Actor Remembered as ‘Superman’ After Heroic Final Act
Richmond, Virginia — A community is in mourning after local stage actor Adam Turck, 35, was fatally shot on Saturday morning while walking his dog. Turck was killed after courageously intervening in a violent altercation between a woman and her boyfriend outside an apartment building in Church Hill.
According to police, Turck attempted to de-escalate the argument when the 19-year-old man involved drew a handgun from his backpack and opened fire. Turck was critically wounded and later died at the hospital. The gunman also turned the weapon on himself and remains hospitalized. Authorities confirmed that the woman Turck sought to protect was unharmed.
In his final act of selflessness, Turck became an organ donor — a decision his family says reflects who he was.
“If Adam hadn’t been there, that woman would not be alive today,” his family said in a statement. “That’s what heroes do — they save others.”
A Beloved Figure in Theatre
Turck was a fixture of Richmond’s performing arts community, known for his vibrant stage presence at Virginia Repertory Theatre. He earned a Best Actor award in 2018 and was recently cast in Dracula: A Comedy of Horrors. Friends and colleagues described him as compassionate, loyal, and deeply principled.
“He was Superman,” said fellow actor and friend CJ Bergin. “When he saw injustice, he didn’t walk away — he walked into the fire. Now, the world is a duller place without him.”
A Legacy of Light
Tributes have poured in from both the theatre and fitness communities, where Turck was equally admired. His dog, Lana, was unharmed in the incident. The woman he shielded survived, and countless others may benefit from the gift of his organ donation.
His family has asked the public to honor his memory by embracing hope and courage — echoing the words from one of his favorite Superman posters: “Look up.”
Adam Turck’s bravery and kindness, friends say, will live on in every life he touched — and in the lives he continues to save.