10 TV characters' deaths to remember...

[Ireneparalegal]

This article appeared in my local paper today and thought I'd share it with my fellow S.O. members. The one that shocked me the most was of course JAMES EVANS FROM GOOD TIMES. NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED:

10 TV characters' deaths to remember
By Neal Justin
March 10, 2007

So they killed Meredith's mom. Big deal.

The loss on a recent "Grey's Anatomy" episode pales in comparison to the deaths of truly major characters on other classic TV shows. We've tracked 10 of the most dramatic send-offs — with a few rules. It doesn't count if: a) the actor portraying the character died in real life and b) if the character miraculously returns to life later in the series (sorry, Bobby Ewing).


Rest in peace, old friends:

Col. Henry Blake of "M*A*S*H."

Time of death: March 18, 1975.

Cause: Helicopter shot down over the Sea of Japan.

Shock level: Traumatic. Everyone knew star McLean Stevenson was leaving for greener pastures — "Hello, Larry," anyone? — but nobody, including the stunned cast, expected Radar to step into the O.R. and blubber the devastating news.

James Evans on "Good Times"

Time of death: Sept. 22, 1979.

Cause: Car accident.

Shock level: Explosive. Not only did John Amos' departure mark the end of one of TV's most realistic characters, but it also proved to be the only time in history that a shark jumped inside a high-rise apartment.

Gary Shepherd on "thirtysomething"

Time of death: Feb. 12, 1991.

Cause: Car accident.

Shock level: Something else. Fans were braced for the death of cancer-stricken Nancy when they were thrown this curveball. It's probably no coincidence that actor Peter Horton went on to be a "Grey's" producer.

Rosalind Shays on "L.A. Law"

Time of death: March 21, 1991.

Cause: Plunge down an elevator shaft.

Shock level: Heart-dropping. The cold-blooded lawyer's (Diane Muldaur) fall from grace had fans using the stairs for months.

Assistant D.A. Clair Kincaid on "Law & Order"

Time of death: May 22, 1996.

Cause: Drunken-driving crash.

Shock level: Sobering. The series relies on unexpected endings, and the episode ending in the demise of the show's most likable lawyer (Jill Hennessy) was the cruelest twist of all.

Detective Bobby Simone on "NYPD Blue"

Time of death: Nov. 24, 1998.

Cause: Heart failure.

Shock level: Arresting. After surviving bullets and Andy Sipowicz's temper, the department's good cop (Jimmy Smits) gets downed by a virus.

Maude Flanders on "The Simpsons"

Time of death: Feb. 13, 2000.

Cause: Fall from stadium bleachers (weapon: a cannon-fired promotional T-shirt and Homer's ignorance).

Shock level: Diddily-disastrous, but not enough to keep Ned Flanders from losing faith.

Dr. Mark Greene on "ER"

Time of death: May 9, 2002.

Cause: Brain tumor.

Shock level: Serious, but not critical. Actor Anthony Edwards' departure dragged on far too long, but the Hawaii-based finale made a touching aloha.

Teri Bauer on "24."

Time of death: May 21, 2002.

Cause: Killed by CTU mole.

Shock level: Time-stopping. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) saves the world, but not his pregnant wife (Leslie Hope).

Adriana La Cerva on "The Sopranos"

Time of death: May 23, 2004.

Cause: Mob hit.

Shock level: Fuhggedaboudit. Star Drea de Matteo would soon learn there's a fate worse than death. It's called "Joey."

[ChanandMon]

Not on the list, but to me the most upsetting was probably Speed on CSI: Miami. He was my favorite character on that show and I had no warning.

[mstewart]

Episode #89 - Gimme A Break - Joey's Train
That episode dealt with Chief Carl Kanisky passing. It was unknown how he died. Dolph Sweet, who played the Chief died shortly after the previous season from cancer, and it was hard to watch that episode. It was not quite a year after my father and grandmother passed away in the same year when I first saw that episode. I was still grieving and that episode had me in tears. Powerful and heartfelt by the cast but it was good to bring closure to a character that brought a lot of life to the show. My opinon the plug should had been pulled after that season and not go to New York.

[TJL]

What about Edith Bunker?

[Ireneparalegal]

This article mentioned two rules: it doesn't count when the actor dies in real life and if the character died and came back to life. Hence, Dolph Sweet doesn't count.