Actors who died during a show's run - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 04-27-2003, 08:23 PM

Sometimes, sadly, an actor passes away during the show's original run.

A few come to mind. All shows, not just sitcoms.

Bewitched--Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz. Sandra Gould took over the role.

Alias Smith and Jones--Peter Duel committed suicide.

Barney Miller--Jack Soo as Sgt. Nick Yemana died of cancer.

Cheers--Nicholas Colasanto as Coach passed away from heart trouble.

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 04-27-2003, 08:30 PM

Dolph Sweet--Gimme A Break
Bea Bernaderet--Petticoat Junction
William Frawley--My Three Sons
Freddie Prinze--Chico and The Man

GrapeJelly · 04-27-2003, 08:49 PM

David Strickland from Suddenly Susan commited suicide. Also, was Family Matters still on the air when Myra died of cancer?

TheStromba · 04-27-2003, 08:49 PM

Redd Foxx died on the set of "The Royal Family"

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 04-27-2003, 08:53 PM

Will Geer,Grandpa Walton on The Waltons died during the summer hiatus in 1978.
Michelle Thomas who played Myra on Family Matters died while she was on The Young And The Restless

DetectiveGriffin · 04-27-2003, 08:57 PM

Sgt. Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues. Boy, did folks adore him.

I've never watched Suddenly Susan, but I remember people talking about an actor who killed himself.

Recently, Lynne Thigpen from the District.

One of my favorite cute guys ever, Michael Zaslow from Guiding Light, was fired from his job before he died, but I say that counts. Errr.

Then there are all those movies - Poltergeist, The Crow, TLZ, and whatnot. Scary stuff. Quit scaring me, man.

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 04-27-2003, 08:58 PM

Jim Davis(Jock Ewing)--Dallas
Donna Reed(the 2nd Miss Ellie on Dallas from 1984-1985) died after the 1984-1985 season of Dallas

Chocoholic · 04-27-2003, 09:06 PM

Phil Hartman from NewsRadio was murdered by his wife.

Impressions · 04-27-2003, 09:37 PM

Joseph Kearns who played Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace died of a heart attack.

Smiley Burnett who played Charlie Pratt on Petticoat Junction died of leukemia.

Barton MacLane who played Gen. Martin Peterson on I Dream of Jeannie died of cancer.

zack · 04-27-2003, 10:16 PM

Selma Diamond and Florence Halop - Night Court
Zara Cully - The Jeffersons
Colleen Dewhurst - Murphy Brown

Adamantium · 04-27-2003, 11:40 PM

I believe the neighbor on Mister Ed died during the show's run. Larry Keating, I think was his name.

Also, I don't know if this counts, but a guest star in an episode of Sliders died during filming of the episode. The episode still aired with him in it.

Christopher · 04-28-2003, 12:37 AM

Josh Ryan Evans from Passions died the same day his character did, August 5th, 2002. It is really sad and Juliet Mills was so heart broken on the Today Show a few days after he died. It is sad, I believe he was only 21 years old. He had a heart condition.

TVJunkie101 · 04-28-2003, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Chris*
Josh Ryan Evans from Passions died the same day his character did, August 5th, 2002. It is really sad and Juliet Mills was so heart broken on the Today Show a few days after he died. It is sad, I believe he was only 21 years old. He had a heart condition.

I couldn't believe it either. I was watching Good Day Live (which I'm rarely home to ever watch) and there was this snippett about it, and I was like WTF? lol. It's still sad. I used to really enjoy Passions, I say the show died the same day he did.

BLT · 04-28-2003, 08:51 AM

Actually you can count Michael Zasslow, because after he was fired from Guiding Light he was on One Life to Live & was there 'till at the time of his death.

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 04-28-2003, 09:13 AM

Actually, Phil Hartman's death was a murder suicide,she killed him and then herself.

04-27-2003, 08:23 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Actors who died during a show's run Sometimes, sadly, an actor passes away during the show's original run. A few come to mind. All shows, not just sitcoms. Bewitched--Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz. Sandra Gould took over the role. Alias Smith and Jones--Peter Duel committed suicide. Barney Miller--Jack Soo as Sgt. Nick Yemana died of cancer. Cheers--Nicholas Colasanto as Coach passed away from heart trouble.

04-27-2003, 08:30 PM	#2
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	Dolph Sweet--Gimme A Break Bea Bernaderet--Petticoat Junction William Frawley--My Three Sons Freddie Prinze--Chico and The Man

04-27-2003, 08:49 PM	#3
GrapeJelly Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2003 Posts: 3,542	David Strickland from Suddenly Susan commited suicide. Also, was Family Matters still on the air when Myra died of cancer?

04-27-2003, 08:49 PM	#4
TheStromba Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Location: FLA Posts: 16	Redd Foxx died on the set of "The Royal Family"

04-27-2003, 08:53 PM	#5
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	Will Geer,Grandpa Walton on The Waltons died during the summer hiatus in 1978. Michelle Thomas who played Myra on Family Matters died while she was on The Young And The Restless

04-27-2003, 08:57 PM	#6
DetectiveGriffin Sankontessou! Senior Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2001 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 1,288	Sgt. Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues. Boy, did folks adore him. I've never watched Suddenly Susan, but I remember people talking about an actor who killed himself. Recently, Lynne Thigpen from the District. One of my favorite cute guys ever, Michael Zaslow from Guiding Light, was fired from his job before he died, but I say that counts. Errr. Then there are all those movies - Poltergeist, The Crow, TLZ, and whatnot. Scary stuff. Quit scaring me, man.

04-27-2003, 08:58 PM	#7
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	Jim Davis(Jock Ewing)--Dallas Donna Reed(the 2nd Miss Ellie on Dallas from 1984-1985) died after the 1984-1985 season of Dallas

04-27-2003, 09:06 PM	#8
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Phil Hartman from NewsRadio was murdered by his wife.

04-27-2003, 09:37 PM	#9
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	Joseph Kearns who played Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace died of a heart attack. Smiley Burnett who played Charlie Pratt on Petticoat Junction died of leukemia. Barton MacLane who played Gen. Martin Peterson on I Dream of Jeannie died of cancer.

04-27-2003, 10:16 PM	#10
zack Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 02, 2001 Posts: 172	Selma Diamond and Florence Halop - Night Court Zara Cully - The Jeffersons Colleen Dewhurst - Murphy Brown

04-27-2003, 11:40 PM	#11
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	I believe the neighbor on Mister Ed died during the show's run. Larry Keating, I think was his name. Also, I don't know if this counts, but a guest star in an episode of Sliders died during filming of the episode. The episode still aired with him in it.

04-28-2003, 12:37 AM	#12
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	Josh Ryan Evans from Passions died the same day his character did, August 5th, 2002. It is really sad and Juliet Mills was so heart broken on the Today Show a few days after he died. It is sad, I believe he was only 21 years old. He had a heart condition.

04-28-2003, 08:51 AM	#14
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	Actually you can count Michael Zasslow, because after he was fired from Guiding Light he was on One Life to Live & was there 'till at the time of his death.

04-28-2003, 09:13 AM	#15
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	Actually, Phil Hartman's death was a murder suicide,she killed him and then herself.