Randy Dee Hafen wasnât 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, Utahânot Los Angeles as some might assumeâthis young actor stepped into the spotlight with his role as a Demolition Derby Driver in a 2017 episode. Standing at 5â5â (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, hereâs a clear-eyed look at who he was, what he did, and why heâs still rememberedâkeeping 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 wasnât raised in Hollywoodâs glitzâhis world was more about dusty roads and tight-knit community vibes. On January 2, 2017, at 6:18 PM, Randyâs 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 thatâs quietly endured (Hughes Mortuary Obituary, 2017).
By 2025, Randyâs memory lives on through his Bones appearance and the fans who still talk about him onlineâthink Reddit threads and X posts where people recall his episode with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. He wasnât 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: 5â5â (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 didnât have a sprawling social media empireâhis footprint was small, mostly tied to his acting debut. But his Bones episode, âThe Steal in the Wheels,â 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 Ivinsâa town of about 8,000 back thenâhe was the kind of kid whoâd rather be under a car hood than stuck in a classroom. His family was big and closeâthree full sisters (Eva Marie, Martha Rose, Darci Ann) and three half-siblings (Garrick, Janice, Tracy) from his parentsâ blended dynamic (The Spectrum & Daily News, 2017).
School wasnât his thing, but he made it through Cedar City High School, graduating around 2006 (Legacy.com). âHe was always tinkering,â a friend recalled in a 2017 obituary comment, summing up his hands-on streak. Cars were his worldâbuilding them, racing them, crashing them in derbies. Heâd 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 Utahâs rugged landscape gave him a taste for adventureâhiking, driving backroads, helping out whoever needed a hand (Stylevore, 2023).
Breaking Into Acting: The Bones Moment
Randyâs acting career was shortâone role, one episodeâbut itâs 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, âThe Steal in the Wheels,â directed by Robert Reed Altman (IMDb). Filmed in late 2016 at 20th Century Fox Studios in LA, the episode aired on March 7, 2017âtwo months after his deathâwith an âIn Memory of Randy Dee Hafenâ 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 Randyâs driver characterâunnamed but creditedâbrought a slice of his real-life love for crashing cars into the story. âHe was a natural,â a fan posted on X in 2024, rewatching the episode. It wasnât a lead partâmaybe a minute of screen timeâbut his wiry frame and easy energy stood out. The showâs nod to him after his passing turned it into a bittersweet moment for fans, with over 700K viewers that night (Nielsen Ratings, 2017).
He didnât have a big resumeâno other roles are credited on IMDbâbut 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
Randyâs 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 alcoholââJust a bad moment,â a trooper told Gephardt Daily (2017). He died at the scene, age 28, leaving a hole in his family and community.
The crash hit hardââToo young,â 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 outpouringâover 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 wasnât a towering guyâ5â5â (165 cm) and 55 kg (121 lbs), per Stylevore (2023)âbut he had a scrappy, lived-in look. Light brown eyes and dark hair framed a face that carried Utahâs sun and dust (Dicy Trends, 2022). Lean and wiry, he fit the derby driver vibeâsomeone who could handle a beat-up car and a rough day. No gym selfies or style flexesâhe 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 prideââStill gaming and loving cars like Dad,â Justin wrote on Legacy.com in 2021. Randy wasnât married, and no girlfriendâs namedââHe kept that quiet,â a family friend noted (The Spectrum, 2017). He lived for adventureâderbies, road trips, fixing trucks with palsâand had a rep for pitching in when needed. âAlways up for a hand,â his obit said (Hughes Mortuary).
Money and Legacy: What He Left Behind
Randy didnât have time to stack big cashâhis net worthâs a guess, likely $50K-$100K at death, per StartupNoon (2023). Acting paidâ$1K-$5K for his Bones day rate (SAG-AFTRA scale, 2017)âbut it was one gig. Social media wasnât his breadwinnerâno follower counts survive, and platforms like TikTok werenât his era. Most of his worth was tied to his truck projects and small-town life, not fame.
His legacy? Itâs in Bonesâthat episode still streams on Hulu, with fans on X noting it yearly (2025 posts). âGone but not forgotten,â one wrote in March 2025. His son Justin keeps his memory aliveââHeâd be proud Iâm into cars,â a 2021 comment reads (Legacy.com). Family and friends in Utah remember him tooâEnterprise City Cemetery gets flowers every January (Hughes Mortuary records).
What Couldâve Been: Looking Back in 2025
In 2025, Randyâs Bones role still pops upââUnderrated guy,â a Reddit thread on r/Bones says (April 2025). No new projects, obviously, but his episodeâs a time capsuleâ44 minutes where he got to shine. Could he have landed more roles? Maybeâhis derby cred and scrappy charm fit action or indie flicks. At 28, he was just startingâ*SAG-AFTRA says only 10% of actors break out young, and he was on that cusp.
His deathâs a footnote nowâUtah Highway Patrol stats show 275 fatal crashes in 2017, his one of themâbut itâs the Bones nod that keeps him alive online. âWish we saw more,â 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 roleâDemolition Derby Driver, aired March 7, 2017. Dead on January 2, 2017, in a crash, he didnât get the big career, but he got a moment. At 5â5â, 55 kg, he wasnât larger-than-lifeâjust a guy who loved adventure and left a mark. Eight years on, in 2025, his legacyâs quiet but realâBones fans, his kid Justin, and a Utah grave keep him going. No fluffâhe was real, and thatâs enough.