calling card.
The list of on-screen deaths for Sean Bean is numbered around two dozen and is quite diverse. Sure, he’s been shot more often than not, but he was also dropped to a splatter in GoldenEyeimpaled on an anchor in Patriot Gamesquartered by horses in Black Deathand beheaded in Game Of Thrones. As a matter of fact, Bean tried wearing off being killed in movies and TV shows following his run as Ned Stark because it was getting too predictable. Riiiighhhttt…
Despite Sean Bean’s on-screen deaths becoming a sort of trope, there are plenty of other actors who have topped his numbers, with the likes of Lance Henriksen, John Hurt and Christopher Lee towards the most killed actors. But let me ask you this: was Dennis Hopper ever chased off a cliff by cows?
What is your favorite Sean Bean death scene? Let us know in the comments section below.