Amazing Race' Producer Fatally Poisoned in Uganda Shakedown

Two TV producers recently suffered poisoning -- which killed one of them -- after getting on the wrong side of some local thugs in Uganda, Fox News reports.

Most details aren't known yet about the poisoning, but what has been gleaned is that the body of Jeff Rice, one of the facilitating producers for the show, was found in Uganda, dead from poisoning. What Rice and his unnamed co-producer were doing in Uganda is not known, but they apparently were not there on business about "The Amazing Race," the show on which both worked.

The poisoning - also an unclear topic - was apparently the result of a failed shakedown attempt by Ugandan criminals. Following the attempt, both men reputedly became very sick in a manner consistent with poison. So unexpected was the incident that even Jerry Bruckheimer films, the company behind "The Amazing Race," had no knowledge that one of their facilitators was dead of a poisoning.

Rice reportedly had moved to South Africa after working for five years in Los Angeles. While in South Africa, he cofounded SB Productions, which has been in business since 1999. The website for SB productions described Rice this way:

'Jeff has an incredible calm nature and a wicked sense of humour,' it writes. 'Having played baseball as a kid, he is always ready for the next curve ball. Jeff has the knack for putting together great teams.'

The Amazing Race, which first aired in 2001 and is in its 20th season, shows teams of two racing around the world for a prize of $1 million. The Daily Mail has posted an assortment of photos of Jeff Rice. TV personality Josh Gates tweeted about his death:

Floored by the loss of my dear friend and adventurer, Jeff Rice. You were, quite simply, the real deal. I will never forget you.