FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING VETERAN ACTOR SHOOTS AND KILLS HIS WIFE IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN

MICHAEL JACE

Dead-broke actor Michael Jace and his wife were in a furious fight over money troubles before he gunned her down in front of their kids in their Los Angeles pad, it was revealed Tuesday.

The star of “The Shield” had filed for bankruptcy in March 2011 in a desperate bid to straighten out his tangled finances, but still owed about $411,000 on the home, which was underwater and facing a foreclosure sale.

The Paterson, NJ-born actor was also delinquent on tax payments — and his money woes put a heavy strain on his marriage, according to TMZ.

Jace, 51, called cops Monday admitting he had shot his wife April Jace, 40.

When cops got to their Hyde Park home about 8:30 p.m., she was already dead.

TMZ reported that both kids witnessed their dad pull the trigger, before he called 911 to say: “I shot my wife.”

The couple had been married for nine years and have two boys, both under 10.

Cops took Jace away in handcuffs and he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

“They [the children] were not physically hurt, but obviously their emotions are running high,” LAPD Detective Sal LaBarbera told KTLA-TV.

“Two young children that lost their mom and now their dad is in jail, most likely will be in prison for this.”

The 51-year-old Jace played police officer Julien Lowe in “The Shield.”

Michael Jase playing police officer Julien Lowe in "The Shield".

His character was a devout Christian, whose faith was often at odds with his own homosexuality and the less-than-moral behavior of some fellow officers.

He also has credits for the TV cop show “Southland” and in the movies “Planet of the Apes,” ”Boogie Nights” and “Forrest Gump.”

There had been no previous domestic violence calls to the house, cops said.

There’s no record of any previous criminal cases involving Jace.

Jace’s had financial problems apparently stemmed from the housing crash.

When he filed for bankruptcy protection, he listed debts between $500,000 and $1 million, according to court records.

The actor claimed his home was worth less than he owed on it.

He owed $22,000 in state and federal income taxes, the actor in court filings.

Jace identified his wife as a public school teacher, according to the filings. In a statement of assets, the suspect checked off a box saying that he didn’t own any guns.

Jace was previously married to Jennifer Bitterman, before their divorce in 2002.