When crew members of any production pass on, it often does not make the big headlines and in the majority of cases, the fans of such movies and series are not aware anything has occurred. But that was not the case with Kurt Perez who was an integral member of the crew of Blacklist. The series paid a very deep and moving tribute to him at the end of the 19th episode of the 9th season of the show.
Little as it was, fans of the show noticed and asked questions about who Kurt Perez was and why producers of the show felt the need to celebrate him, the life he lived and his contribution to the show. Perez was involved in an accident on the 27th of March that claimed his life.
Was Kurt Perez an Actor on Blacklist?
The tribute to Kurt Perez in the conclusion of the 19th episode of season 9 of Blacklist had many thinking he was one of the actors on the show, but that is not the case. Perez was not an actor, so he did not embody any character on the show. However, he was a member of the crew behind the scenes who were instrumental to the show’s success.
Kurt perez was my dad & he was a grip on the blacklist for a few years he passed in march pic.twitter.com/gdykqHPyCM
— Skylynn Perez (@qveeeeeen__) May 7, 2022
Since his passing, the cast and other crew members of Blacklist have expressed how well-loved Perez was and acknowledged the depth of his contributions to the series from inception until season 9 when he bowed out. Going by the words of his fellow crew members, he will be greatly missed and his absence will be felt.
Perez’s contributions to the show were fundamental in his capacity as both a key member of the crew and an unsung hero who played an important role behind the scenes. Within the context of the show, he was regarded as a critical component, assuring smooth operations behind the camera. The hair and makeup department members acknowledged Perez’s contributions and service to the show during the wrap party of Season 9. They dedicated their message to him and even mentioned his name in the title cards.
On her Instagram account, Dena Olivieri, who worked as a makeup artist for the show, posted a touching tribute to Kurt Perez. Her heartfelt message highlighted the profound impact Perez had on his colleagues and the production, serving as a powerful reminder of his contributions. Olivieri’s tribute, which came after the season’s completion, underscored the lasting impression Perez left behind and the void his absence created within the Blacklist community.
How Did Kurt Perez Die?
The death of Kurt Perez was a rather tragic one. He was allegedly driving through Yorktown, New York on March 27th, and on the Taconic State Parkway, he lost control of his Ford explorer. Eye witness says it started out looking like a random erratic driver, but it soon became evident there was more going on. The vehicle eventually collided with a tree leading Kurt to sustain severe injuries from the crash. When the response team made it to the scene they declared Perez dead.
Law enforcement officials have speculated that the wet road conditions caused the accident; which caused Perez’s vehicle to lose control and collide with the tree at a high speed. Perez was 50 years old at the time of his passing. This tragic incident underscores the dangers posed by wet road conditions. His death was sudden, unexpected, and painful.
Kurt Perez 1972-2022
At the time of his death, Kurt Perez was 50 years old and had lived a good life. Because he was not often on our screens, details about his personal life are not available but we do know he was a father even though we are not sure whether or not he had a wife.
He had worked on Blacklist for years as a capable and reliable crew member who the actors would miss on the show as well as the production team. According to IMDb, Kurt Perez worked as a Grip in the series Set It Up (2018) and Red Oaks (2016).
Described as “passing at far too young an age,” the loss of Kurt Perez created a void and his contributions to the show will be remembered. The news of Perez’s death was tragically shocking, leading to crew members expressing their condolences on social media as well as a touching title card tribute at the end of episode 19 of season 9.
