Joe Hailey was a makeup artist who worked on the popular crime drama series NCIS for 16 years. He passed away in May 2018, leaving behind a legacy of talent, humor, and kindness. In this article, we will explore the life and career of Joe Hailey, his cause of death, and how NCIS honored him in a touching tribute.
Who was Joe Hailey?
Joe Hailey was born in 1957 and grew up in Southern California. He had a passion for makeup and storytelling since he was a child. He joined the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, IATSE Local 706, in 1978, making him the youngest makeup artist in the guild at the time.
He worked on various television shows and movies throughout his 40-year career, such as Dallas, Roseanne, Perfect Strangers, Step by Step, JAG, and Pleasantville. He won an award from the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards in 2000 and was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1992 and 1999.
He was best known for his work on NCIS, which he joined in 2003 and worked on over 300 episodes. He was responsible for creating the distinctive looks of the characters, such as Abby Sciuto’s neck tattoo, Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ scar, and Ziva David’s Israeli accent.
He was also a writer and an actor, having written and starred in a short film called The Last Laugh in 2016. He had a witty and charming personality that made everyone around him laugh. He was described by his co-workers as a funny and talented storyteller who could make any situation hilarious.
He was engaged to Sheri Dickerson and had four stepchildren, Holton, Troy, Sierra, and Blaine. He loved his family and was looking forward to retiring and traveling with them.
How did Joe Hailey die?
Joe Hailey died of a heart attack on May 26, 2018, at the age of 60. He had been suffering from heart problems for a few years and had undergone several surgeries and procedures. He had an amazing team of UCLA cardiologists who thought they had his condition under control.
He had just finished the 2017-2018 season of NCIS and was planning to retire and go on a European vacation with his fiancé. His death came as a shock to his doctors, his family, and his friends.
How did NCIS pay tribute to Joe Hailey?
NCIS paid tribute to Joe Hailey in the closing credits of the second episode of season 16, which aired on September 25, 2018. The episode was titled Love Thy Neighbor and featured a case involving a Navy lieutenant who was murdered by his neighbor. The title card read: “We Will Miss You Joe Hailey” and showed a picture of him smiling.
The tribute was a way of honoring his contributions to the show and expressing the grief and gratitude of the cast and crew. Pauley Perrette, who played Abby Sciuto, shared a video of him on Twitter in May 2018, saying: “NCIS family just lost a beloved member. Joe Hailey. My make up guy for 16 years. RIP my beloved” .
Many fans of the show also expressed their condolences and appreciation for Joe Hailey on social media, saying that he was a part of the NCIS family and that his work will live on through the characters he helped create.
