‘Speed Racer’ Actor Christian Oliver & 2 Daughters Killed In Plane Crash – Deadline

Actor Christian Oliver, who starred in films including Speed Racer and Valkyrie among others, was killed Thursday along with his two young daughters when their small plane crashed into the sea off a Caribbean island. The owner and pilot of the plane, identified as Robert Sachs, also died in the crash.

According to authorities, the single-engine plane took off from F Mitchell Airport in Becquia, a tiny island and part of the Caribbean nations of St. Vincent and Grenadines Thursday afternoon and was headed to nearby St Lucia when it crashed.

Among the dead were Oliver’s daughters, Madita Klepser, 10, and Annik Klepser, 12.

Shortly after take-off, the aircraft experienced difficulties and nose-dived into the ocean,” the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said in a statement provided to media outlets. “Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm went to the scene of the incident in their boats to render assistance,” it added. All four bodies have been recovered.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. According to local reports, the pilot radioed the tower shortly after takeoff reporting he was experiencing trouble and was turning back. That was the last communication from the plane.

The German-born Oliver, whose real name was Christian Klepser, worked with Steven Soderbergh in The Good German opposite Cate Blanchett and George Clooney, with Brian Singer and Tom Cruise in Valkyrie and the Wachowski Brothers in 2008’s Speed Racer. His most recent film role was in the latest Indiana Jones movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He also starred as a detective in the popular German action series Alarm for Cobra 11 (RTL) for two years. His TV credits also included Saved By the Bell: The New Class. Oliver was 51.