20 TV Deaths That Happened Because the Actor Died in Real Life
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VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio
When these actors sadly died, their TV shows chose to have their characters pass away as well. For this list, we'll be looking at beloved television characters who met their demises in their respective shows because the actor portraying them passed away. This means you can expect some prominent spoilers. Our list of TV deaths that happened because the actor died in real life includes Dr. Virgil Swann from “Smallville” (2001-11), Edna Krabappel from “The Simpsons” (1989-), Adam West from “Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-), Ernie 'Coach' Pantusso from “Cheers” (1982-93), and more.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining 20 Times TV Deaths Happened Because the Actor Died in Real Life. For this list, we’ll be looking at beloved television characters who met their demises in their respective shows because the actor portraying them passed away. This means you can expect some prominent spoilers. Do you remember feeling shocked about these characters’ deaths? Let us know in the comments below!
A major character in the first season of “Silicon Valley,” Peter Gregory was a socially awkward tech investor hoping to get a piece of Pied Piper. He was played by Christopher Evan Welch, who was unfortunately taken from us at a relatively young age. Welch was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 and passed away three years later at the age of 48. He died on December 2, 2013, four months before “Silicon Valley” premiered on HBO. Welch was about midway through filming the first season, having completed five of its eight episodes. It was later explained that Peter Gregory died while on a trip to the Serengeti.
A highly acclaimed police drama, “Hill Street Blues” was way ahead of its time and is regarded as a predecessor to the prestige cable dramas of the 2000s. Michael Conrad played Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, known for his iconic catchphrase, “Let’s be careful out there.” Conrad won two Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor before passing away in November 1983 from urethral cancer. Conrad was 58 years old, and the show was in the middle of its fourth season. Esterhaus was subsequently killed off, but not how you may think. Rather than going out in a blaze of glory, he dies while making love. It’s different, but it sure is memorable!
This NBC sitcom suffered a number of tragedies with eerie similarities. The first two seasons starred a gruff, chain-smoking character named Selma Hacker, played by an actress named Selma Diamond. Unfortunately, Diamond died of lung cancer on May 13, 1985, just four days after the season two finale. Her character was killed off and replaced with Flo Kleiner, played by Florence Halop. Like Diamond before her, Halop died of lung cancer shortly after the conclusion of season three. And like her predecessor, Flo Kleiner was killed off, with her death being announced by Judge Harry Stone.
This was an incredibly successful sitcom in its day, running for six seasons between 1981 and 1987. It starred Dolph Sweet as Chief Carl Kanisky, a widowed police officer who is often at odds with his daughters. Sweet was informed midway through the fourth season that he had stomach cancer, but he continued to film the show. He ultimately died from the cancer on May 8, 1985, just three days before the fourth season finale. Sweet’s funeral was held on the night of its airing, with his co-star Nell Carter delivering the eulogy. Season 5 opens with an acknowledgment that Chief had died, and the episode is handled with mature grace as the characters learn to grieve his passing.
Perhaps the most famous soap opera in TV history, “The Young and the Restless” has been going strong since 1973 and has aired well over 12,000 episodes. Between 1991 and 2019, Kristoff St. John starred as Neil Winters and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance. St. John died at the age of 52 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart thickens to an abnormal size and is thus unable to pump blood correctly. His death occurred on February 3, 2019, and just two months later his character was killed off after suffering a stroke.
A popular ABC sitcom, “Barney Miller” took place within a police station and concerned the wacky officers that inhabited it. One of them was Sergeant Nick Yemana, a philosophical man known for making a particularly bad cup of coffee. Nick was played by Jack Soo, who died of cancer midway through the show’s fifth season on January 11, 1979. It was later implied that Nick had died, and the fifth season ends with the episode “Jack Soo, a Retrospective.” It sees the actors breaking character to acknowledge the legacy of their coworker, and it closes with everyone raising a cup of coffee in salute.
