James Bond Actor Paul Bhattacharjee Committed Suicide After Declaring Bankruptcy, Inquest Reveals

British actor's financial problems led him to take his own life, according to an official hearing into his death

By Josh Grossberg Nov 14, 2013 8:44 PMTags
Paul BhattacharjeeDave M. Benett/Getty Images

Sadly, life apparently dealt Paul Bhattacharjee a bad hand.

The Casino Royale actor had been declared bankrupt just a day before his July 9 suicide, a U.K. inquest revealed.

Per the Telegraph, Bhattacharjee's partner, Emma McKie, told an Eastbourne Magistrates Court that the 53-year-old was a "proud" man who didn't want his dire financial situation becoming public knowledge.

Bhattacharjee was last seen on July 10 leaving London's Royal Court theater where he was due to star in the play Talk Show. After he was reported missing, authorities found his body at Splash Point Cliffs two days later.

At Thursday's hearing, McKie said that after he disappeared, she had opened some letters and discovered the bankruptcy notice, dated July 9. That revelation, she said, prompted the East Enders star to take his own life.

"I do believe that Paul would take his own life. He had a darkness inside him that was irreparable," McKie said in a statement, describing him as a beautiful and loving man. "I knew about his past and the pain inside him and I could see it in his eyes."

Regarding the bankruptcy, she added: "He would not have wanted to let me down or hurt me or his friends. The bankruptcy was the final straw after a life of major highs and lows."

McKie noted that she last saw the thespian on July 10 when he complained of a stomachache. After texting her to say he'd be late for dinner, he sent her a final message around 9:16 p.m. which simply read, "I'm sorry."

A post-mortem examination found that Bhattacharjee died of multiple injuries and toxicology test results also showed no evidence that drugs or alcohol were a factor.

His death was officially ruled a suicide by East Sussex coroner Alan Craze, who said he received an anonymous letter stating the death was deliberate and linked "wholly and entirely to his bankruptcy."

"He was extremely depressed at the time," Craze told the court. "This was a huge tragedy for a lot of people."

Bhattacharjee's other notable feature film credits include Bend It Like Beckham and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.