Oscar nominee Demián Bichir has broken his silence on the death of his wife, Canadian actor Stefanie Sherk, who died by suicide in 2019.
Bichir, whose credits include The Hateful Eight, George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky and the Oscar-nominated drama A Better Life, announced in 2019 that Sherk had died following eight days in hospital.
Sherk was found unresponsive at home before being taken to hospital, where she did not recover. A coroner ruled her death a suicide.
In a new essay, Bichir writes that “nothing [made] sense” in the wake of Sherk’s death. He also describes how his wife’s inability to sleep and the prescription medication she was subscribed contributed to “a very scary and lonely state of mind” for her.
“[Stefanie’s] magnificent talent and faith were her strongest virtues,” Bichir writes. “But when a human being can’t sleep, nothing goes right. We all have gone through a rough night now and then but losing your sleep to prescribed sleeping pills is a devastating, dangerous and in our case, fatal territory. Sleep deprivation is the fastest way to desperation and absolute fear. Dark thoughts are everything your mind is able to think of.”
Bichir said that doctors attempted to help Sherk’s illness, but that she “couldn’t bear the pain any longer”. He added: “Two days into this new treatment we lost her smile forever.”
Bichir’s full essay can be read at Deadline Hollywood.
Sherk, 37, appeared in the 2010 film Valentine’s Day, as well as TV series including CSI: Cyber and The Bridge.
Bichir next appears in films including Godzilla vs Kong and Chaos Walking.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
