Oliver Reed’s Final Night During Gladiator In 1999, while filming Gladiator in Malta, Oliver Reed died during a production break. After months of sobriety, Reed joined friends at a pub where he was challenged by Royal Navy sailors to a drinking contest. He reportedly won multiple arm-wrestling matches before collapsing from a heart attack. Reed’s death shocked the cast, and digital effects were later used to complete his scenes—cementing his final role as one of his most iconic. | Did You Catch