Albert Omstead was a dedicated camera and electrical department crew member whose contributions to Cobra Kai and other major productions have earned him major recognition and lasting tribute. He is known as the best boy in electric, grip, and camera assistance. Omstead was a top performer in the electric, grip, and camera fields, working on over 25 big projects. He was part of 21 episodes of the popular Netflix shows Cobra Kai and Stranger Things, as well as Marvel films like Captain America: Civil War. Sadly, he passed away at age 38 in a unexpected accident at home on July 19, 2021. His death brought many touching memories from Cobra Kai and others, making him remembered as a strong force behind the scenes.
In this article we will discuss all the details about Albert Omstead’s death, life, career, family, and more.
Albert Omstead Biography
Albert Omstead was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1983. He spent his early years there before joining the Hollywood technical crew. As a member of IATSE Local 479 in Atlanta, Albert served in various positions, including best boy, electrician, grip, and camera assistant. He was part of the work crew that implemented the Lighting, Camera Equipment, and Electrical Systems for more than 25 projects, including 21 episodes of Cobra Kai, Stranger Things, and Marvel films: Captain America: Civil War, et al. Albert passed away on July 19, 2021, at the age of 38, in an accident while at home. After his death, Cobra Kai paid tribute to him for his “hard work” and “dedication.
| Full Name | Albert Omstead |
| Birth Year | 1983 |
| Death Date | July 19, 2021 (age 38) |
| Hometown | Augusta, Georgia |
| Union | IATSE Local 479 (Atlanta grip/electric) |
| Primary Roles | Best boy electric, grip, camera assistant |
| Key Productions | Cobra Kai (21 eps), Stranger Things, Marvel films |
Early Life
Albert Omstead was born into a family that did not have much information about him as a child. From a young age, he demonstrated an interest in technical careers, which allowed him to pursue his passion for film production. As he grew, he was able to turn this childhood passion into a lifelong career. Albert went on to join IATSE Local 479, a labour union that provides support to workers in the grip and electrical departments of film sets.
Scott Wachtel, Albert’s brother-in-law, referred to him as a “powerful person.” Albert was described as being humorous, fun, and caring. He had the capacity to work extremely hard and had a lot of enthusiasm for what he did, which made him a beloved friend and family member. Albert married Que Omstead, and they had two children. Although working in the film industry can be extremely busy and difficult at times, Albert balanced his career and family life well.
Albert Omstead Family
Albert Omstead had an enormous family, where he received love and emotional support while pursuing his film career in Atlanta. Albert was married to Que Omstead, and they had a biological son together named Frankie, who was just 2 years old when Albert died in 2021. Que had four children from her previous marriage, and Albert became a father to five children in total, including his biological son.
Albert was born to Larry Omstead (1945-2025) and Imelda Omstead. Larry and Imelda raised Albert in Augusta, Georgia, before moving to Martinez, Georgia. Albert had two younger siblings: Ruthie Wachtel (born 1986) and Jenny Pampalon (also known as Jennifer) (born 1984), both of whom have stated that they remember his funny and kind nature as a brother.
| Father | Larry Omstead |
| Mother | Imelda Omstead |
| Sisters | Ruthie Wachtel, Jenny Pampalon |
| Wife | Que Omstead |
| Biological Son | Frankie Omstead |
| Stepchildren | Nev, Aidan, Liam, Rowan |
Career Beginnings
Albert Omstead began his career in Film & TV in 2015. He began working as a Grip, Electrician & Camera Assistant, which requires long hours of work and many technical skills.
His first big project was in 2016 with Captain America: Civil War; this was a large, complex project that demonstrated Albert’s ability to work under pressure & multitask.
In the same year, many large motion picture projects were moving their productions to Georgia due to tax credits, & Atlanta became a busy area for movie production.
By joining IATSE Local 479, he gained access to a stable source of income and opened doors for career advancement. As an IATSE member, he learned how to rig lights, wire up cameras, and wire electrical grids for action sequences. He developed strong technical skills during this time & quickly progressed in his career.
