TV Stars Whose Deaths Were Ironic - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 06-30-2010, 07:32 PM

George Reeves (Adventures of Superman) - by a speeding bullet
Joe Flynn (McHale's Navy) - by drowning
Redd Foxx (Sanford & Son) -- heart attack

catlover79 · 06-30-2010, 08:41 PM

Natalie Wood had a lifelong fear of drowning - and that's exactly what killed her in 1981.

comedyfreak · 07-01-2010, 05:29 AM

Peter Duel (Alias Smith And Jones)- Suicide
Freddy Prinze (Chico And The Man)- Suicide

catlover79 · 07-01-2010, 09:24 AM

Brenda Benet (Days of Our Lives) - suicide

Brenda Benet, ex-wife of Bill Bixby, took her own life in 1982, a year after the accidental death of their young son. What makes it ironic is that she guested on Bill's show The Incredible Hulk, as a woman who urges Dr. Banner not to kill himself.

tv star collector · 07-02-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Brenda Benet (Days of Our Lives) - suicide

Brenda Benet, ex-wife of Bill Bixby, took her own life in 1982, a year after the accidental death of their young son. What makes it ironic is that she guested on Bill's show The Incredible Hulk, as a woman who urges Dr. Banner not to kill himself.

Yes, her death is ironic. I think about that every time I watch that episode.

catlover79 · 07-02-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Yes, her death is ironic. I think about that every time I watch that episode.

Yeah, I think she and Bill were already divorced by then but were keeping up a united front for their son. I found a clip of her final scene on Days of Our Lives:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOhX96h7ZLk

tv star collector · 07-02-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Yeah, I think she and Bill were already divorced by then but were keeping up a united front for their son. I found a clip of her final scene on Days of Our Lives:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOhX96h7ZLk

That's probably true. According to Lou Ferrigno's book, the marriage was
starting to unravel, in 1979. The episode "The Psychic" aired on Feb. 22, 1980. As far as I know, that was the only time the pair appeared on screen
together. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

catlover79 · 07-02-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

That's probably true. According to Lou Ferrigno's book, the marriage was
starting to unravel, in 1979. The episode "The Psychic" aired on Feb. 22, 1980. As far as I know, that was the only time the pair appeared on screen
together. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

No, she also appeared on Courtship of Eddie's Father with him, and they also guested on The Love Boat together.

JamesG · 07-02-2010, 06:46 PM

Jon-Erik Hexum who shot himself with a blank-loaded gun on the set of "Cover-Up".

Ironic Factor: His last words were "Let's see if I've got one for me!" and pulled the trigger, not realizing the gun was deadly.

catlover79 · 07-02-2010, 06:53 PM

^ You're right, I'd totally forgotten about him. What a shame. Thankfully, he was an organ donor, so his death wasn't entirely in vain. Plus it showed people that even a blank can kill you at that close range.

Getting back to Brenda Benet, she and Bill did one other screen appearance together - on the game show Celebrity Sweepstakes. That episode aired in the summer of 1974.

JamesG · 07-02-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ You're right, I'd totally forgotten about him. What a shame. Thankfully, he was an organ donor, so his death wasn't entirely in vain. Plus it showed people that even a blank can kill you at that close range

What some people don't realize is that blanks can be like getting hit with a sledgehammer.

The big difference between blanks and live ammo is that blanks do not have a metal projectile (bullet) that comes out, but instead it's air pressure and whatever debris is discharged.

Try putting a blank gun to a tin can and firing it, watching what happens.

catlover79 · 07-02-2010, 07:10 PM

I can only imagine what the cast and crew were feeling that day - because Mr. Hexum was basically brain dead on impact. He lingered for a little while in the hospital before his mother made the decision to take him off life support.

This is another case where the show went on without its star (JEH was the breakout star and his partner on the show was the already well-known Jennifer O'Neill). Eventually, Jennifer O'Neill got a new male co-star but Cover-Up pretty much died with Mr. Hexum. A bit of trivia - one of Mr. Hexum's girlfriends was actress Emma Samms (General Hospital, Dynasty, The Colbys). They had met playing lovers on an episode of Hotel.

catlover79 · 07-05-2010, 11:28 AM

Oh, one more appearance Bill Bixby and Brenda Benet did together - an episode of Bill's short-lived series, The Magician.

tv star collector · 07-05-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Oh, one more appearance Bill Bixby and Brenda Benet did together - an episode of Bill's short-lived series, The Magician.

So, they appeared at least five times on television together. Thanks for the
info.

catlover79 · 07-05-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

So, they appeared at least five times on television together. Thanks for the
info.

My pleasure!!

06-30-2010, 07:32 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	TV Stars Whose Deaths Were Ironic George Reeves (Adventures of Superman) - by a speeding bullet Joe Flynn (McHale's Navy) - by drowning Redd Foxx (Sanford & Son) -- heart attack

06-30-2010, 08:41 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Natalie Wood had a lifelong fear of drowning - and that's exactly what killed her in 1981.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-01-2010, 05:29 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Peter Duel (Alias Smith And Jones)- Suicide Freddy Prinze (Chico And The Man)- Suicide
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07-01-2010, 09:24 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Brenda Benet (Days of Our Lives) - suicide Brenda Benet, ex-wife of Bill Bixby, took her own life in 1982, a year after the accidental death of their young son. What makes it ironic is that she guested on Bill's show The Incredible Hulk, as a woman who urges Dr. Banner not to kill himself.

07-02-2010, 06:46 PM	#9
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,075	Jon-Erik Hexum who shot himself with a blank-loaded gun on the set of "Cover-Up". Ironic Factor: His last words were "Let's see if I've got one for me!" and pulled the trigger, not realizing the gun was deadly.

07-02-2010, 06:53 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ You're right, I'd totally forgotten about him. What a shame. Thankfully, he was an organ donor, so his death wasn't entirely in vain. Plus it showed people that even a blank can kill you at that close range. Getting back to Brenda Benet, she and Bill did one other screen appearance together - on the game show Celebrity Sweepstakes. That episode aired in the summer of 1974.

07-02-2010, 07:10 PM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I can only imagine what the cast and crew were feeling that day - because Mr. Hexum was basically brain dead on impact. He lingered for a little while in the hospital before his mother made the decision to take him off life support. This is another case where the show went on without its star (JEH was the breakout star and his partner on the show was the already well-known Jennifer O'Neill). Eventually, Jennifer O'Neill got a new male co-star but Cover-Up pretty much died with Mr. Hexum. A bit of trivia - one of Mr. Hexum's girlfriends was actress Emma Samms (General Hospital, Dynasty, The Colbys). They had met playing lovers on an episode of Hotel.

07-05-2010, 11:28 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Oh, one more appearance Bill Bixby and Brenda Benet did together - an episode of Bill's short-lived series, The Magician.