Man Who Died After Launching Firework Off His Head Was Former Disney Gaston Actor [VIDEO]
A man who died trying to launch a firework off the top of his head over the Fourth of July weekend is also the same man who went viral as a former Disney World 'Gaston' actor.
Devon Staples was setting off fireworks with friends in their backyard, when he decided to put a fireworks mortar tube on the top of his head and set it off. The 22-year-old man died instantly.
According to police, Staples and his friends had been drinking. His brother describes thei incident as a "freak accident," saying that Staples was holding a lighter that accidentally set off the firework.
It was a freak accident. …. But Devon was not the kind of person who would do something stupid. He was the kind of person who would pretend to do something stupid to make people laugh.
His brother also revealed that Devon used to work at Disney World as a "Beauty and the Beast" character Gaston.
Earlier this year, a video starring one of the Disney Gaston actors went viral after a famous push-up showdown with a tourist appeared on YouTube—but after some outlets reported that Staples was the actor in the video The Hollywood Reporter is saying that is not the case.
Staples did indeed work as a Gaston actor, and according to his brother he loved entertaining the kids and their families.
Authorities say Staples' death is the first fireworks fatality since the state of Maine legalized fireworks in 2012.