Actor shot in head when prop gun turns out to be real and loaded

Sarasota, Florida -- The rehearsal for a theatrical drama put on by a group of local senior citizens nearly turned deadly Monday night when a prop gun being used in a shooting scene turned out to be real and loaded.

81-year-old Kelly Kellerman, playing the role of "Lenny" in the Sarasota Senior Theater's production of "Of Mice and Men", was shot at point blank range in the back of the head during a final rehearsal of the show.

Bill Bordy, Kellerman's co-star and the show's director, pulled the trigger and at first thought the gun's loud bang was a special effect.

"I'm the actor, I'm the director and we're running and late, and without thinking I didn't check the gun," said Bordy, who was so upset over the incident he could hardly sleep.

"I was like, 'Oh my God, dear Lord, no.'"

Kellerman was rushed to the hospital bleeding, but it turns out the bullet only grazed his skull, causing a cut above his left ear.

The wounded actor says the worst part of the shooting was the loud bang which caused momentary hearing loss, and a painful tetanus shot administered by nurses at the hospital.

"Actually, it makes me feel kind of special. My fifteen minutes of fame," joked Kellerman, who was quickly released from the hospital and is now back at his home in Sarasota.

It turns out the gun was brought in by a fellow cast member who forgot to remove the bullets. The incident happened at the Manatee Theater in Bradenton, and police are investigating what went wrong.

The entire rehearsal, including the shooting, was caught on tape by a camera set up to record the show.

Following the incident, the theater group began creating new rules to help prevent future prop accidents.