This superhero show about a young Clark Kent features an exceptionally cool cameo from Christopher Reeve, who played the hero in four “Superman” movies. In 1995, Reeve was in an accident that left him with paralysis, and his use of a wheelchair was written into the character of Dr. Virgil Swann. It was a brilliant and touching passing of the torch that honored the series’ iconic history. Unfortunately, Reeve fell into a coma after going into cardiac arrest and died on October 10, 2004. In the fourth season episode “Sacred,” which aired four months later, a newscast explains that Dr. Swann has also died.
Our vote for the worst mother in TV history has to go to Livia Soprano. A real nasty piece of work, Livia served as a primary antagonist throughout the first two seasons, often coming into conflict with her son, Tony. This show is known for having some anticlimaxes, and Livia’s role is one of them. A major plotline between Tony and Livia is established at the start of the third season, but then she randomly dies of a stroke off-screen and the story is promptly dropped. This is because Nancy Marchand, the woman who expertly portrayed Livia, had died in real life after a bout with various lung diseases.
A TNT police procedural, “Rizzoli & Isles” stars Angie Harmon as Boston detective Jane Rizzoli. Her partner through the first four seasons was a computer whiz named Barry Frost, who was played by Lee Thompson Young. In August of 2013, Young was filming the fourth season of “Rizzoli & Isles” when he failed to show up to set. A well-being check was conducted, and it was found that Young had taken his own life. He was only 29 years old. Barry’s last appearance occurs in the penultimate episode of season four, and it’s explained in the fifth season premiere that he died in a car accident.
Carol Ann Susi was a highly talented voice actress. With nothing but her signature rasp, Susi made the unseen Mrs. Wolowitz an enduring, hilarious, and unforgettable character. And she died as she lived - completely off-screen. Mrs. Wolowitz dies in the eighth season episode “The Comic Book Store Regeneration,” and it’s explained that she passed in her sleep while visiting her sister in Florida. Susi’s death was just as sudden and surprising. She went in for a medical procedure and discovered that she was suffering from cancer. Her health quickly worsened and she passed away just one week later at the age of 62.
Phil Hartman brought his signature style of comedy to a variety of projects, including “Saturday Night Live” where he earned an Emmy. One of his most beloved roles was on “NewsRadio” as Bill McNeal, an egotistical yet hilarious anchor at the WNYX station. Hartman played McNeal for four out of five seasons. Tragically, after the show’s 4th season, Hartman was fatally shot by his wife before she took her own life. The show’s fifth season premiere was able to act as a tribute to the character by saying his character died off-screen from a heart attack. His absence on the show was definitely felt by all.
Every character on this classic sitcom brings their specific charm. For the bartender Ernie ‘Coach’ Pantusso, it was his sweet but very dim-witted nature. Actor Nicholas Colasanto embodied Coach’s personality flawlessly and turned him into one of the most popular characters. Sadly, the actor passed away in 1985 from a heart attack after playing Coach for the first 3 seasons. Since his passing occurred in the middle of Season 3, his character was initially just not not around. But the Season 4 premiere eventually confirmed Coach had died. Woody Harrelson was brought in to fill the role of the bar’s resident dummy with a heart of gold. During the finale, the show still took a moment to pay one final tribute to Coach.
“The Simpsons” has an incredible cast of kooky recurring characters. One of the most frequently featured staples was the cynical elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel. During Marcia Wallace’s 14-year history as the character, she earned an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. In 2013, the actress passed away due to complications from pneumonia. Although Krabappel’s death was never explicitly stated on the show, there are several hints towards that being the case. Bart’s chalkboard message to her following Wallace’s passing and several mentions of her from other characters made it clear that Edna didn’t simply retire.
