Halyna Hutchins was a cinematographer who died on 21 October 2021 while filming the movie Rust in New Mexico. She was shot accidentally when actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun loaded with a live bullet. Hutchins was struck by the bullet in the chest and left director Joel Souza injured. Hutchins was rushed to a hospital but died at the age of 42.
The incident resulted in investigations into how an actual bullet wound up in the gun. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2024 and given 18 months in jail. Charges against Baldwin were dropped in July 2024 because of concealed evidence. Halyna’s widower, Matthew Hutchins, resolved a civil case against Baldwin in 2022, resides in Los Angeles, California, and raises their son Andros.
Who is Matt Hutchins?
Matthew Matt Hutchins was born in 1983 in Los Angeles, California, in a middle-class family. His father was employed at a private firm and instructed Matt about school topics at home, making Matt a good student. Matt enjoyed studying and subsequently attended the University of Southern California and received a degree in Economics in 2005. He then attended Harvard Law School and graduated in 2010. He is a lawyer and practiced law in Los Angeles assisting businesses with legal issues.
Matt and Halyna Hutchins met about 2005 when Matt was attending college in South Carolina. Halyna was a Ukrainian cinematographer in the United States on a student visa. Matt ran into her after class and was astonished. He requested her number, but she did not have one, so he informed her of his workplace. She came there to see him, and they began dating.
In January of 2006, they wed after a whirlwind romance. They supported each other’s dreams and had a son, Andros in 2012. Matt and Halyna were married for 16 years and lived together in Los Angeles with their son.
Matt Hutchins’ Response to Halyna’s Death, and Where is He Now?
On October 21, 2021, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins died on the Rust movie set near Santa Fe, New Mexico, after Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun during a church scene. Her husband, Matt Hutchins, and their son, Andros, were deeply affected. Matt felt heartbroken when he heard the news and told Andros directly about his mother’s death. Soon after, they flew to Santa Fe. In a documentary, it’s shown that Baldwin met Matt there and said he was sorry. But Matt believed Baldwin and others were to blame because safety rules about guns on set weren’t followed properly.
On February 15, 2022, Matt and his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and other people linked to the incident. Baldwin said he wasn’t at fault and denied the set was unsafe. In a TV interview with Today, he explained, “It’s ridiculous to say the person holding the gun isn’t responsible,” but also said gun safety wasn’t the only issue—other rules were ignored too.
This interview upset Matt more because Baldwin spoke a lot about Halyna’s death and didn’t take any blame. Matt felt the tragedy could have been avoided if the crew’s safety came first. He wants justice for those involved, though he knows it won’t bring Halyna back. He hopes her memory can help make sets safer so this doesn’t happen again.
Matt is now living in Los Angeles with Andros. In July 2024, after Baldwin’s criminal case was dismissed, Matt’s lawyer said they still wanted Baldwin to face a jury in a civil case, believing he should be held responsible for Halyna’s death. Matt continues to focus on his son and his legal efforts.
Watch Last Take Rust and the story of Halyna on Hulu.
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