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What TV shows have been most impacted by a real life death of a major character?

bk77 said:
Then you had "Mother Jefferson" Zara Cully on the Jeffersons. She died in 1978 of cancer. I don't think her death was mentioned on the show other than in passing several years later.
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This was mentioned in the first episode of the 1978-1979 season of The Jeffersons in a two-part episode called "Homecoming" where Allan Willis, Tom and Helen's son, comes back. They mention everyone attending the funeral for Mother Jefferson and Tom nearly dropping the casket.
 
I'd have to add two from Guiding Light. The first was
Charita Bauer (Bert), the tentpole character since
the late '40s on radio. After her real-life death in 1986
(I think it was, it may have been '85) there were scenes
in which family members would be talking on the phone to
an unseen Bert, but viewers weren't fooled. The role of
tentpole character was then taken over by Ellen Dolan, then
Ellen Parker, as Ed's wife Maureen, and all GL fans know how
Procter & Gamble messed that up.

It was at the time that the show finally acknowledged
Charita/Bert's death that Mike Bauer and his daughter Hope
were written out--the beginning of the end of "Bauer Power,"
and perhaps the beginning of the end of the show.

The other is the real-life death of Michael Zaslow (Roger Thorpe).
I know, he'd been fired and was on One Life To Live, but the
actor who took over as Roger knew he had a big pair of shoes
to fill and didn't stay very long. Frankly, I thought Roger had more
depth than Alan Spaulding; Roger at least cared about Blake and
Holly, while Alan just seems to be a bully.

And Password fans, I know a lot of you like Bert Convy, but for
me Allen Ludden WAS Password, and I never liked the show as
much after he passed away.
 
Ward Bond from Wagon Train died in 1961 in between filming the 4th season of the show. I don't know how they handled this whether Major Adams died or not but I know that Robert Fuller, who later played Dr. Brackett on Emergency!, was one of the stars who was a regular after Ward Bond died. After Ward's death, they moved the show from NBC to ABC, and actually became the number 1 show on TV in the 1961-1962 season. It also ran for 90 minutes in the 1963-1964 season. Wagon Train was cancelled in 1965 after 8 seasons.
 
bpatrick said:
And Password fans, I know a lot of you like Bert Convy, but for
me Allen Ludden WAS Password, and I never liked the show as
much after he passed away.
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Speaking of Bert Convy, but while Password had been cancelled, Convy's Win Lose or Draw! was still on the air when Convy died and the show ended up being cancelled.
 
Re: What TV shows have been most impacted by a real life death of a major charac

Braves2005 said:
Ward Bond from Wagon Train died in 1961 in between filming the 4th season of the show. I don't know how they handled this whether Major Adams died or not but I know that Robert Fuller, who later played Dr. Brackett on Emergency!, was one of the stars who was a regular after Ward Bond died. After Ward's death, they moved the show from NBC to ABC, and actually became the number 1 show on TV in the 1961-1962 season. It also ran for 90 minutes in the 1963-1964 season. Wagon Train was cancelled in 1965 after 8 seasons.
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After the death of Ward Bond, John McIntire succeeded him as Wagonmaster. I believe it was explained, if I remember right, that Major Adams was called away, either by the army or Washington.
 
Even though he wasn't a character on the show, the reason why Mama's Family came to an end in 1990 was a direct result of a death. The death of producer Joe Hamilton.

Joe was suffering from cancer due to years of smoking. So bad that the cancer ate away a large part of his face. At the time of the last season of Mama's Family ( 1989-1990 ), Joe would walk around the set with a paper towel taped to his face to hid the damage done to his face from cancer, and he continued to smoke as well.

The sight of this upset Vicki Lawrence ( and the cast of Mama's Family ) and a decision was made to end the show Mama's Family so Joe would go home to die. Which he did almost a year later.

