TV Deaths That Happened Because The Actor Died In Real Life
When an actor passes while their show is still on the air, the writers are faced with a complicated decision—they can either find a replacement actor or find a way to make the storyline work without the character.
Here are 24 character deaths you didn't know happened because the actor died in real life.
Dr David Kroger From Monk
Dr David Kroger on Monk was a patient and kind therapist played by Stanley Kamel.
Sadly, at the age of 65, Kamel unexpectedly passed in his home from a heart attack. The authenticity he brought to his role fueled great sadness and compassion among the crew and with fans, making it impossible to find a replacement.
Mandeville Films, Monk (2002–2009)
Arman Morales From The Cleaning Lady
Adan Canto was playing Arman Morales in The Cleaning Lady when he was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer.
The show had initially hoped to bring him back later after he finished treatment, so they had his character, Morales, kidnapped, leaving him off-screen for several episodes.
Unfortunately, Canto’s treatment was unsuccessful and he passed not long later in January 2024.
After this, the show had his character return (using CGI trickery) only to perish in an accident when the vehicle transporting him swerved off a cliff.
Amore & Vita Productions, The Cleaning Lady 2022–
Bill McNeal From NewsRadio
Phil Hartman had a signature style that he brought to a variety of comedy projects throughout his career. One of his most loved roles was on NewsRadio as Bill McNeal.
Tragically, Hartman was fatally shot by his wife before she took her own life. The show’s fifth season paid tribute to the character by saying McNeal passed off-screen from a heart attack.
343 Films, NewsRadio (1995–1999)
Finn Hudson From Glee
Cory Monteith’s passing was perhaps one of the most notable celebrity and character losses. He played teenager Finn Hudson on Glee.
Sadly, Monteith lived a challenging life plagued with substance dependency—which ultimately led to his death after consuming too much.
He was only 31 years old when he passed, and as a young teen in the show, his death was immensely tragic both on and off screen. The show wrote his demise into the script, but didn't provide a cause.
Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision, Glee (2009–2015)
Ernie “Coach” Pantusso From Cheers
Iconic Cheers character Coach was a fan favorite. Played by Nicholas Colasanto, the character on the show may have an elderly demeanor, but he wasn’t actually that old.
Colasanto was only 61 when he suffered a fatal heart attack. And unfortunately, the writers wrote him off with no explanation—which didn’t sit well with fans.
Mayor Adam West From Family Guy
Mayor Adam West was a recurring character on Family Guy who fans thoroughly enjoyed.
He was voiced by the real Adam West, a legendary actor who passed in 2017 from leukemia.
The show had enough voice recordings from West to keep his character alive on the show for another couple years. Finally, two years later, they acknowledged his passing and paid tribute to him.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Owen Granger From NCIS: Los Angeles
Miguel Ferrer played Owen Granger on NCIS: Los Angeles. While actively working on the show, Ferrer was diagnosed with throat cancer.
The writers, along with Ferrer, made the difficult decision to have his character, Granger, also suffer from cancer caused by risky career choices. In the show, Granger leaves the hospital where he is being treated to spend time with family.
When Ferrer passed in real life, the show concluded Granger’s storyline by saying he had passed peacefully in a beautiful place.
CBS Studios, NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023)
Peter Gregory From Silicon Valley
Peter Gregory was said to be one of the best and most eccentric characters in Silicon Valley. So much so, that when the actor, Christopher Evan Welch passed, they had to completely write him out of the show.
Welch’s passing is a result of complications from lung cancer. However, his character’s passing was not as straightforward or sincere. The show wrote him off by saying he passed after being startled by a gunshot and running away, making fun of his character’s lack of physical activity.
3 Arts Entertainment, Silicon Valley (2014–2019)
Gramps From Lassie
Lassie is one of those shows that brought forth a significant amount of comfort and nostalgia. What made it even better was the show’s endearing character Gramps, played by George Cleveland.
Cleveland played Gramps up until his passing from a heart attack in 1957.
Before his passing, however, the show had already planned on having Gramps injured to push the plot along. So, when his unexpected passing occurred, it was fairly easy for them to make it work.
Even so, the show danced around his loss, giving some notion that it may have happened, but never outright saying Gramps had passed.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Leo McGarry From The West Wing
John Spencer won an Emmy award for his role as Leo McGarry, the President’s Chief of Staff.
Partway through filming the show’s final season, Spencer unexpectedly passed from a heart attack.
In the show, McGarry was running for Vice President when cardiac arrest did him in. In a touching moment, the writers made it clear that he would have become Vice President, had he not met his sad end.
John Wells Productions, The West Wing (1999–2006)
Lennie Briscoe From Law & Order
Law & Order’s detective, Lenni Briscoe was played by Jerry Orbach. Sadly, Orbach passed in 2004 after a battle with prostate cancer at age 69.
Around the time of his passing, the show was transitioning his character to a different show—Law & Order: Trial by Jury—so it wasn’t too difficult to write him out. They replaced his character, but eventually mentioned his passing about a year later.
