Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was a US Air Force pilot and member of the Mercury Seven who was also a part of the Apollo program and was the second American to fly into space.
Grissom was involved with controversy when he was being picked up by recovery, the hatch blew out, which caused the craft he was in to sink but it was later found he was not found to be at fault. He would later name his Gemini 3 spacecraft Molly Brown in a nod to this incident.
He died in 1967 at the age of 40 during a pre-launch test for Apollo 1, along with Ed White and Roger B. Chaffee.
Media
Film- Air Cadet: He briefly appeared in the film, which was made before he became well known as an astronaut.
- First Man: Grissom is played by Shea Whigham.
- The Right Stuff: He was played by Fred Ward.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: The Oberth-class USS Grissom is named after him.
Live-Action Television
- The Astronaut Wives Club: He is played by Joel Johnstone.
- CSI: Gil Grissom is named after him after actor William Petersen suggested the name, as he is an admirer of the man.
- From the Earth to the Moon: Played by Mark Rolston. He's show both as CAPCOM for the Gemini 4 mission, and his death during Apollo 1.
- The Right Stuff: Played by Michael Trotter. Has a far smaller role than in the film of the same name.
