- IMDBProduction facilitator Jeff Rice, who worked for reality shows including the current season of 'The Amazing Race,' was found dead after a suspected poisoning.
Production facilitator Jeff Rice, who
worked for reality shows including the current season of 'The Amazing
Race,' was found dead in his hotel room in Kampala, Uganda, and his
production assistant is clinging for her life after a suspected
poisoning, says the man's grieving widow.
"They were not attacked but [evidence]
points towards being poisoned," Rice's widow Sally Blackman tells
FoxNews.com exclusively. "[A]t this stage it is quite difficult to give
you any firm reports as the incident is currently under investigation by
the Uganda police."
A source close to the show told FoxNews.com
the two were allegedly poisoned after a failed shakedown attempt by
local thugs. Blackman did not want to make any further assumptions about
her husband's death in light of the ongoing investigation.
"I would not like to speculate or even
attempt to give my views on this as this may jeopardize the
investigation going forward," she said.
Blackman said the condition of the assistant, who she did not name, was critical.
"His production assistant, currently working
for Maverick Entertainment, was also discovered in a coma and has been
hospitalized in Uganda," she told FoxNews.com. "She has not shown any
improvement as [of] yet."
Maverick Entertainment is Rice's production company.
"His dream for Maverick Entertainment was to
produce in all areas of Africa," said Blackman of her husband. "He
loved the African people and was driven to share in all the various
cultures."
Rice and the assistant were not currently
working on "The Amazing Race," but he had worked on Season 20, which
premiered on CBS on Sunday. Rice had also worked on Animal Planet's
"Whale Wars" and the South African version of "The Biggest Loser," along
with several other series and television movies.
A rep for Jerry Bruckheimer Films, the
production company behind "The Amazing Race," said he had "no knowledge"
of the incident when reached earlier on Tuesday.
CBS had no comment.
Facilitators like Rice are typically hired
by larger production companies to make necessary arrangements with local
officials before producers come in to shoot scenes for their shows.
After hearing the tragic news, friends of
Rice took to Twitter to express their grief. SyFy Channel personality
Josh Gates said, "Floored by the loss of my dear friend & fellow
adventurer, Jeff Rice. You were, quite simply, the real deal. I'll never
forget you."
Rex Williams from Syfy's ‘Destination Truth’
tweeted, "Lost my great friend, Jeff Rice. I can't tell you how
saddened we are. He was a true adventurer."
Rice was originally from the United States
and moved to South Africa in 1999, where he worked to help develop the
country’s film industry. That year, he and Blackman founded SB
Entertainment, which specializes in "producing and facilitating films,
commercials, documentaries, television and still campaigns."
Rice produced under the banners of both SB and Maverick Entertainment.
Rice and Blackman were married in 2001.
Along with his widow, Rice leaves behind two young children, ages seven
and almost two. Rice had been expected home on February 25th to
celebrate his daughter’s second birthday.
"Jeff was a dedicated father who made the
most of his time with his family when back home in South Africa," said
Blackman. "He has left a huge void, not only in the film industry, but
with his family he has left behind. We will miss his smiles and constant
humor."
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