Christian Oliver’s final photo before his tragic death has been revealed.
The 51-year-old actor died on Jan. 4 when the small plane he was in “plummeted into the ocean” off a Caribbean island.
The “Hunters” and “Speed Racer” star, whose real name is Christian Klepser, was with daughters Madita, 12, and Annik, 10, when they died alongside their pilot, Robert Sachs, on the doomed flight.
The actor was laid to rest in a small ceremony in LA on Monday, which was attended by close family and friends, according to Oliver’s close friend Konstantin Richter, CEO and Founder at Blockdaemon.
On Tuesday, Richter shared a heartful post on social media honoring the actor, which included the last photo that was taken of Oliver just hours before he was killed.
“On January 4th, three of the dearest people in my life passed away during a plane crash on Bequia,” Richter began. “That fateful day Christian took his 2 daughters Madita and Annik fishing in the morning, before heading to the airport. After a magical week-long holiday with friends, Christian found out his original flight was cancelled.”
In the photo, Oliver smiles from ear to ear, exhilaratingly holding a fish he seemingly just caught in the ocean.
Richter explained that it was a “chance encounter” with pilot Robert Sachs in a “dive-shop” that ultimately led to the “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” actor’s demise.
The family were being flown from the island of Bequia to nearby St. Lucia when their single-engine plane “experienced difficulties and plummeted into the ocean,” the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police said. The moment was caught on a bystander’s cellphone.
“He was excited to get back home to finish a movie and to celebrate a belated new year with the rest of his family,” Richter continued. “Christian left behind many life-times of friendships, thousands of moments of near endless joy and laughter, memories of a man who lived to the fullest, a true dreamer and doer, a fierce friend and absolutely unique individual that did not waste his time doing things he didn’t want to do. A sensitive soul in the body of a leading man, who prioritized his daughters and friends above anything.”
Richter went on to praise Oliver for his talent as an actor and a father.
“Christian left us in his prime, he exited the stage stronger than he has ever been,” Richter wrote. “I have no words to describe the in-fathomable loss of his beautiful, kind and curious girls. Solace can be found that they are and were with their Dad, who undoubtedly assured them all will be fine until the end. They are and always will be together.”
Richter also took a moment to honor Oliver’s wife, Jessica Klepser, a regional manager at Wundabar Pilates, calling her “the strongest woman you will ever meet.”
“I know that Christian would want us to ensure they are fine, and that is what we will do,” Richter said of Klepser, his parents Ursel and Gerhard, his sister Sanni and more. “No one brought people together better than Christian, and we will circle around his loved ones to honor that.”
According to Richter, “a celebration of life” as per “Jessica’s and his parents wishes” will take place “at a later time.”
He concluded the post simply by stating: “RIP brother, we will take it from here.”
Just days after her husband and daughters were killed, Klepser also took to social media to thank the fans for their support.
“The outpouring of love I’m receiving is beyond words,” she wrote. “From those closest to my heart, from community, from people far away to complete strangers … I see the messages, I see the word and it gives me so much strength. They are here with me for every step and they are watching us…”