Los Angeles, California – The former wife of Hollywood actor Christian Oliver has paid a mournful tribute to him and their two young daughters after the girls and their father were killed in a small plane crash near a private island in the eastern Caribbean.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane accident on January 4, 2024, which took the lives of our beloved family members,” said a statement posted Friday on the Instagram account of Wundabar Pilates.
The crash occurred just west of Petit Nevis island near Bequia as the plane headed for nearby St. Lucia, according to police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The pilot, Robert Sachs, also died.
The Klepser family’s statement was published by Amy Jordan, the owner of Wundabar Pilates. Jordan said she was “blessed to have had Madita and Annik in our lives for many years, and cherish the memories of pool parties, sleepovers, school performances and Disneyland trips to hold in my heart. My focus at this time will be on supporting Jessica and my daughter, who was Annik’s best friend.”
In their tribute, Klepser and family described Madita as “a vibrant 7th-grade student at Louis Armstrong Middle School” and said she was known for “her lively spirit and excelled in academics, dance, singing, and performances.
“Annik, a 4th-grade student at Wonderland Ave Elementary School, was recognized for her gentle yet strong demeanor. She was always the first to offer a kind word or a comforting hug. Her passions included basketball, swimming, and various forms of art,” the statement said. “The deep bond, infectious laughter, and adventurous spirit shared by Madita and Annik will be profoundly missed in their communities.”
Oliver, whose real name is Christian Klepser, and his daughters are survived by Jessica Klepser in Los Angeles. The girls also leave behind their grandparents, several aunts, uncles and cousins in Germany.
A GoFundMe was created by comedian-actress Sarah Silverman. Donations to the fundraiser “will help cover the cost of returning Christian and the girls home, funeral and memorial services, legal expenses, and will go a long way in support of Jessica and the extended family during this terribly difficult time,” Silverman said in a statement.
Authorities said fishermen and divers in the area went to the crash site to help as the St. Vincent and Grenadines Coast Guard headed to the area.
The 51-year-old Oliver was born in Germany and had dozens of crediting film and television roles, including in the 2008 film “Speed Racer” and “The Good German,” a 2006 World War II film by Steven Soderbergh that starred George Clooney and Cate Blanchett. He appeared throughout season two of the 1990s series “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” playing a Swiss transfer student named Brian Keller.
The tragic plane accident took the lives of Hollywood actor Christian Oliver and his two young daughters in a small plane crash near a private island in the eastern Caribbean. The pilot, Robert Sachs, also died in the crash. The family’s statement was published by Amy Jordan, the owner of Wundabar Pilates, and a GoFundMe was set up to cover the costs of returning the family home, funeral and memorial services, legal expenses, and to support the extended family during this difficult time. Fishermen and divers in the area went to the crash site to help as the St. Vincent and Grenadines Coast Guard headed to the area. Oliver was born in Germany and had dozens of crediting film and television roles including in the 2008 film “Speed Racer” and “The Good German.”