Oliver Reed's Deadly Drinking Contest

Actor Oliver Reed, known for his roles in over 50 movies, died during a break from shooting Gladiator after winning a drinking match with British sailors. Reed consumed a significant amount of alcohol, including eight pints of German lager, a dozen shots of rum, half a bottle of whiskey, and a few shots of Hennessy. He triumphed over five young sailors in an arm wrestling contest before collapsing. Unfortunately, Reed passed away before completing all of his scenes in Gladiator. The film used a digital body double for some of his unfinished scenes, amounting to an estimated cost of $3.2 million.

Previous Fact Next Fact