Albert Ezerzer was a dedicated transportation department crew member who worked behind the scenes in the film and television industry for over two decades, contributing to the success of numerous productions including the popular legal drama series Suits. Born on January 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, Albert spent his career ensuring actors, crew, and equipment arrived safely and on time to filming locations—an essential but often overlooked role that keeps productions running smoothly. While his name may not have appeared in opening credits or on promotional posters, his work proved vital to the productions he served, and his sudden death on May 9, 2014, at age 55 from an aortic rupture prompted the Suits production team to honor his memory with a special tribute card at the beginning of Season 4, bringing widespread attention to this hardworking behind-the-scenes professional.
| Personal Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Albert Ezerzer |
| Birth Date | January 31, 1959 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Death Date | May 9, 2014 |
| Age at Death | 55 years |
| Cause of Death | Aortic rupture |
| Profession | Transportation department crew member |
| Career Span | 1993-2014 (21 years) |
| Known For | Work on Suits, Interstate 60, Covert One |
| Notable Tribute | “In Memory of Albert Ezerzer” – Suits Season 4 premiere |
| Industry Role | Driver, transportation coordinator |
| Common Confusion | Often mistaken for actor D.B. Woodside |
The tribute “In Memory of Albert Ezerzer” that appeared during the Season 4 premiere of Suits on June 11, 2014, sparked curiosity among viewers who wondered about the identity of this crew member deemed important enough to memorialize. This moment highlighted the often-invisible workforce that makes television and film production possible—the drivers, grips, electricians, caterers, and countless other crew members whose names rarely appear in entertainment headlines but whose contributions are absolutely essential. Albert Ezerzer represents these unsung heroes of Hollywood, and understanding his story provides insight into the collaborative nature of entertainment production and the tight-knit communities that form on long-running productions like Suits.
Career in the Transportation Department
Albert began his career in the entertainment industry in 1993, working in transportation departments for various film and television productions. The transportation department plays a crucial role in productions, responsible for moving cast members from hotels to set locations, transporting equipment between filming sites, coordinating vehicle logistics for scenes involving cars, and ensuring everyone and everything arrives on schedule.
| Notable Productions | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Family Pictures (TV Movie) | 1993 | Transportation department |
| Tart | 2001 | Driver |
| Interstate 60 | 2002 | Transportation department |
| Covert One: The Hades Factor | 2006 | Transportation crew |
| Suits (Seasons 1-3) | 2011-2014 | Transportation department |
His work on Interstate 60, a cult favorite film starring James Marsden and Gary Oldman, demonstrated his ability to handle complex productions requiring coordination of multiple vehicles and locations. The transportation needs for such projects involve meticulous planning, timing precision, and reliability—qualities Albert clearly possessed to maintain steady employment across different productions.
The television series Suits, which premiered in 2011, became Albert’s most recognized work. Working on a successful television series offers more stability than film work, with regular shooting schedules and consistent employment over multiple seasons. Albert worked on Suits from its inception through Season 3, becoming an integral part of the production family that developed over those years.
The Role of Transportation Department
Transportation department workers do far more than simply drive vehicles. Their responsibilities include understanding complex shooting schedules, anticipating delays and adjusting accordingly, maintaining fleet vehicles, ensuring proper licensing and insurance, coordinating with production assistants and assistant directors, and working extremely long hours matching production schedules.
A typical day might begin before dawn, picking up actors from hotels and delivering them to set locations. Days often extend 12-14 hours or longer, requiring physical stamina and mental alertness. The job also requires interpersonal skills, as transportation crew members interact with high-profile actors and directors, maintaining professionalism while making passengers comfortable.
Working on Suits
Suits premiered on USA Network in June 2011, quickly becoming one of the network’s most successful series. The show starred Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Rick Hoffman, and Sarah Rafferty, filming primarily in Toronto, Canada.
Albert Ezerzer worked on Suits from Season 1 through Season 3, which concluded in April 2014. Over these three seasons, he became a familiar presence on set, developing relationships with cast and crew. Long-running television series create unique work environments where crew members become extended family, and the show’s success meant steady employment that allowed crew members to plan their lives with more stability.
Sudden Death and Industry Impact
Albert died suddenly on May 9, 2014, at age 55 from an aortic rupture, a medical emergency that is often fatal even with immediate intervention. His death occurred just weeks before the Season 4 premiere scheduled for June 11, 2014.
