TMC
12-07-2025, 01:47 AM
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-08-me-5197-story.html
35 years ago, 'Knots Landing' (https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1767976/knots-landing/p41) actor Steve Shaw (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Shaw_(actor)), 25, was killed (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6784279/steve-shaw) in a car accident (https://www.facebook.com/groups/366566963524193/posts/3061196814061181/) in LA, when his Porsche 911 slammed into a city dump truck. Police said the car crossed over the double yellow line on a curve and struck the truck head-on. The accident happened on December 5, 1990 - six months after the death of his father from a heart attack.
Shaw played (https://www.google.com/search?q=%27Knots+Landing%27+Eric+Fairgate+site:www.reddit.com&sca_esv=a25fdf366e17305d&sxsrf=AE3TifOtMc8iQ4G1wh_Dtcq0YCVTqtObBw:1765086439733&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj80vOx46qRAxXw78kDHSBPC64QrQIoAnoECD8QAw&biw=1600&bih=739&dpr=1) 'Eric Fairgate' (http://www.knots4u.net/SteveShaw.html), son of Karen Fairgate for 8 seasons (1979-87) and then as a recurring character from (https://x.com/jaxbra/status/1827088335556472884?lang=en) 1989-90. Shaw had left the series to go to college, and his character was written out as doing the same (moving to the east coast). In his return appearances, he did bring home his bride he had met in school, 'Linda Fairgate' (https://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/27928-knots-landing/page/110/) (played by Lar Par Lincoln, who recently died at 63). 'Linda' joined the cast on a regular basis from 1990 - 92, after Shaw's death, saying she divorced Eric and began a relationship with his younger brother, Michael (Pat Petersen).
Over the years, after the show went off the air in 1993, Petersen left his acting career, though he had done a couple of interviews. He said he was best friends with actor Steve Shaw (they were a year apart), and took it very hard when he heard about Shaw's death. He asked to leave the series as it was hard going back the studio, but the producers wouldn't let him out of his contract as the storylines were focused on 'the younger generation' to carry the show (and he had a big following of fans as he hit his 20s). He stayed with the show two more years, until his contract ran out.
Michele Lee (https://x.com/KnotsLanding/status/1398930919071825921), who played Shaw's TV mother (https://michaelfairmantv.com/michele-lee-mourns-loss-knots-landing-co-star-lar-park-lincoln/2025/04/25/), also had a difficult time (https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/knots-landing.333214/) with Shaw's death. In one of the episodes which followed, she sang a song to pay tribute (http://www.tellytalk.net/threads/steve-shaw-tribute.2401/) to the young actor during the closing credits.
35 years ago, 'Knots Landing' (https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1767976/knots-landing/p41) actor Steve Shaw (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Shaw_(actor)), 25, was killed (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6784279/steve-shaw) in a car accident (https://www.facebook.com/groups/366566963524193/posts/3061196814061181/) in LA, when his Porsche 911 slammed into a city dump truck. Police said the car crossed over the double yellow line on a curve and struck the truck head-on. The accident happened on December 5, 1990 - six months after the death of his father from a heart attack.
Shaw played (https://www.google.com/search?q=%27Knots+Landing%27+Eric+Fairgate+site:www.reddit.com&sca_esv=a25fdf366e17305d&sxsrf=AE3TifOtMc8iQ4G1wh_Dtcq0YCVTqtObBw:1765086439733&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj80vOx46qRAxXw78kDHSBPC64QrQIoAnoECD8QAw&biw=1600&bih=739&dpr=1) 'Eric Fairgate' (http://www.knots4u.net/SteveShaw.html), son of Karen Fairgate for 8 seasons (1979-87) and then as a recurring character from (https://x.com/jaxbra/status/1827088335556472884?lang=en) 1989-90. Shaw had left the series to go to college, and his character was written out as doing the same (moving to the east coast). In his return appearances, he did bring home his bride he had met in school, 'Linda Fairgate' (https://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/27928-knots-landing/page/110/) (played by Lar Par Lincoln, who recently died at 63). 'Linda' joined the cast on a regular basis from 1990 - 92, after Shaw's death, saying she divorced Eric and began a relationship with his younger brother, Michael (Pat Petersen).
Over the years, after the show went off the air in 1993, Petersen left his acting career, though he had done a couple of interviews. He said he was best friends with actor Steve Shaw (they were a year apart), and took it very hard when he heard about Shaw's death. He asked to leave the series as it was hard going back the studio, but the producers wouldn't let him out of his contract as the storylines were focused on 'the younger generation' to carry the show (and he had a big following of fans as he hit his 20s). He stayed with the show two more years, until his contract ran out.
Michele Lee (https://x.com/KnotsLanding/status/1398930919071825921), who played Shaw's TV mother (https://michaelfairmantv.com/michele-lee-mourns-loss-knots-landing-co-star-lar-park-lincoln/2025/04/25/), also had a difficult time (https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/knots-landing.333214/) with Shaw's death. In one of the episodes which followed, she sang a song to pay tribute (http://www.tellytalk.net/threads/steve-shaw-tribute.2401/) to the young actor during the closing credits.