When an actor or actress dies during filming, it's then decided that their death should be written into the show. Of course, the cast will be devastated that they lost a fellow cast member. Acacia Deadrick, writer for MSN.com page Yardbarker, compiled this list of real life passings that were written into the TV shows
1. Cory Monteith
-Glee
-He played Finn Hudson. After he had died from a mixture of heroin and alcohol, resulting in an overdose. The writers of the show chose to honor his life in a touching episode called "The Quarterback". One of the songs the cast sung on that episode was James Taylor's "Fire and Rain"
2. George Cleveland
-Lassie
-He played Grandpa. While the show was still in its early seasons, George Cleveland died of a heart attack. His character was said to have died in the show. The writers honored his life with a funeral episode
3. Glenn Strange
-Gunsmoke
-He played Sam Noonan. He joined the cast later on. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and eventually lost his battle with the disease. The show's writers didn't immediately address that he had died. They chose to reveal that his character had passed
4. John Spencer
-The West Wing
-He played Leo McGarry. While filming the show, he suffered a massive heart attack and died. When fans learned of his death, they were devastated. It was written into the show that his character died during his bid for the presidency
5. John Ritter
-8 Simple Rules
-He played Paul Hennessy. He suffered a massive cardiac event and was rushed to the hospital, but died en route. His death was written into the show. It was turned into a two part episode, one part where his character passes and the other part paying tribute to him
6. Nancy Marchand
-The Sopranos
-She played Livia Soprano, Tony's headstrong, manipulative mother. When she died in real life from lung cancer, her character's death was written into the show. A CGI version of her was used during a final exchange between her and her son Tony
7. Will Geer
-The Waltons
-He played Zebulon Tyler Walton. Will Geer died from respiratory complications in the late 1970s and his death was written into the show. The characters said their tearful goodbyes to Grandpa Zebulon in the season 7 premiere
8. Karl Swenson
-Little House on the Prairie
-He played Lars Hanson. During the show, he suffered a heart attack and passed away. His death was written into the show and stated that Lars died from an undisclosed illness. Since the show was set in a time when people could die from simple illnesses that now have a cure, it was believable
9. Jim Davis
-Dallas
-He played Jock Ewing. In 1981, he lost his battle with cancer. His character was not present on the show for a time, but it was said on the show he died in a helicopter crash
10. Will Lee
-Sesame Street
-He played Mr. Hooper. He was a much beloved character on the show. He passed away from a heart attack in 1982. Several episodes aired without his character, but the writers used his passing as a way to say goodbye to his character and teach children about death and mourning in a very touching way. It turned out to be a very good episode
11. George Segal
-The Goldbergs
-He played Albert "Pops" Solomon. George underwent surgery in 2021 and died as a result of complications that arose. Writers included his passing in the show and wrote it into the season 9 opening episode to pay tribute to him
12. Carrie Fisher
-Family Guy
-She appeared as Angela. While her character was not a recurring one, the show paid tribute to Carrie Fisher by saying her character Angela died in an accidental drowning. Peter Griffin, one of the main characters, gave a beautiful eulogy that paid deep respect to both Angela and Carrie
13. Linda Porter
-Superstore
-She played Myrtle. She passed away in 2019 after a long battle with cancer. Her character was stated to have passed, but the cause was not mentioned. The Cloud 9 employees paid tribute to her with a hilarious but also touching moment when they think about all the moments that they had with Myrtle
14. Luke Perry
-Riverdale
-He played Fred Andrews. Writers wrote in Luke Perry's death as a car accident that kills Fred Andrews in Season 4. In real life, Luke Perry died from a stroke. The rest of the episode has the characters exploring the concept of death, mourning, loss and grief
15. Kristoff St. John
-The Young and the Restless
-He played Neil Winters. He appeared in just under 1,700 episodes of the show, making him a regular cast member. On the show, it was said he died of a stroke on the show. In real life, he passed away from heart disease in 2019
16. Adam West
-Family Guy
-He provided his own voice as Mayor West. Many thought it was in bad taste to pay tribute to Adam West's passing two years on the show after he really died. Adam West died of cancer in 2017, but his character was not written out until 2019
17. Carrie Fisher
-Catastrophe
-She played Mia. Carrie Fisher died in 2016 from a heart attack. Her death was written into the show. It was said her character also died from a heart attack
18. Carol Ann Susi
-The Big Bang Theory
-She provided the voice of Debbie, Howard's mother. You never saw her, but you often heard her arguing with Howard, saying things like "Close the door. You'll let all the bugs in!" with Howard responding back sarcastically "The only reason they would come in is because you're their queen!" or "Who's there? Is that a sex criminal?" and he would respond "Nobody wants to do that to you, ma!" Their arguments were often one of the funniest parts of the show
-Carol Ann Susi died in 2014 from cancer, and writers wrote her death into the show. Howard is at the comic book store with his friends when he gets a call from relatives. He finds out that his mother, who had gone down South to visit relatives, had gone to lay down for a nap and never woke up. The paid touching tributes to Susi and explored how Howard handled losing his mother in addition to how he handled life after losing a parent
19. Christopher Evan Welch
-Silicon Valley
-He played Peter Gregory. Suffering from lung cancer, he finally lost his battle in 2013. His death was written into Season 2 and honors his life with a funeral for the character
20. Christopher Allport
-Mad Men
-He played Andrew Campbell. He died when an avalanche hit him head on. The writers wrote his death into the show, saying he died in a plane crash. The entire episode was dedicated in loving memory to Allport
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