Although the majority of the most famous characters from this educational series are puppets, Mr. Hooper certainly left his mark. While the owner of Hooper’s Store could be a bit harsh, he undeniably had a warm heart. Will Lee played Mr. Hooper from the show’s beginning in 1969 until 1982 when he died of a heart attack. No one would’ve blamed the kid’s show for writing the character off in a gentle way. However, the show decided to address his death through a storyline with Big Bird in a way its young viewers could understand. “Sesame Street” was praised for handling such a serious topic with sensitivity and understanding. They made sure that children and adults could say goodbye to Lee’s Mr. Hooper.
Miguel Ferrer went from playing Owen Granger recurring character on “NCIS: Los Angeles” to being a part of the main fabric of the show. While he was still acting on the program, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. A behind-the-scenes decision was made to reveal that the Granger character was also suffering from a cancer ailment caused by risky career choices. Within the show, the character left a hospital where he was being treated to spend time with his family. In real life, Ferrer had passed away in a house he shared with his loved ones. The show concluded Granger’s storyline by letting the audience know he had died peacefully in a beautiful place.
Aaron Sorkin’s “The West Wing” had a wonderful cast of deep characters and engaging plotlines that helped earn the show more than two dozen Emmys. One of its Emmys went to John Spencer, who played the President’s Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry. McGarry’s dynamics with other characters was fascinating to watch. His friendship with President Jed Bartlet was particularly engaging. Sadly, that friendship was cut short when Spencer died of a heart attack in 2005 part way through filming the show’s final season. At the time, Leo was running for Vice President. The series had him also die of a heart attack on Election Night. In a touching moment, the writers made it clear Leo would’ve become Vice President.
Luke Perry became a teen icon while playing Dylan on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” He returned for a whole new generation of teen drama on “Riverdale” to play Archie’s father Fred Andrews. Thanks to Perry’s fine work, his relationship with his son felt real and the character felt incredibly compassionate. The show demonstrated his selflessness by having Fred sacrifice his life to push a stranger out of the path of a speeding car. In reality, this turn was written in response to Perry’s passing of a stroke in 2019 at just 52. “Riverdale’s” Season 4 “In Memoriam” episode served as a touching tribute to the character and actor. Perry’s “Beverly Hills” co-star, Shannen Doherty, also made a guest appearance as the stranger he saved.
Cory Monteith was best known for playing “Glee’s” Finn Hudson. The star quarterback celebrated his love for singing by joining the signature club. After four years of playing the character, the world was rocked with shocking news. The 31-year-old was found dead in his hotel room with a mix of alcohol and other substances in his system. Following his death, the production start date for the show’s fifth season was pushed back. They eventually addressed Finn’s passing in “The Quarterback” without giving details about how he died. For the remainder of the series, the show continued to honor the memory of one of the Glee Club’s brightest stars.
For years, the silly antics of Mayor Adam West provided some of the best moments on “Family Guy.” Having the hilariously odd character actually be voiced by the former “Batman” star just made everything more delightful. In 2017, West died from Leukemia and, like the rest of us, “Family Guy” said goodbye to its mayor. But life in Quahog continued on. The town’s high school was renamed after West in tribute. In his stead, his cousin Wild West, voiced by Sam Elliott, took his place. The show similarly had to write out Angela, Peter’s former boss, when her voice actress Carrie Fisher passed away from a stroke in 2016. Both characters would be dearly missed in Quahog.
Originally titled “8 Simple Rules…For Dating My Teenage Daughter,” this sitcom followed the trials and tribulations of an overbearing father as his teen daughters began to date. Legendary sitcom actor John Ritter was praised for his take as family patriarch Paul. Tragically, he passed away of an aortic dissection while filming the second season. The show took a break in production to reshape the series. After it returned, the show spent an hour long episode to serve as a tribute to Paul. Subsequent episodes also showed the impact of his death on his family. While the show was never quite the same after Paul’s absence, Ritter and his final leading role weren’t forgotten.
