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Back to the Future star dies after tragic hospital dash as fans pay tribute

Max Kleven, a stunt coordinator and actor famed for his work on the Back to the Future trilogy, died on Wednesday of heart failure at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, his family announced

[Max Kleven]

Max Kleven dead: Back To The Future star dies after sudden heart failure in hospital dash(Image: ImDb)

Norwegian-born stunt performer and actor, Max Kleven, has passed away at the age of 92. The screen star died on Wednesday from heart failure at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, his family confirmed.

Max also had a successful career as a stunt coordinator and second unit director, with credits including Our Man Flint, The Deep and the Back To The Future trilogy.

His family highlighted one of his career highlights when Steven Spielberg told him, "I hire you to fix my movies." Max worked for the renowned producer on the Back to the Future films, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1980's Used Cars and 2000's What Lies Beneath, among other features.

[Max]

The star will be sorely missed(Image: Handout)

A ski jumper hailing from Norway, he also contributed to Naked City, Batman Returns and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. At the onset of his career, Kleven doubled for Paul Burke on ABC's Naked City and for Glenn Corbett on CBS's Route 66. He held the position of president of the Stuntman's Association of Motion Pictures in the 1970s.

Born on August 16, 1933, in Trondheim, Norway, Max spent his formative years on a farm with his mother Jenny, and cousin Joni. He later joined the Norwegian Merchant Marine as a teenager and relocated to the US in 1951.

Upon his arrival in California and witnessing the daily sunshine and palm trees, he made a vow to never leave, reports the Express.

According to IMDb, the first film he worked on was the Oscar best picture winner Around the World in 80 Days (1956).

Max performed stunts for a host of other films including Our Man Flint (1966), Murderers' Row (1966), Who's Minding the Mint? (1967), Charley Varrick (1973), Back to the Future (1985), Ruthless People (1986), Species (1995) and Wild Wild West (1999).

His CV as a stunt coordinator featured Book of Numbers (1973), Dillinger (1973), The Deep (1977), The Changeling (1980), Footloose (1984) and Sleeping With the Enemy (1991), and he served as a second-unit director on Raid on Entebbe (1976), Runaway Train (1985), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Part III (1990), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and Spider-Man (2002).

Max leaves behind his wife Luz, his daughters Valli and Celine, his son Erik and his grandson Hunter.

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