Back to the real world, KTLA 5 news anchor Hal Fishman a few years ago.
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TV Shows Where The Main Character (in real life) Died
- Thread starter Mark Giardina
- Start date
Samantha Smith was indeed the little girl who wrote to
Yuri Andropov, urging him to talk peace. I believe she
and her father died in a plane crash.
Somebody mentioned Johnny Olson. Don't forget just
recently Charlie O'Donnell ("Wheel Of Fortune") died,
and that back in 1988 Jay Stewart, then the announcer
on "Sale Of The Century," committed suicide. Olson's
successor, Rod Roddy, also died.
Yuri Andropov, urging him to talk peace. I believe she
and her father died in a plane crash.
Somebody mentioned Johnny Olson. Don't forget just
recently Charlie O'Donnell ("Wheel Of Fortune") died,
and that back in 1988 Jay Stewart, then the announcer
on "Sale Of The Century," committed suicide. Olson's
successor, Rod Roddy, also died.
Samantha Smith was from Manchester, ME (near Augusta) and passed away on August 25, 1985. WMTW-TV channel 8 of Poland Spring had extensive coverage on her passing, as they were the home affiliate that aired her short lived Lime Street show. I moved to Old Orchard Beach, ME a week later and remember it all quite well.
Johnny Olson passed away in 1985. Rod Roddy died from a form of breast cancer and other ailments.
Johnny Olson passed away in 1985. Rod Roddy died from a form of breast cancer and other ailments.
Ultimajock said:
Paxton Mills from Denver's KXKL "KOOL 105 FM" more/less had done the same some years back as well. 2002? That is to annouce to his Denver radio listeners in his case his own suicide on air but in Paxton's case it was several hours later after his "KOOL morning show" broadcast at a cheap motel where Paxton had took his own life. For many it was Paxton Mills' way of a "joke". Too bad "KOOL 105" or the Denver radio listeners for that matter, didn't get it before Paxton had actually killed himself. He really was crying for help but Denver and the front range could had cared less. As Denver's KWGN had said at the time "..Paxton had told us on his own radio show that he was going to kill himself..BUT we as Denverites...we just did not believe him".
Now THAT is sad.
Hollywood Squares: Wally Cox and Charley Weaver (Cliff Arquette)
anotherguy said:
Also Paul Lynde. But it's no surprise that a long-running game show would have celebrity panelists that pass away. The point of this thread would seem to apply more to scripted shows.
You might as well say - 60 Minutes - Harry Reasoner.
Also the point of the thread was "the main character." News readers and game show participants are not the same as a character in a drama or sitcom. A character is role played by an actor. News presenters and game show panelists have a public personae but they are still coming on themselves (OK, maybe not their real selves).
And supporting characters or recurring characters are not the "main" character. Andy Griffith is a main character. Maybe you can argue that those billed upfront are also main characters and extend the definition to Don Knotts and Ron Howard. But not to Otis. Not to Floyd.
And supporting characters or recurring characters are not the "main" character. Andy Griffith is a main character. Maybe you can argue that those billed upfront are also main characters and extend the definition to Don Knotts and Ron Howard. But not to Otis. Not to Floyd.
I definitely believe that her acting career was an extension of her 15 minutes of fame.bpatrick said:
I would say that the subject matter of this thread is shows that suffered because of the death of that lead character. In that case, 8 Simple Rules and Chico and the Man would definitely apply here.
Bob Barker was on Price is Right for so long that he outlasted two announcers.
...no, Lynde died in January 1982, and the Peter Marshall version of Hollywood Squares ended production in 1981...Lkeller said:
BobbyNBC10 said:
And since we're visiting the real world occasionally on this thread, how about Jessica Savitch (auto crash, early 1984 IMSMR).
Dave Andrews said:
Savitch died in October,1983 just before her new contract was to be signed which would have had Jessica filling for Jane Pauley on The Today Show while she was on maternity leave (Connie Chung from NBC News At Sunrise and Weekend Nightly News Saturday got it),subbing for then Sunday Nightly News anchor Chris Wallace (now on Fox News Sunday) , political coverage of Decision '84,Also, I think the Digests, and another newsmagazine. I think it was to have been Summer Sunday USA, which was eventually anchored by Linda Ellerbee and Andrea Mitchell.
BobbyNBC10 said:
Had Savitch had lived, I would be surprised if she would had stayed with NBC and even if NBC and Jessica would had agreed to a new contract, I have a feeling many affiliates wouldn't be very happy with more of Jessica Savitch. The reason for all of this? Her infamous on-air meltdown which had taken place only weeks before her death. Also the "rumors" of her stange behavor such as weekend sex parties, doing lots of drugs as well being very difficult to work with, being abused by her men..etc...
Jessica Savitch no question about it, she had a dark side just like everyone else. Only in Jessica's case..it was quite public.
Not sure if this thread means the Main character died while the TV show was still in production? Or if the main character of the show died after the TV show went off the air?
If that's the case:
Hugh Beaumont - Leave it to Beaver (multiple main characters)
Diff'rent Strokes - (The girl - can't remember her name)
and of course Gary Coleman - Arnold.
Brian Keith - Hardcastle and McCormick
Robert Reed - Brady Bunch
If that's the case:
Hugh Beaumont - Leave it to Beaver (multiple main characters)
Diff'rent Strokes - (The girl - can't remember her name)
and of course Gary Coleman - Arnold.
