Fight Club star Edward Norton called emergency services when he spotted smoke coming from the basement of the building.
Married dad-of-four Michael was later discovered and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The New York City Fire Department confirmed he has been a firefighter for 15 years and had been cited for bravery four times.
Five other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries but it is not clear if they are movie crew or firefighters.
The tragic firefighter has been named as married dad-of-dour Michael Davidson
The blaze broke out in the basement at around 11pm local time where work was being done on the film, which also stars Ed Norton and Alec Baldwin.
Norton told reporters at the scene: "This is a tragedy."
At the height of the blaze 175 firefighters were tackling the flames.
According to the New York Post, Fight Club star Norton noticed smoke coming from the basement and alerted cops.
Local Daquan Evans, 28, said: "That actor Ed Norton walked right by. He looked pretty upset.
“This is crazy this fire. You think a movie comes up here and it is good for the neighborhood.
"Not a fire, you don’t think it will set a fire.”
The New York City Fire Department said the scene was "under control" at around 2.40am local time.
Mayoral press secretary Eric Phillips said: "This is an awful night. We’ve lost an NYC firefighter.
"Public briefing shortly at Harlem Hospital. Sick to my stomach."
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