Life Emulating Fiction

"[Appleby was a] beloved business partner, leader, mentor, friend and brother to many in our community, and a loving husband and father to his wife and children."
"He will be remembered for his quick humour, strong leadership, care and compassion for his crew and — above all else — his devotion to his family."
"Words cannot express how dearly he will be missed."
Acme FX

Emergency crews were called to the area of North Queen Street and Shorncliffe Road in Etobicoke about an industrial accident on Thursday. (Garry Asselstine/CBC)

"The executive producers, along with everyone in the Titans family, Warner Bros. Television Group and DC Universe, wish to express our deepest condolences, and heartfelt love and support, to Warren's family and friends at this most difficult time."
"[Appleby had a 25-year career in TV and movies, and was] beloved by all who worked with him."
Warner Bros.

"This is just the worst fear of what we do."
"But he would deliver. The gags were good and it was safe. There would be times where we'd be doing something and it would be '3, 2, 1' and he'd go, 'Abort, abort -- stop, stop, stop'."
"He would have seen something that one of us didn't see, whether it was an instinct or something." There's that fine line between making it great and making sure it's safe, and as far as I remember, ironically, nobody has ever really been hurt on one of his sets."
J. Miles Dale, filmmaker, friend, collaborator

Warren Appleby pictured with his wife and two children. (Submitted by family)

"When you see these spectacular effects in movies and TV shows, there is an element of danger in producing them for the benefit of the camera." 
"We just have to make sure that whatever changes to procedures and rules and processes that are necessary that come out of looking at this very carefully, hopefully will bring a tiny degree of comfort to Mr. Appleby's family, but more importantly will make sure that people are safe going forward."
Toronto Mayor John Tory

"Titans" is part of the DC Universe. (Photo: Dave Kotinsky, Getty Images for DC UNIVERSE)

"I knew Warren as a top-notch FX man but I admired him as a father and family man, and a colleague, too."
"He always gave you his 100% percent. He was very near and very dear and an integral part of our core team. He will be always be beloved and admired."
Guillermo del Toro, 2018 best picture Oscar "The Shape of Water" 

Perhaps it's an inevitable part of some peoples' lives. People like inveterate alpinists for whom every mountain peak is a challenge, where something within urges them forever on to ascend the most forbidding peaks on Earth in deadly weather conditions for the opportunity to stand on top of that conquered peak and know they had the stamina and fortitude to succeed. Eventually the intrepid climber whose renown is spoken with reverence by all those who look upon him as a mentor inspiring their own ambitions, meets his end while summitting. 

And those who love him grieve and say he died while doing what he best loved.

It seems that Toronto-based special effects co-ordinator Warren Appleby was of that ilk. People inspired to do dangerous things seem psychologically armoured by the self-assurance that nothing will go wrong. It can, for other people, but not for them because they know the risks, they are skilled at assessing potential problems making them capable of avoiding them by circumventing the circumstances that can lead to disaster. It takes but one unwary moment, and the intervention of uncontrollable events. 

Warren Appleby was known for avoiding unnecessary risks before proceeding. As the quintessential professional who knows his craft and the possibilities of things going awry he was admired for the fact that he could deliver the end result that made the films he was involved with as a technical adviser and events manager, spectacular. On Thursday in Toronto an accident occurred while testing a special effect for the series Titans. 

Warren Appleby's 25 years in the business where he was acknowledged for leadership qualities, humour and confidence born of earned self-assurance gave the world of entertainment the professionalism of a consummate master of the genre. One whose luck, quite simply, ran out. During that test, the explanation given by Toronto police recounted, the equipment exploded in the special effects facility. 

The 'equipment' was a vehicle being prepared for roll-over effects. Something broke away from the vehicle and flew with high impact to fatally strike the man. He died en route to hospital. As it does with all industrial-type accidents the Ministry of Labour is investigating the deadly accident. And thus ends a prolific career, a man proud of his role in helping to create outstanding films, involved in credit-worthy productions such as the series The Strain, the films It, It Chapter Two and Oscar-winning The Shape of Water.

Warren Appleby, who was tragically killed working on the TV show "Titans" pictured with his wife Jennifer and two sons. (Photo: Courtesy of GoFundMe/Warren Appleby)