Albert Omstead Filmography
| Project | Role(s) | Year |
| Early uncredited TV gigs | Grip assistant | 2015 |
| Captain America: Civil War | Second-unit grip | 2016 |
| Spider-Man: Homecoming | Grip/electric | 2017 |
| Baby Driver | Camera assistant, electric | 2017 |
| Thor: Ragnarok | Best boy electric | 2017 |
| I, Tonya | Grip | 2017 |
| Sleepy Hollow (TV) | Electrician | 2018 |
| Black Lightning (TV) | Best boy grip | 2018-2019 |
| Cobra Kai (21 episodes) | Best boy electric/grip | 2018-2021 |
| Stranger Things (S3+) | Electrician | 2019 |
| The Walking Dead (S10-11) | Grip | 2019-2020 |
| Lovecraft Country (HBO) | Best boy electric | 2020 |
| Creepshow (Shudder) | Camera/grip support | 2020 |
| Freaky | Electrician | 2020 |
| Additional: Watchmen, Ozark reshoots | Grip/electric crew | Various |
Major Productions
| Category | Projects | Contributions |
| Marvel/DC | Thor: Ragnarok, Black Lightning | Rigging for VFX-heavy fights |
| Horror/Sci-Fi | The Walking Dead, Lovecraft Country, Creepshow | Night shoots, eerie lighting |
| Drama/Comedy | I, Tonya, Sleepy Hollow, Freaky | Camera dollies, power distribution |
| Action | Baby Driver | Syncing lights to rhythmic edits |
Role in Cobra Kai
Omstead began working on Cobra Kai at its onset in 2018 as a member of the camera and electrical department, appearing in a total of 21 episodes during the first four seasons of the series. Cobra Kai, a continuation of The Karate Kid franchise, required Omstead’s expertise to capture some of the series’ most important fight sequences, tournament scenes, and dramatic karate sequences on film.
Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Omstead was a key member of the team responsible for ensuring that all of the action was filmed correctly and that the visuals fit within the context of the story. A “Best Boy” in this department, Omstead’s responsibility was primarily to connect the camera support crew with the electrical department to provide adequate lighting for stunt shots. He was instrumental in helping to ensure that everything went off without a hitch during the more difficult stunt sequences.
His dependability and work ethic were critical in creating a solid team atmosphere, and he was greatly missed when he was not on set. Others working alongside Omstead said he was hardworking, and actor Tanner Buchanan mentioned that Omstead was well-known for being both comical and compassionate, based on what Buchanan heard from friends and family of Omstead.
Albert Omstead Accident (Death)
On July 19, 2021, Omstead was at his job in Atlanta when it began to rain. After a long day of work, he was able to return home and was attempting to clean up water that had breached into his garage through the retaining wall. While looking at his garage from the outside, the wall collapsed without warning, burying him in a massive pile of cinder blocks. Que and a neighbour attempted to remove him from under the blocks, but were unable to due to their weight.
The firefighters responded using the jacks from their family van to help lift the debris. After more than an hour, they were unable to remove him, and he died at age 38 from severe internal injuries.
Scott Wachtel, Omstead’s brother-in-law, recounted a harrowing scene: Omstead was caught between the garage door, a parked van, and falling walls, surrounded by rapidly rising floodwaters and chaos. The tragic accident has left a profound impact on Georgia’s film industry and has reaffirmed that even when you are a professional who does everything right, accidents can happen.
Tributes and Legacy
Cobra Kai honoured the late Albert Omstead in the seventh episode of Season 4 (entitled “Minefields”), by placing a message on screen at the conclusion of the episode indicating that this was done “In memory of Albert Omstead. This was an emotional way for the series to remember and pay their respects to an individual who had made an impact on their programme. The series has previously acknowledged others who have passed away similarly.
Following the airing of this episode, numerous people from all over the world who are fans of the show and those associated with producing Cobra Kai posted tributes to Albert on social media. People expressed the importance of all those involved in the production of film and television behind the camera, as opposed to only the celebrities. Actor William Zabka took time to express his admiration for Albert, saying he was a kind and dedicated person.
Albert’s IMDb profile remains active and provides an extensive list of all the projects he was involved with throughout his career. The support that he received from so many people reminds us all of how much goes into making films and television, and that no single person creates a film or television show alone; many people work together in order to achieve this, including technical support staff such as grips and electricians.
Conclusion
The life and contribution of Albert Omstead shine a spotlight on the great unsung heroes that help to create “Hollywood” magic. Albert made his mark as a crucial part of the Technicians working on more than 25 major motion pictures, where he worked as a best-boy electric for IATSE Local 479, including the popular Cobra Kai and Stranger Things, as well as many of the Marvel films. Albert was remembered by his family as a hard-working individual with a vibrant personality who was always willing to go above and beyond. Albert passed away tragically in an accident at home at the age of 38 in the year 2021, his current life and work would have continued to be a significant part of his fast-rising career.