The production team decided to honor Albert’s memory by dedicating the season premiere to him. The tribute card “In Memory of Albert Ezerzer” appeared at the episode’s beginning, a gesture that moved cast and crew while introducing millions of viewers to Albert’s name for the first time. This tribute represented more than acknowledging one person—it symbolized recognition of all behind-the-scenes crew members whose work makes entertainment possible.
The D.B. Woodside Confusion
Following Albert’s death and the Suits tribute, internet searches for “Albert Ezerzer” increased dramatically as curious viewers wanted to learn more about the man being honored. This curiosity led to significant confusion when some websites incorrectly used photos of actor D.B. Woodside in articles about Albert, claiming they were the same person or closely related.
| Aspect | Albert Ezerzer | D.B. Woodside |
|---|---|---|
| Profession | Transportation crew member | Professional actor |
| Suits Role | Behind-the-scenes crew (Seasons 1-3) | Actor playing Jeff Malone (Season 4+) |
| Appearance | Limited public photos available | Well-documented public figure |
| Status | Passed away May 2014 | Alive, active acting career |
| Relationship | No connection to D.B. Woodside | No connection to Albert Ezerzer |
The confusion arose partly from physical resemblance between the two men and partly from the timing coincidence—Albert died just before Season 4 premiered, which was also when D.B. Woodside joined the cast as recurring character Jeff Malone. Some viewers mistakenly assumed the tribute was for a former actor or that D.B. Woodside was related to Albert, but these assumptions are entirely incorrect.
D.B. Woodside is a successful actor known for roles in 24, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lucifer, and numerous other productions. He had no personal or professional relationship with Albert Ezerzer. The confusion persists online, with some websites still incorrectly labeling D.B. Woodside’s photos as Albert Ezerzer, perpetuating misinformation about both men.
Legacy and Recognition
Albert Ezerzer may not have achieved fame during his lifetime, but the Suits tribute ensured his contribution would be remembered. The dedication sparked conversations about the importance of crew members and brought attention to the collaborative nature of television production.
His 21-year career represented consistent, reliable work that supported countless productions. The fact that he maintained steady employment across two decades in a competitive industry speaks to his competence and work ethic. The Suits family’s decision to honor Albert publicly demonstrated the genuine relationships that develop on set—it was a heartfelt gesture from colleagues who valued Albert’s presence and contributions.
Life Lessons from Behind-the-Scenes Workers
Albert’s story offers important reminders about the collaborative nature of creative work. Every successful film or television show represents the combined efforts of hundreds of people, most of whom audiences never see. Transportation workers, caterers, production assistants, and countless other crew members all contribute essential work.
The entertainment industry’s focus on celebrity can obscure the reality that actors represent only a small fraction of the people required to create content. Albert’s dedication to his craft despite working outside the spotlight exemplifies professionalism driven by pride in one’s work rather than public recognition.
The Importance of Transportation in Production
The transportation department’s role cannot be overstated. Without reliable transportation, productions face costly delays, actors miss call times disrupting schedules, equipment arrives late stalling crews, and safety risks increase.
Professional transportation coordinators like Albert understood that their reliability directly impacted production success. A transportation mistake can cascade into major production problems. Conversely, excellent transportation work remains invisible precisely because everything runs smoothly—perfect execution means audiences never notice the work at all.
Conclusion
Albert Ezerzer dedicated over two decades to supporting film and television production through his work in transportation departments, contributing to the success of numerous projects that entertained millions of viewers. Though he worked outside the spotlight, his role was essential to the productions he served, and his sudden death at age 55 moved the Suits production team to honor his memory publicly through their Season 4 premiere tribute.
His story reminds us that behind every film or television show we enjoy stands an army of dedicated professionals whose names we’ll never know but whose work makes entertainment possible. The drivers, grips, electricians, caterers, production assistants, and countless other crew members who arrive early, work long hours, and execute their roles with professionalism deserve recognition for their contributions to the creative projects that enrich our lives.
The tribute to Albert Ezerzer at the beginning of Suits Season 4 accomplished something rare—it made millions of viewers pause and wonder about someone who worked behind the cameras rather than in front of them. In doing so, it honored not just Albert but all the unsung heroes of film and television production who dedicate their careers to bringing stories to life, one production at a time, regardless of whether audiences ever learn their names.
