Christian Oliver, known for his role in “Speed Racer,” shared a poignant message on Instagram just hours before he tragically died in a plane crash along with his two daughters.
Oliver, whose real name was Christian Klepser, passed away on Thursday, January 4, in a plane crash that also claimed the lives of his daughters, aged 10 and 12. The accident occurred west of Petit Nevis after their flight took off from J.F. Mitchell Airport in Paget Farm, bound for St. Lucia. The plane encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff and ‘plummeted into the ocean’. The pilot, Robert Sachs, also perished in the incident.
Just days before his untimely death, Oliver expressed his optimism for the year 2024. He posted a photo on Instagram with people on the beach, captioning it: “Let Love Rule. Wishing you all the best for 2024!” He added, “Greetings from somewhere in paradise! To community and love …2024 [here] we come!” Unbeknownst to him, his life and that of his daughters would come to a sudden and tragic end.
Oliver is survived by his ex-wife, Jessica Klepser, with whom he shared daughters Madita and Annik, as well as his sister and parents. The family released a statement following the tragedy, expressing their deep sorrow. The statement read: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane accident on January 4, 2024, which took the lives of our beloved family members. Our daughters, Madita (12), and Annik (10), along with their father Christian, were returning from a holiday in the Caribbean when the single-engine plane they were traveling in experienced engine trouble and fell into the ocean. Unfortunately, all four passengers on the small aircraft did not survive.”
The statement highlighted the lives and personalities of Madita and Annik, noting Madita’s academic and artistic talents and Annik’s kind and gentle nature. It also mentioned their mother, Jessica Klepser, who survives them, along with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Germany. The statement added, “Christian, an actor in Europe and the US, and a real estate agent with a broad network of close friends worldwide, is survived by Jessica, his parents and sister in Germany. His loss will be deeply felt by all who knew him.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Jessica Klepser during this difficult time. At the time of writing, it has raised over $144,000.
