Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
In thinking about Cory Monteith's death, I realized that there were others who died while they had shows going.
John Ritter - 8 Simple Rules
Redd Foxx - The Royal Family
Who else?
Bea Benaderet: Petty Coat Junction
Nicolas Colasanto; Cheers
Jon-Erik Hexum ; Cover Up.
Freddie Prinze-Chico and the Man
Larry Hagman-Dallas (The 2nd series)
George Reeves; The Adventures of Superman
Sorry for the multiple posts but they come to me as I work on something else.
Night Court lost two bailiffs during the course of its 9 seasons. Selma Diamond died after Season 2 and was replaced with Florence Halop, who died after Season 3. She in turn was replaced by Marsha Warfield, who finished with the show and is still very much alive.
Jerry Orbach, LAW & ORDER
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
How 22 Shows Handled an Actor's Death
Updated On: 7/23/13 at 12:29 AM
Actually didn't Orbach already leave Law and order but was on Law and Order trial by Jury when he died? That show had Bebe Newerth as a judge as I believe and failed miserably.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Thanks for posting that eatlasagna. I had forgotten some of those.
Thanks, eatlasagna.
- Man, how could we forget Phil Hartman on NewsRadio? That was a big story back then.
- I was very sad about David Strickland (Suddenly Susan). He was so fun(ny) on the show -- and very handsome!
After Bea died, they brought June Lockhart in as a female doctor to ad the matriarchal Ying to the show. Never quite worked.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
How could I forget Will Geer on The Waltons?
John Spencer (Leo) The West Wing
Diana Hyland - Eight Is Enough (replaced by Betty Buckley's character in Season 2)
William Frawley - My Three Sons (replaced by William Demerest's character)
Alice Pearce as Mrs. Kravitz - Bewitched (replaced by Sandra Gould in the same role)
Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara - Bewitched (she won her Emmy as Best Supporting Actress for the show posthumously)
Nancy Marchand, The Sopranos
Lynne Thigpen, The District
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/04
Nancy Marchand was the first actor who came to mind for me, too. The digitally recreated Livia was very uncomfortable to watch--although I realize it was a huge technical accomplishment. I loved the actress and the character, but thought that an off-screen death would have been better.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
John Spenser's death during WEST WING was so sad. Now, when I tell my husband that someone is the White House Chief of Staff, I just refer to that person as "Leo"!
Joseph Kearns-Dennis the Menace
I'm surprised I didn't realize this one when I was younger. I used to watch the show in reruns. I saw it again recently and couldn't understand why Mr. Wilson looked differently than I had remembered. It was because I was watching an episode with Gale Gordon.
I'm rewatching THE WEST WING right now and have to agree that John Spencer's death was absolutely shocking and beautifully handled. It was so sad.
Sidney Clute from Cagney and Lacey. They kept him in the opening credits after his death.
Christopher Allport, a veteran character actor, died in a skiing accident in 2008. He played Pete Campbell's father on season 1 of Mad Men and his death was written into season 2. (Pete's father dies in a plane crash)
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
One of my earliest memories was the episode of Sesame Street that deal with Mr. Hooper's death. I think I pretty much followed Big Bird's path through that episode, with the reality of what had actually happened not sinking in until the very end.
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