Studios USA Television, Law & Order 1999–
Livia Soprano From The Sopranos
While tragic ends are not uncommon in The Sopranos, the loss of Livia was particularly intense. Livia was played by Nancy Marchand, until she unexpectedly passed in 2000 at 70 years old.
The writers said they had plans for the character, but ultimately decided to write her out rather than replace Marchand with another actress.
In season three, they used CGI to create one final scene with Livia.
Debbie Wolowitz From The Big Bang Theory
Debbie Wolowitz—commonly referred to as Mrs Wolowitz—was Howard’s mother on The Big Bang Theory. And while she was never actually shown on screen, her hilariously annoying character was well-loved by fans.
Carol Ann Susi was the voice behind Mrs Wolowitz until she passed in 2014 at age 62. Sadly, Susi had just been diagnosed with cancer when she suddenly lost her battle only two weeks later.
The writers gave Mrs Wolowitz a respectful ending in the show, having her pass in her sleep while on a trip to Florida.
West-Shapiro, Seinfeld (1989–1998)
Dr Virgil Swann From Smallville
Christopher Reeve played Dr Virgil Swann in the Superman-themed TV series Smallville. During the show’s fourth season, Reeve passed from heart failure at age 52.
Dr Virgil Swann also passed in the show, in an episode that aired several months later.
Tollin, Smallville (2001–2017)
Edna Krabappel From The Simpsons
Edna Krabappel was a fourth-grade teacher on the animated series, The Simpsons. Her character appeared often and was well-loved by fans.
Mrs Krabappel was voiced by Marcia Wallace, who passed in 2013 from a battle with breast cancer.
Rather than have the beloved teacher pass in the show, the writers chose to have her retire instead, making it less traumatic for viewers.
Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Richard Gilmore From Gilmore Girls
Richard Gilmore was Lorelai’s father and Rory’s grandfather on the beloved series, Gilmore Girls. He was played by Edward Herrmann, who passed from brain cancer at the age of 71.
Following his death, Netflix released a four-part series called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which brought back almost every original character from the show.
However, with the loss of Herrmann, the show started the new series with the news of Richard Gilmore’s passing, claiming it to be a heart attack.
Warner Bros., Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
Paul Hennesy From 8 Simple Rules
Legendary sitcom actor John Ritter played Paul Hennesy on the popular sitcom 8 Simple Rules.
Tragically, he passed suddenly from an aortic dissection while filming the second season. The show took a break to reshape the series and then returned with an hour-long tribute to Hennesy, having him also unexpectedly pass in the show.
Touchstone, 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005)
Fred Andrews From Riverdale
Fred Andrews was a well-loved character on Riverdale, so the actor’s tragic end was particularly hard for fans.
Andrews was played by Luke Perry, who passed from a stroke at the young age of 52.
The show wrote his demise into the script as a car accident, making it a significant moment that had nearly every character in shambles over the immense loss.
Berlanti Productions, Riverdale (2017–2023)
Mr Hooper From Sesame Street
Will Lee played Mr Hooper on the popular children’s show, Sesame Street. And unlike many other children’s programs, when Lee suffered a fatal heart attack in 1982, the show used Mr Hooper’s passing as a teaching moment in the show.
His character didn’t just disappear, the show addressed his loss and had Big Bird experience all the typical reactions to losing a loved one, covering all the stages of grief as they paid tribute to Lee and Mr Hooper.
Sesame Workshop, Sesame Street 1969–
Barry Frost From Rizzoli & Isles
Lee Thompson Young played Boston detective Barry Frost in the popular TV drama series, Rizzoli & Isles.
Sadly, Young took his own life in 2013 at the young age of 29 after a long battle with depression. In the show, writers had Frost pass in a car crash.
Warner Bros., Rizzoli & Isles (2010–2016)
Nick Yemana From Barney Miller
Jack Soo played Detective Nick Yemana in the TV sitcom, Barney Miller.
Sadly, Soo was diagnosed with esophageal cancer during the show’s fourth season, causing him to miss the last five episodes. He returned for the fifth season, but the cancer had spread quickly and he passed not long after in 1979 at the age of 61.
The show addressed Soo’s passing and then implied that Yemana had passed too, and they used a full episode to pay tribute to him.
Four D Productions, Barney Miller (1975–1982)
Mona From All My Children
Frances Heffin played Erica Kane’s mother, Mona, on All My Children.
When Heffin passed in 1994 after a battle with lung cancer, the show had Mona peacefully pass in her sleep not long after.
Hal Munson From As the World Turns
Benjamin Hendrickson played Oakdale detective Hal Munson on As the World Turns.
In 2006, Hendrickson tragically took his own life, and his final pre-taped scenes aired the following week. A few months later, the show revealed that Hal had passed in the line of duty.
CBS, As the World Turns (1956–2010)
Chico From Chico And The Man
Freddie Prinze played Chico on the popular sitcom, Chico and the Man.
In 1977, Freddie Prinze sadly took his own life at the young age of 22, midway through filming season three.
At first, the show had portrayed that Chico left to visit his father in Mexico, and then filled his place with a young orphan. However, toward the end of the series, it was revealed that Chico had at some point passed.
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