Randy Dee Hafen in 2025 Facts and Bio
Randy Dee Hafen wasn’t a household name, but for fans of the TV series Bones, he left a mark that still lingers. Born on July 20, 1988, in St. George, Utah—not Los Angeles as some might assume—this young actor stepped into the spotlight with his role as a Demolition Derby Driver in a 2017 episode. Standing at 5’5” (165 cm) and weighing around 55 kg (121 lbs), Randy brought a wiry energy to the screen that matched his real-life love for cars and adventure. Tragically, his life ended on January 2, 2017, at just 28 years old, in a car accident that cut short a promising path. As of April 11, 2025, eight years later, here’s a clear-eyed look at who he was, what he did, and why he’s still remembered—keeping it real at 1200-1500 words with the latest info and sources.
Who Was Randy Dee Hafen?
Randy Dee Hafen was an American actor with a brief but notable stint in entertainment, best known for his small role in Bones. Born in St. George, Utah, he grew up in nearby Ivins, a small town where his passions for demolition derbies and tinkering with cars took root. He wasn’t raised in Hollywood’s glitz—his world was more about dusty roads and tight-knit community vibes. On January 2, 2017, at 6:18 PM, Randy’s life ended in a head-on crash with a semi-truck on State Route 18 near Enterprise, Utah, leaving behind a son, a family, and a legacy that’s quietly endured (Hughes Mortuary Obituary, 2017).
By 2025, Randy’s memory lives on through his Bones appearance and the fans who still talk about him online—think Reddit threads and X posts where people recall his episode with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. He wasn’t a star in the classic sense, but his one role, paired with his real-life grit, keeps his name floating around.
The Basics: Randy Dee Hafen in 2025
- Name: Randy Dee Hafen
- Date of Birth: July 20, 1988
- Birthplace: St. George, Utah, USA
- Height: 5’5” (165 cm)
- Weight: ~55 kg (121 lbs)
- Profession: Actor
- Known For: Demolition Derby Driver in Bones (2017)
- Died: January 2, 2017, car accident
- Age at Death: 28
- Family: Parents Gary and Marie Hafen; son Justin Slama; siblings Eva Marie, Martha Rose, Darci Ann, Garrick, Janice, Tracy
Randy didn’t have a sprawling social media empire—his footprint was small, mostly tied to his acting debut. But his Bones episode, “The Steal in the Wheels,” aired posthumously on March 7, 2017, with a dedication that hit fans hard (IMDb).
Growing Up in Utah: Early Life
Randy came into the world in St. George, Utah, on July 20, 1988, born to Gary Hafen and Marie Hafen, with Joseph Hardy listed as a co-parent in some records (Hughes Mortuary, 2017). Raised in Ivins—a town of about 8,000 back then—he was the kind of kid who’d rather be under a car hood than stuck in a classroom. His family was big and close—three full sisters (Eva Marie, Martha Rose, Darci Ann) and three half-siblings (Garrick, Janice, Tracy) from his parents’ blended dynamic (The Spectrum & Daily News, 2017).
School wasn’t his thing, but he made it through Cedar City High School, graduating around 2006 (Legacy.com). “He was always tinkering,” a friend recalled in a 2017 obituary comment, summing up his hands-on streak. Cars were his world—building them, racing them, crashing them in derbies. He’d spend weekends with buddies, wrench in hand, or hitting up local demolition derbies, a passion that later landed him his Bones gig. Growing up in Utah’s rugged landscape gave him a taste for adventure—hiking, driving backroads, helping out whoever needed a hand (Stylevore, 2023).
Breaking Into Acting: The Bones Moment
Randy’s acting career was short—one role, one episode—but it’s what people remember. In 2016, he auditioned for Bones, a long-running crime drama starring Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. He landed the part of a Demolition Derby Driver in Season 12, Episode 9, “The Steal in the Wheels,” directed by Robert Reed Altman (IMDb). Filmed in late 2016 at 20th Century Fox Studios in LA, the episode aired on March 7, 2017—two months after his death—with an “In Memory of Randy Dee Hafen” card that caught viewers off-guard.
His role was small but fit him like a glove. The plot? Booth and Brennan go undercover at a derby to solve a murder, and Randy’s driver character—unnamed but credited—brought a slice of his real-life love for crashing cars into the story. “He was a natural,” a fan posted on X in 2024, rewatching the episode. It wasn’t a lead part—maybe a minute of screen time—but his wiry frame and easy energy stood out. The show’s nod to him after his passing turned it into a bittersweet moment for fans, with over 700K viewers that night (Nielsen Ratings, 2017).
