Disney World's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Actor Dies in Freak Fireworks Accident

Devon Staples, who portrayed a range of Disney characters including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST's 'Gaston' at Orlando's Walt Disney World, died in a horrific fireworks accident during a backyard celebration in Maine on July 4th.

According to The Daily News, the 22-year-old was fooling around Saturday night and placed a mortar tube on his head while holding a lighter in his hand, accidentally igniting the firework. His younger brother Cody tells the site, "It was a freak accident ... But Devon was not the kind of person who would do something stupid. He was the kind of person who would pretend to do something stupid to make people laugh."

Although he stood at 6 foot 2 and weighed 240 pounds, Cody said his brother was a gentle giant. "If someone needed his help he would go to protect them like a lion," he shared. "Anyone who would want to give a tribute to Devon should go out and do something nice for someone. Show some love to someone you don't know. That kid was all about showing people love."

In tribute to their son, the Staple's family shared a YouTube video of him in costume interacting with visitors at the DisneyWorld park: