A beloved stage actor has died after he tripped and was hit by a box truck in a freak accident.
Father-of-three Thomas Morrissey, 56, a member of The Barn Theater in Montville, New Jersey, suffered a fatal head injury when he was struck by the vehicle at 4pm on Wednesday in Oakland.
According to police, Morrissey, from Lincoln Park, was walking through a parking lot when he tripped, fell and was mowed down by a 2016 Chevy box truck operated by a 34-year-old man from Garnerville, New York.
Freak accident: New Jersey stage actor Thomas Morrissey, 56 (left and right), lost his life in a freak vehicular accident Wednesday
Morrissey was walking through a parking lot in Oakland, New Jersey, when he tripped, fell and was mowed down by a 2016 Chevy box truck
A helicopter was called in to airlift Morrissey to the hospital, but the actor succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene before the aircraft arrived, reported NorthJersey.com.
No charges have been filed against the driver of the truck.
According to an obituary posted on The Barn Theater’s website, Morrissey first joined the troupe in 1979, appearing in productions of The Sounds of Music, The Ritz and The Boyfriend.
He parted ways with the theater for 20 years to raise a family, but rejoined the acting company in 2003 and went on to appear in dozens of plays and musicals over the past 15 years.
Morrissey was a long-time member of The Barn Theater in Montville, New Jersey. Pictured: Morrissey portraying Samuel Byck in a production of Assassins
Morrissey first became a member of the troupe in 1979, then took a 20-year break and rejoined the theater in 2003 (pictured on stage)
Morrissey most recently portrayed the constable in a production of Fiddler on the Roof.
The 56-year-old actor was described as the consummate theater man, equally comfortable being on stage and helping behind the scenes.
‘Need help building a set? Tom is there. Need an actor to fly in from the rafters? Tom took the job. Need to fly an actress out of the pit? Tom will man the ropes,’ the tribute read.
The father-of-three and grandfather was in a long-term relationship with another Barn Theater performer, Claudine Boucher, whom he met on a production of The Wedding Singer during the 2011-2012 season.
Two peas in a pod: The father-of-three and grandfather was in a long-term relationship with another Barn Theater performer, Claudine Boucher (left and right).
Proud grandpa: Morrissey became a grandfather in 2015 (pictured with his baby granddaughter)
John Trumbull, a stand-up comedian who was cast with Morrissey in 12 Angry Men, paid tribute to the late actor in a Facebook post, first reported on by NJ.com.
‘He was a tremendously talented guy, always in good spirits, and beloved by the NJ theatre community. My deepest condolences to all of family and friends who are hurting today,’ he wrote.
Trumbull said he last saw Morrissey in November, when he ran into the actor outside the theatre. Morrissey was having a cigarette and the two chatted for a few minutes.
‘Even though there were a ton of great performances I could remember him by, that image of him standing outside the back lobby door, serenely smoking a cigarette, illuminated by a spotlight, is how I’m going to remember him. I’d like to think he’s still there in spirit,’ the comic wrote.