The family of an American Horror Story crewmember who died on his 25th wedding anniversary after getting Covid-19 on set is suing the show’s creators on the grounds that “safety measures were disregarded on set.”
In the spring of 2021, Paul Woodward, 68, caught the virus while working as a truck driver on the set of the hit FX show in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
His family claims that there was no plexiglass divider in Woodward’s truck as he carried individuals from across the country to the location to work on the program. The family also mentions a lack of social distance and mask-wearing as problems.
They are seeking damages from 20th Century Fox, Ryan Murphy Productions, and The Walt Disney Company. The family desires that a jury decide whether or not damages are acceptable.
Paul Woodward is photographed at his daughter’s high school graduation with his son Redmond, left, wife Patricia, and daughter Harley.
A few weeks before to his death, Woodward felt sick on set and took a negative Covid test. After his condition did not improve, his son Redmond transported him to a nearby hospital, where he tested positive.
In a tragic interview with NBC Boston, his wife Patricia Woodward revealed, “He died on the morning of our 25th wedding anniversary.”
Instead of going out to dinner or drinking champagne on that day, I had to go to the funeral home and hunt for a casket for him.
Redmond Woodward described seeing his father on the day he picked him up, stating, ‘To see him in such a state was quite frightening.’
In the same interview, he stated, “We just want people to be aware of the situation so something like this never happens to anyone else again, because this has been the worst time of our lives.”
Harley, his 23-year-old daughter, stated that she was attending Cornell University when her father became ill. She stated, “I used to attend school in the vicinity.” If I had been present, I would have had the opportunity to meet him in person at least once. So it has been quite difficult for me.’
In May of 2023, Harley will graduate from the Ivy League institution.
Patricia Woodward stated in a separate interview with CBS Boston that she never received condolences from the producers.
In a tragic interview with NBC Boston, his wife Patricia Woodward revealed, “He died on the morning of our 25th wedding anniversary.” So instead of going out to dinner or drinking champagne, I had to go to the funeral home to find a casket for him.
Redmond Woodward stated in the same interview, “We just want people to be aware of the situation so that it doesn’t happen to anyone else again.”
In April 1996, Woodward, a native of Brockton, Massachusetts, married his wife Patricia.
Woodward was employed with Entertainment Partners LP at the time of his passing.
Significant portions of the tenth season of American Horror Story were shot in Provincetown; the subtitle of the season is Double Feature. Macauley Culkin, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters are featured.
The majority of the filming occurred along Commercial Street in the prosperous town.
At the time of his passing, Woodward was employed by a business called Entertainment Partners LP. According to the lawsuit, his employment began on February 26, 2021. Woodward stayed at the Harbor Hotel in Provincetown ‘together with many other workers on the Defendant’s project’ during his employment.
The lawsuit states, “[Woodward] remained in the isolating Project, continuously working long hours, until he contracted COVID-19 and became ill with COVID-19 symptoms.”
He became unwell on March 13, 2021, and passed away on April 18, 2021.
In his obituary, Woodward is said to have had a “great appreciation for life.” His interests were snowmobiling, boating, jet-skiing, driving classic automobiles, and spending time with his family.
Significant portions of the tenth season of American Horror Story were shot in Provincetown; the subtitle of the season is Double Feature. Macauley Culkin, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters are featured.
In his obituary, Woodward is said to have had a “great appreciation for life.” His hobbies included snowmobiling, boating, jet-skiing, driving vintage automobiles, and spending time with his family. Woody’s Wabbits was a little business he operated to grow rabbits as a sideline.
The eulogy continues: “[Woodward] had a great sense of humor and enjoyed sharing stories with friends and family.”
Throughout his tenure as a driver, Woodward worked on films including Grown Ups 2, Knives Out, and the 2016 adaptation of Ghostbusters.
The native of Brockton is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and “beloved cocker spaniel Mookie.”
According to his Facebook page, Woodward had been a Teamsters driver since 1980 and identified himself as a “workaholic.” He was a member of the Movie Division of Teamsters Local 25.
On April 28, 2022, his Teamsters local conducted a memorial service for him.
The family’s attorney, Jonathan Sweeet of Keches Law Group, stated in the lawsuit, ‘The van was overcrowded, and no one was wearing a mask.’ These were individuals from across the nation, particularly California.
The complaint, which was filed yesterday, seeks to hold these Hollywood production firms accountable for their decision to conduct unsafe filming in Massachusetts, he noted.
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