The Episode in Memory of David Strickland...

[Jordan]

Has anyone seen the episode where Susan and the gang recall memories given to them by Todd after they learn that he died? I thought it was such a good episode, but even more of a sad episode. David was so funny in his role as Todd, and the show was never the same after he died. In the closing minutes of the episode, clips of Todd through the entire run of the show are played to the tune of Fatboy Slim's song, "Praise You." And when the screen faded to black, it read, "The gods of comedy looked down upon you and smiled. David Strickland: 1969 - 1999." It made me sad...

[threeone2002]

I saw this one, it was good, I know I have it on tape somewhere too, just got to dig it out.

[Tania]

Yeah, me too, so much! That episode made me so freaking sad. I made a fanlisting for Todd Stites though (http://tania.co.nr/todd) but still. He was what made Suddenly Susan for me. Ugh, it just kills me. After his death the show was never the same. Now I'm sad again...

[Mr. Television]

The last season was awful.

[Dean Winchester]

am I the only person who felt that episode (where Todd is missing and dies) should've been the SERIES finale? The last season was so bad and everything about the show changed. Without Maddy or Jack, the show plummetted IMO

[nicola]

i must admit i cried after that episode. was soo sad! and the show was rubbish after that. still watched it tho lol

[TMC]

The nature of David Strickland's suicide was so bizarre and possibly not investigated properly. Supposedly, he suffered from bipolar disorder and had chosen to stop taking the lithium he was prescribed to control his bipolar disorder.

Also, Andy Dick of all people was apparently the last one to see David alive and spend time with him before he died (and this was *off set*).

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

The nature of David Strickland's suicide was so bizarre and possibly not investigated properly. Supposedly, he suffered from bipolar disorder and had chosen to stop taking the lithium he was prescribed to control his bipolar disorder.

Also, Andy Dick of all people was apparently the last one to see David alive and spend time with him before he died (and this was *off set*).

In the mid-to-late 90s, David Strickland was a rising comedic star (Suddenly Susan, Forces of Nature). But his career -- and life -- was cut short after a wild weekend in Las Vegas with fellow sitcom star -- and overall trainwreck -- Andy Dick. What were they up to? Why would Strickland want to die? And how does tennis legend Andre Agassi fit into the picture? That's this week on Death in Entertainment!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 6:21 Pop Culture Flash: March 22, 1999
• 20:42 David Strickland's early years.
• 25:33 Big break with the sitcom "Suddenly Susan," co-starring Brooke Shields and Andy Dick. High ratings and sudden fame as a comedic actor.
• 40:18 Success doesn't cure David's mental issues. He turns to drugs to cope.
• 46:55 After most of his role in his first big movie "Forces of Nature" is cut, David takes a trip to Vegas with Andy Dick for a weekend of partying.
• 55:01 A tragic ending in a seedy Motel room.
• 1:05:28 Why did David do it? He becomes another morbid Las Vegas statistic.
• 1:12:28 "Suddenly Susan" deals with his death in a tribute episode filled with incongruous talking head interviews, cryptic dialogue and Fatboy Slim. The show doesn't survive.
• 1:24:29 Conspiracy Theories: Was David Strickland having an affair with Brooke Shields while she was still married to Tennis Star Andre Agassi? Was it murder???
• 1:29:36 Final Thoughts and more Andy Dick stories.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

Inside the tragic death of Brooke Shields' Suddenly Susan co-star David Strickland 25 years after his suicide aged 29... with Zak Bagans recording his GHOST in shock audio

[TMC]

In the golden era of 90s television, David Strickland was the charming, boyish face behind Todd from Suddenly Susan. But behind the laughter and lights was a painful truth few ever saw. This emotional deep-dive tells the real story of a rising star, his battle with bipolar disorder, and the heartbreaking final days that shocked Hollywood.

If you remember the glory days of NBC’s Must-See TV, or just want to understand the silent struggles behind fame, this story will stay with you long after the video ends.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

The nature of David Strickland's suicide was so bizarre and possibly not investigated properly. Supposedly, he suffered from bipolar disorder and had chosen to stop taking the lithium he was prescribed to control his bipolar disorder.

Also, Andy Dick of all people was apparently the last one to see David alive and spend time with him before he died (and this was *off set*).

He didn’t die because he was weak.

He died because bipolar mania convinced him he was invincible.

David Strickland didn’t lose his career in Vegas.

He lost his mind — and in Room 20, the crash finally came.

[Chocolate Moose]

i wish i remembere3d it more clearly. since the series isn't viewable anywhere, it makes it hard to remember so many years ago.

[TMC]

In March 1999, one of America's most beloved prime-time comedy stars checked into a grimy Las Vegas motel under a fake name and ended his own life. David Strickland was the eccentric heartbeat of the hit 90s sitcom Suddenly Susan, generating millions of dollars and weekly laughs for a public hungry for comfort. Behind the brightly lit soundstages and roaring live audiences, he was fighting a lethal, unmedicated battle against severe bipolar disorder.

The Hollywood television machine monetized his manic energy while completely ignoring the agonizing depressive crashes that followed every punchline. After a crushing professional humiliation at a major cinematic premiere stripped away his last shred of hope, the pressure of maintaining a manufactured illusion of happiness finally broke him. This is the tragic reality behind the 1990s comfort television era, exposing an industry that demanded absolute psychological sacrifice in exchange for fame.