An actor has died after accidentally hanging himself while playing the role of Judas Iscariot in an Easter performance in Mexico.

The horrific incident happened when the 23-year-old man, who local media name as Jose G., threw a rope over a tree and after tying the rope around his neck, lost his balance and slipped.

Audience members eventually realised it was an accident and scrambled to help him, but the man died of asphyxiation in an ambulance on the way to hospital, Quadratin MichoacÃ¡n reports.

The tragedy happened on Good Friday in the town of Barranquillas, and local police are investigating.

It's not the first time such an accident has happened. In 2012 in Brazil, 27-year-old Tiago Klimeck also accidentally hanged himself as he enacted the suicide of Judas. He died two days later.

According to the Bible story, Judas Iscariot - one of the 12 disciples - betrayed Jesus to the authorities who killed him. In despair at what he had done, the story says Judas hanged himself.

Newshub.