Ken Steadman

Ken Steadman (June 26, 1969 – September 20, 1996) was an American film and television actor. He tragically died in an accident while filming "Desert Storm (S03E06)," an episode of the Fox television series Sliders (1995), in the desert near Victorville. On September 20, 1996, while transporting a dune buggy between scenes, the vehicle overturned, crushing him instantly. His passenger, Christopher Maleki, was seriously injured.

Born in Aberdeen, Washington, Ken had a happy childhood despite his parents' divorce. He maintained strong relationships with both his natural parents and their remarried spouses, giving him a solid foundation. Though school was challenging, he maintained a B average and excelled in skiing, football, and track, still holding his high school's pole vault record. He was an active and determined teenager.

Growing up, his stepfather managed a saltwater park, fostering Ken's love for the outdoors and the Orcas that frequented the area. His determination was remarkable; at 15, he declared his goal of becoming an astronaut and earning his pilot's license. Despite his parents' initial skepticism about his ability to fund it, Ken, at 16, had his pilot's license, having paid for 90% of it himself through sacrifice and hard work.