He was electrocuted while repairing equipment used in filming The Sharkfighters in Cuba 1956, serving as head technician on the picture.
Before that time, most fake movie snow was mostly made from cornflakes painted white, and was so loud when stepped on that dialogue had to be re-dubbed afterwards.
[4] According to Shearman's May 8, 1956 obituary in the Los Angeles Times, he was "electrocuted while repairing equipment used for a film being made on the Isle of Pines in Cuba".
[1] The Times describes him as an Academy Award winning special effects man “credited with the development of many machines and gadgets used in motion-picture production”.
[1] It states he was serving as chief technician on the picture The Sharkfighters, an account of the U.S. Navy's efforts to develop an effective shark repellent.