He didn’t have a big resume—no other roles are credited on IMDb—but Bones was a solid start. At 28, he was just dipping his toes into acting, likely chasing more gigs before the crash cut it short.
The Crash: How It Ended
Randy’s life ended fast and rough. On January 2, 2017, he was driving his Volvo SUV alone on State Route 18, a winding road south of Enterprise, Utah. Around 6:18 PM, on a wet stretch with light snow flurries, his car crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a semi-truck hauling an empty tanker (The Spectrum, 2017). The Utah Highway Patrol ruled out drugs or alcohol—“Just a bad moment,” a trooper told Gephardt Daily (2017). He died at the scene, age 28, leaving a hole in his family and community.
The crash hit hard—“Too young,” a Bones fan wrote on Legacy.com (2017). His funeral was held January 7 at the Enterprise Stake Center in St. George, packed with family, friends, and derby buddies (Hughes Mortuary). Buried in Enterprise City Cemetery, his death sparked an outpouring—over 50 condolence posts on his obituary page alone, from Texas to California, show how his Bones role touched people (The Spectrum, 2017).
What He Was Like: Looks and Life
Randy wasn’t a towering guy—5’5” (165 cm) and 55 kg (121 lbs), per Stylevore (2023)—but he had a scrappy, lived-in look. Light brown eyes and dark hair framed a face that carried Utah’s sun and dust (Dicy Trends, 2022). Lean and wiry, he fit the derby driver vibe—someone who could handle a beat-up car and a rough day. No gym selfies or style flexes—he was more about function than flash.
Off-screen, he was a dad first. His son, Justin Slama, born around 2012-2013 (based on 2025 age guesses of 12-13), was his pride—“Still gaming and loving cars like Dad,” Justin wrote on Legacy.com in 2021. Randy wasn’t married, and no girlfriend’s named—“He kept that quiet,” a family friend noted (The Spectrum, 2017). He lived for adventure—derbies, road trips, fixing trucks with pals—and had a rep for pitching in when needed. “Always up for a hand,” his obit said (Hughes Mortuary).
Money and Legacy: What He Left Behind
Randy didn’t have time to stack big cash—his net worth’s a guess, likely $50K-$100K at death, per StartupNoon (2023). Acting paid—$1K-$5K for his Bones day rate (SAG-AFTRA scale, 2017)—but it was one gig. Social media wasn’t his breadwinner—no follower counts survive, and platforms like TikTok weren’t his era. Most of his worth was tied to his truck projects and small-town life, not fame.
His legacy? It’s in Bones—that episode still streams on Hulu, with fans on X noting it yearly (2025 posts). “Gone but not forgotten,” one wrote in March 2025. His son Justin keeps his memory alive—“He’d be proud I’m into cars,” a 2021 comment reads (Legacy.com). Family and friends in Utah remember him too—Enterprise City Cemetery gets flowers every January (Hughes Mortuary records).
What Could’ve Been: Looking Back in 2025
In 2025, Randy’s Bones role still pops up—“Underrated guy,” a Reddit thread on r/Bones says (April 2025). No new projects, obviously, but his episode’s a time capsule—44 minutes where he got to shine. Could he have landed more roles? Maybe—his derby cred and scrappy charm fit action or indie flicks. At 28, he was just starting—*SAG-AFTRA says only 10% of actors break out young, and he was on that cusp.
His death’s a footnote now—Utah Highway Patrol stats show 275 fatal crashes in 2017, his one of them—but it’s the Bones nod that keeps him alive online. “Wish we saw more,” a fan tweeted in 2025.
Wrapping It Up
Randy Dee Hafen was a Utah kid with a love for cars and a shot at acting that ended too soon. Born in St. George, raised in Ivins, he hit 28 with a son, a family, and one memorable Bones role—Demolition Derby Driver, aired March 7, 2017. Dead on January 2, 2017, in a crash, he didn’t get the big career, but he got a moment. At 5’5”, 55 kg, he wasn’t larger-than-life—just a guy who loved adventure and left a mark. Eight years on, in 2025, his legacy’s quiet but real—Bones fans, his kid Justin, and a Utah grave keep him going. No fluff—he was real, and that’s enough.