Peter Gregory
“Silicon Valley” (2014-19)A major character in the first season of “Silicon Valley,” Peter Gregory was a socially awkward tech investor hoping to get a piece of Pied Piper. He was played by Christopher Evan Welch, who was unfortunately taken from us at a relatively young age. Welch was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 and passed away three years later at the age of 48. He died on December 2, 2013, four months before “Silicon Valley” premiered on HBO. Welch was about midway through filming the first season, having completed five of its eight episodes. It was later explained that Peter Gregory died while on a trip to the Serengeti.
Sergeant Phil Esterhaus
“Hill Street Blues” (1981-87)A highly acclaimed police drama, “Hill Street Blues” was way ahead of its time and is regarded as a predecessor to the prestige cable dramas of the 2000s. Michael Conrad played Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, known for his iconic catchphrase, “Let’s be careful out there.” Conrad won two Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor before passing away in November 1983 from urethral cancer. Conrad was 58 years old, and the show was in the middle of its fourth season. Esterhaus was subsequently killed off, but not how you may think. Rather than going out in a blaze of glory, he dies while making love. It’s different, but it sure is memorable!
Selma Hacker & Florence Kleiner
“Night Court” (1984-92)This NBC sitcom suffered a number of tragedies with eerie similarities. The first two seasons starred a gruff, chain-smoking character named Selma Hacker, played by an actress named Selma Diamond. Unfortunately, Diamond died of lung cancer on May 13, 1985, just four days after the season two finale. Her character was killed off and replaced with Flo Kleiner, played by Florence Halop. Like Diamond before her, Halop died of lung cancer shortly after the conclusion of season three. And like her predecessor, Flo Kleiner was killed off, with her death being announced by Judge Harry Stone.
Carl Kanisky
“Gimme a Break!” (1981-87)This was an incredibly successful sitcom in its day, running for six seasons between 1981 and 1987. It starred Dolph Sweet as Chief Carl Kanisky, a widowed police officer who is often at odds with his daughters. Sweet was informed midway through the fourth season that he had stomach cancer, but he continued to film the show. He ultimately died from the cancer on May 8, 1985, just three days before the fourth season finale. Sweet’s funeral was held on the night of its airing, with his co-star Nell Carter delivering the eulogy. Season 5 opens with an acknowledgment that Chief had died, and the episode is handled with mature grace as the characters learn to grieve his passing.
Neil Winters
“The Young and the Restless” (1973-)Perhaps the most famous soap opera in TV history, “The Young and the Restless” has been going strong since 1973 and has aired well over 12,000 episodes. Between 1991 and 2019, Kristoff St. John starred as Neil Winters and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance. St. John died at the age of 52 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart thickens to an abnormal size and is thus unable to pump blood correctly. His death occurred on February 3, 2019, and just two months later his character was killed off after suffering a stroke.
Sergeant Nick Yemana
“Barney Miller” (1975-82)A popular ABC sitcom, “Barney Miller” took place within a police station and concerned the wacky officers that inhabited it. One of them was Sergeant Nick Yemana, a philosophical man known for making a particularly bad cup of coffee. Nick was played by Jack Soo, who died of cancer midway through the show’s fifth season on January 11, 1979. It was later implied that Nick had died, and the fifth season ends with the episode “Jack Soo, a Retrospective.” It sees the actors breaking character to acknowledge the legacy of their coworker, and it closes with everyone raising a cup of coffee in salute.
Dr. Virgil Swann
“Smallville” (2001-11)This superhero show about a young Clark Kent features an exceptionally cool cameo from Christopher Reeve, who played the hero in four “Superman” movies. In 1995, Reeve was in an accident that left him with paralysis, and his use of a wheelchair was written into the character of Dr. Virgil Swann. It was a brilliant and touching passing of the torch that honored the series’ iconic history. Unfortunately, Reeve fell into a coma after going into cardiac arrest and died on October 10, 2004. In the fourth season episode “Sacred,” which aired four months later, a newscast explains that Dr. Swann has also died.
