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Crew member dies after falling on the set of the Mister Rogers biopic starring Tom Hanks

Authorities say a crew member working on a movie about Mister Rogers, seen here June 28, 1989, has died after he suffered an apparent medical emergency and fell two stories off a balcony Thursday, during a break in filming in western Pennsylvania.
Authorities say a crew member working on a movie about Mister Rogers, seen here June 28, 1989, has died after he suffered an apparent medical emergency and fell two stories off a balcony Thursday, during a break in filming in western Pennsylvania.
(Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo)
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Authorities say a crew member working on a movie about Mister Rogers has died after he suffered an apparent medical emergency and fell two stories off a balcony in western Pennsylvania.

Allegheny County officials say James Emswiller fell around 7:30 p.m. Thursday during a break in filming. The 61-year-old Pittsburgh man died later at a hospital.

Emswiller was involved in the sound production of “You Are My Friend,” which was shooting a scene in Mount Lebanon. The film is based on the life of Fred Rogers, the genial host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

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Mount Lebanon police say Emswiller fell over a brick wall on a balcony at an apartment building.

Tom Hanks, who is playing Rogers in the movie, was at the site and later left.

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