Brian Keith - Hardcastle and McCormick
Robert Reed - Brady Bunch
mleach said:
In the bio of Savitch Golden Girl by Alanna Nash, it said that her agent, Ed Hookstratten who represented her along with Tom Brokaw, Tom Snyder, Bryant Gumbel and Chris Wallace plus other people like Johnny Carson, O.J. Simpson, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, wanted to take Jessica somewhere else, like CBS and 60 Minutes.
If that had happened, I think she may have had a chance to replace Dan Rather and to fill in for him on The Evening News or replace Diane Sawyer on the Morning News instead of Phyllis George. Hookstratten also represented the 1971 Miss America from Texas and NFL Today Sportscaster who was Allen Funt's 1975-76 Candid Camera sidekick who replaced John Bartholomew Tucker and preceded Jo Ann Pflug who was then married to Chuck Woolery who did Wheel before Sajak.
Some Canadian examples, all in news:
CFPL London co-anchor Neil Stevens was killed in a car crash in the wee hours of a Sunday morning in July 1987. He had just anchored the 6 PM news on Friday.
Tom Cherington was a longtime news anchor at CHCH Hamilton. He died of natural causes over a weekend in 1989. He anchored right up until the week before he died, anchoring the noon newscast at the end.
And of course, there was sportscaster Brian Smith at CJOH Ottawa, shot to death by a mentally ill man as he exited the station following a 6 PM newscast in August 1995.
Back in the United States, there was an anchor or reporter at WJBK Detroit who died in a car crash in the early 90s, but I do not remember the details or the name.
CFPL London co-anchor Neil Stevens was killed in a car crash in the wee hours of a Sunday morning in July 1987. He had just anchored the 6 PM news on Friday.
Tom Cherington was a longtime news anchor at CHCH Hamilton. He died of natural causes over a weekend in 1989. He anchored right up until the week before he died, anchoring the noon newscast at the end.
And of course, there was sportscaster Brian Smith at CJOH Ottawa, shot to death by a mentally ill man as he exited the station following a 6 PM newscast in August 1995.
Back in the United States, there was an anchor or reporter at WJBK Detroit who died in a car crash in the early 90s, but I do not remember the details or the name.
Bill Myers said:
Hugh Beaumont died in 1982, almost two decades after Leave it to Beaver left the air.
Dana Plato died in 1999. She left Different Strokes in 1984.
Brian Keith died in 1997. Hardcastle & McCormick was cancelled in 1986.
Robert Reed died in 1992. The Brady Bunch and its bunch of sequels had already run their course.
BobbyNBC10 said:
Savitch died in October,1983 just before her new contract was to be signed which would have had Jessica filling for Jane Pauley on The Today Show while she was on maternity leave (Connie Chung from NBC News At Sunrise and Weekend Nightly News Saturday got it),subbing for then Sunday Nightly News anchor Chris Wallace (now on Fox News Sunday) , political coverage of Decision '84,Also, I think the Digests, and another newsmagazine. I think it was to have been Summer Sunday USA, which was eventually anchored by Linda Ellerbee and Andrea Mitchell.
[/quote]
Had Savitch had lived, I would be surprised if she would had stayed with NBC and even if NBC and Jessica would had agreed to a new contract, I have a feeling many affiliates wouldn't be very happy with more of Jessica Savitch. The reason for all of this? Her infamous on-air meltdown which had taken place only weeks before her death. Also the "rumors" of her stange behavor such as weekend sex parties, doing lots of drugs as well being very difficult to work with, being abused by her men..etc...
Jessica Savitch no question about it, she had a dark side just like everyone else. Only in Jessica's case..it was quite public.
[/quote]
In the bio of Savitch Golden Girl by Alanna Nash, it said that her agent, Ed Hookstratten who represented her along with Tom Brokaw, Tom Snyder, Bryant Gumbel and Chris Wallace plus other people like Johnny Carson, O.J. Simpson, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, wanted to take Jessica somewhere else, like CBS and 60 Minutes.
If that had happened, I think she may have had a chance to replace Dan Rather and to fill in for him on The Evening News or replace Diane Sawyer on the Morning News instead of Phyllis George. Hookstratten also represented the 1971 Miss America from Texas and NFL Today Sportscaster who was Allen Funt's 1975-76 Candid Camera sidekick who replaced John Bartholomew Tucker and preceded Jo Ann Pflug who was then married to Chuck Woolery who did Wheel before Sajak.
[/quote]
Savitch was charismatic as a local news "presenter." NBC tried to send her out as a beat reporter, something for which she was completely unqualified by (lack of) experience and temperament. She would have been OK filling in reading news off a TelePrompTer - unless you-know-what hit the fan while Dan was away and she would have had actually to "anchor" live coverage of something. She probably would have done well on a morning show. But what either network should have done was put her back doing major market local news (after a visit to Betty Ford).
M.J. said:
Baltimore had the great Randy Blair. Randy was only 30 I believe when he had joined WJZ channel 13 in 1981. Of course these was during the days of Jerry Turner and Al Sanders, and yes Oraph Winfrey too, well it didn't take very long for Randy to end up being Baltimore's top sports anchor.
However in January 1983 while playing basketball for some charity, Blair had suffered a fatal heart attack right on the court. He was only 32.
Years later on the findadeath site the subject of Randy Blair had popped up and two interesting things were mentioned by a family member of Al Sanders. One..Oprah Winfrey had sang at the funeral the Debbie Boone song "You Light Up My Life" ( why do I doubt this one? ) and second..WJZ has in their valuts a tape of Blair having his heart attack. That I wouldn't be surprised but I doubt the tape would ever see the light of day for obvious reasons.
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