Livia Soprano
“The Sopranos” (1999-2007)Our vote for the worst mother in TV history has to go to Livia Soprano. A real nasty piece of work, Livia served as a primary antagonist throughout the first two seasons, often coming into conflict with her son, Tony. This show is known for having some anticlimaxes, and Livia’s role is one of them. A major plotline between Tony and Livia is established at the start of the third season, but then she randomly dies of a stroke off-screen and the story is promptly dropped. This is because Nancy Marchand, the woman who expertly portrayed Livia, had died in real life after a bout with various lung diseases.
Barry Frost
“Rizzoli & Isles” (2010-16)A TNT police procedural, “Rizzoli & Isles” stars Angie Harmon as Boston detective Jane Rizzoli. Her partner through the first four seasons was a computer whiz named Barry Frost, who was played by Lee Thompson Young. In August of 2013, Young was filming the fourth season of “Rizzoli & Isles” when he failed to show up to set. A well-being check was conducted, and it was found that Young had taken his own life. He was only 29 years old. Barry’s last appearance occurs in the penultimate episode of season four, and it’s explained in the fifth season premiere that he died in a car accident.
Mrs. Wolowitz
“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)Carol Ann Susi was a highly talented voice actress. With nothing but her signature rasp, Susi made the unseen Mrs. Wolowitz an enduring, hilarious, and unforgettable character. And she died as she lived - completely off-screen. Mrs. Wolowitz dies in the eighth season episode “The Comic Book Store Regeneration,” and it’s explained that she passed in her sleep while visiting her sister in Florida. Susi’s death was just as sudden and surprising. She went in for a medical procedure and discovered that she was suffering from cancer. Her health quickly worsened and she passed away just one week later at the age of 62.
Bill McNeal
“NewsRadio” (1995-99)Phil Hartman brought his signature style of comedy to a variety of projects, including “Saturday Night Live” where he earned an Emmy. One of his most beloved roles was on “NewsRadio” as Bill McNeal, an egotistical yet hilarious anchor at the WNYX station. Hartman played McNeal for four out of five seasons. Tragically, after the show’s 4th season, Hartman was fatally shot by his wife before she took her own life. The show’s fifth season premiere was able to act as a tribute to the character by saying his character died off-screen from a heart attack. His absence on the show was definitely felt by all.
Ernie ‘Coach’ Pantusso
“Cheers” (1982-93)Every character on this classic sitcom brings their specific charm. For the bartender Ernie ‘Coach’ Pantusso, it was his sweet but very dim-witted nature. Actor Nicholas Colasanto embodied Coach’s personality flawlessly and turned him into one of the most popular characters. Sadly, the actor passed away in 1985 from a heart attack after playing Coach for the first 3 seasons. Since his passing occurred in the middle of Season 3, his character was initially just not not around. But the Season 4 premiere eventually confirmed Coach had died. Woody Harrelson was brought in to fill the role of the bar’s resident dummy with a heart of gold. During the finale, the show still took a moment to pay one final tribute to Coach.
Edna Krabappel
“The Simpsons” (1989-)“The Simpsons” has an incredible cast of kooky recurring characters. One of the most frequently featured staples was the cynical elementary school teacher Edna Krabappel. During Marcia Wallace’s 14-year history as the character, she earned an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. In 2013, the actress passed away due to complications from pneumonia. Although Krabappel’s death was never explicitly stated on the show, there are several hints towards that being the case. Bart’s chalkboard message to her following Wallace’s passing and several mentions of her from other characters made it clear that Edna didn’t simply retire.
Mr. Hooper
“Sesame Street” (1969-)Although the majority of the most famous characters from this educational series are puppets, Mr. Hooper certainly left his mark. While the owner of Hooper’s Store could be a bit harsh, he undeniably had a warm heart. Will Lee played Mr. Hooper from the show’s beginning in 1969 until 1982 when he died of a heart attack. No one would’ve blamed the kid’s show for writing the character off in a gentle way. However, the show decided to address his death through a storyline with Big Bird in a way its young viewers could understand. “Sesame Street” was praised for handling such a serious topic with sensitivity and understanding. They made sure that children and adults could say goodbye to Lee’s Mr. Hooper.
