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Billy Zane recounts 'angel dust' incident on Titanic set
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Billy Zane recounts 'angel dust' incident on Titanic set

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Actor Billy Zane discussed an unusual incident during the filming of "Titanic" in 1996.
  • Some crew members experienced euphoria and strange behavior after consuming contaminated seafood soup laced with PCP.
  • Zane, who played Cal Hockley, was not present during the incident but shared what he heard about the event.

Billy Zane, who portrayed Rose's fiancé Cal Hockley in the blockbuster film "Titanic," has shed light on a peculiar incident that occurred on set in August 1996. During filming in Nova Scotia, several members of the cast and crew experienced unusual effects after consuming a seafood soup that had been inadvertently contaminated with PCP, a dissociative drug also known as "angel dust."

I can't confirm or deny it.

— Billy ZaneResponding to a question about whether he ever encountered the person responsible for contaminating the food.

Zane revealed in a podcast appearance that he was not on set when the contamination occurred, as his scenes were filmed at a different time. He noted that key actors like Gloria Stuart, Kate Winslet, and Leonardo DiCaprio were not affected because they were either absent or did not partake in the contaminated meal.

And those who were lucky enough to recognize the first symptoms of the hallucinogens thought, 'Okay, let's hold on.' Those who didn't were quite terrified. That's what I've heard.

— Billy ZaneDescribing the reactions of crew members who consumed the contaminated soup.

Recounting what he heard, Zane described how some crew members became disoriented, experiencing fear, while others felt euphoric and laughed uncontrollably. He humorously speculated that the episode might have even contributed to the film's success, referencing the famous scene where Rose tells Jack, "There's a door, you see...?" and the interviewer quips, "But two people can't fit."

Wait! I got it! There's a door, you see...?

— Billy ZaneImitating director James Cameron, humorously linking the incident to the film's plot.

Earlier accounts from the late actor Bill Paxton, who played treasure hunter Brock Lovett, confirmed he did consume the soup. He recalled the strange atmosphere aboard the Keldysh research vessel, where the incident took place, noting that the crew often dined late before early morning shoots.

It's a very crazy story. We were on the Keldysh, which is the Russian research vessel that had the submersibles that the director had brought to film some shots that he used in the movie.

— Bill PaxtonRecalling the setting of the incident during an interview with Larry King.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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