Owen Granger
“NCIS: Los Angeles” (2009-)Miguel Ferrer went from playing Owen Granger recurring character on “NCIS: Los Angeles” to being a part of the main fabric of the show. While he was still acting on the program, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. A behind-the-scenes decision was made to reveal that the Granger character was also suffering from a cancer ailment caused by risky career choices. Within the show, the character left a hospital where he was being treated to spend time with his family. In real life, Ferrer had passed away in a house he shared with his loved ones. The show concluded Granger’s storyline by letting the audience know he had died peacefully in a beautiful place.
Leo McGarry
“The West Wing” (1999-2006)Aaron Sorkin’s “The West Wing” had a wonderful cast of deep characters and engaging plotlines that helped earn the show more than two dozen Emmys. One of its Emmys went to John Spencer, who played the President’s Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry. McGarry’s dynamics with other characters was fascinating to watch. His friendship with President Jed Bartlet was particularly engaging. Sadly, that friendship was cut short when Spencer died of a heart attack in 2005 part way through filming the show’s final season. At the time, Leo was running for Vice President. The series had him also die of a heart attack on Election Night. In a touching moment, the writers made it clear Leo would’ve become Vice President.
Fred Andrews
“Riverdale” (2017-)Luke Perry became a teen icon while playing Dylan on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” He returned for a whole new generation of teen drama on “Riverdale” to play Archie’s father Fred Andrews. Thanks to Perry’s fine work, his relationship with his son felt real and the character felt incredibly compassionate. The show demonstrated his selflessness by having Fred sacrifice his life to push a stranger out of the path of a speeding car. In reality, this turn was written in response to Perry’s passing of a stroke in 2019 at just 52. “Riverdale’s” Season 4 “In Memoriam” episode served as a touching tribute to the character and actor. Perry’s “Beverly Hills” co-star, Shannen Doherty, also made a guest appearance as the stranger he saved.
Finn Hudson
“Glee” (2009-15)Cory Monteith was best known for playing “Glee’s” Finn Hudson. The star quarterback celebrated his love for singing by joining the signature club. After four years of playing the character, the world was rocked with shocking news. The 31-year-old was found dead in his hotel room with a mix of alcohol and other substances in his system. Following his death, the production start date for the show’s fifth season was pushed back. They eventually addressed Finn’s passing in “The Quarterback” without giving details about how he died. For the remainder of the series, the show continued to honor the memory of one of the Glee Club’s brightest stars.
Adam West
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)For years, the silly antics of Mayor Adam West provided some of the best moments on “Family Guy.” Having the hilariously odd character actually be voiced by the former “Batman” star just made everything more delightful. In 2017, West died from Leukemia and, like the rest of us, “Family Guy” said goodbye to its mayor. But life in Quahog continued on. The town’s high school was renamed after West in tribute. In his stead, his cousin Wild West, voiced by Sam Elliott, took his place. The show similarly had to write out Angela, Peter’s former boss, when her voice actress Carrie Fisher passed away from a stroke in 2016. Both characters would be dearly missed in Quahog.
Paul Hennesy
“8 Simple Rules” (2002-05)Originally titled “8 Simple Rules…For Dating My Teenage Daughter,” this sitcom followed the trials and tribulations of an overbearing father as his teen daughters began to date. Legendary sitcom actor John Ritter was praised for his take as family patriarch Paul. Tragically, he passed away of an aortic dissection while filming the second season. The show took a break in production to reshape the series. After it returned, the show spent an hour long episode to serve as a tribute to Paul. Subsequent episodes also showed the impact of his death on his family. While the show was never quite the same after Paul’s absence, Ritter and his final leading role weren’t forgotten.