A lot of this was in Vicki's bio that came out several years ago.
 
on soaps when a character decides to leave the show they mostly are written out and you know one day they will be back. But these talented actors won't never return, Macdonald Carey, DR.Tom Horton, Days of our lives, died of cancer. Michael David Morrison who played DET.Caleb Snyder took his own life in the middle of a terrific storyline, during this time the headwriter of the soap that morrison starred Douglas Marland died while haveing surgery. As the world turns was hit not only with an actor's death but the headwriters death as well. All my Children was hit with a few deaths also . Frances Helfin died of cancer. She portrayed Mona Erica's mama. The actor who played DR. Tyler also. Actress who played Phoebe Wallinford . and louis Edmonds who starred on Dark Shadows . But the only star death in real life that affected a show was Bonanza . Hoss Cartwright died Bonanza to me was the end. It didn't run but what a year after he died. granted death at times his sudden but all tv shows are affected by death at anytime.
 
Andy Coleman said:
on soaps when a character decides to leave the show they mostly are written out and you know one day they will be back. But these talented actors won't never return, Macdonald Carey, DR.Tom Horton, Days of our lives, died of cancer. Michael David Morrison who played DET.Caleb Snyder took his own life in the middle of a terrific storyline, during this time the headwriter of the soap that morrison starred Douglas Marland died while haveing surgery. As the world turns was hit not only with an actor's death but the headwriters death as well. All my Children was hit with a few deaths also . Frances Helfin died of cancer. She portrayed Mona Erica's mama. The actor who played DR. Tyler also. Actress who played Phoebe Wallinford . and louis Edmonds who starred on Dark Shadows . But the only star death in real life that affected a show was Bonanza . Hoss Cartwright died Bonanza to me was the end. It didn't run but what a year after he died. granted death at times his sudden but all tv shows are affected by death at anytime.
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Not to mention Benjamin Hendrickson, who had played Hal Munson on ATWT for many years before the actor took his own life.

On GH, the Lila Quartermaine role was written out when Anna Lee passed away, but the Edward Quartermaine role has gone through several actors since David Lewis' retirement/death.
 
Re: What TV shows have been most impacted by a real life death of a major charac

The Adventures of Superman, which aired from 1952-1957, was supposed to return to syndicated television in 1960 but that ended with the death of actor George Reeves in 1959.

Some interesting notes:

I read somewhere that the show's producer approached Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen, and suggested a show built around him, using stock footage of Reeves. Larson though the idea was repulsive and rejected the offer.

John Hamilton, who played Perry White, had died in 1958, but the producers already has a replacement for him when the show was to air in 1960. Pierre Watkin, who played Perry White in the 1940's movie serials, was to play White again for the new TV series.

Before his death Reeves reportedly wanted Phyllis Coates to resume her role as Lois Lane. Coates was Lois for just one season before moving on to another TV series, which was canceled. I found that bit of information interesting since Reeves and Noel Neill apparently got along so well. So why then would Reeves want to replace Neill?
 
Re: What TV shows have been most impacted by a real life death of a major charac

Mark_Giardina said:
The Adventures of Superman, which aired from 1952-1957, was supposed to return to syndicated television in 1960 but that ended with the death of actor George Reeves in 1959.

Some interesting notes:

I read somewhere that the show's producer approached Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen, and suggested a show built around him, using stock footage of Reeves. Larson though the idea was repulsive and rejected the offer.

John Hamilton, who played Perry White, had died in 1958, but the producers already has a replacement for him when the show was to air in 1960. Pierre Watkin, who played Perry White in the 1940's movie serials, was to play White again for the new TV series.

Before his death Reeves reportedly wanted Phyllis Coates to resume her role as Lois Lane. Coates was Lois for just one season before moving on to another TV series, which was canceled. I found that bit of information interesting since Reeves and Noel Neill apparently got along so well. So why then would Reeves want to replace Neill?
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I don't know where you are getting your information from but from what I have read the original cast of the 'Adventures of Superman' had already signed contracts, including Noel Neill. No where was it written that Phyllis Coates was either interested, or approached to reprise her role as Lois Lane.
As for the show itself, even if George Reeves had lived, I highly doubt the series would have lasted for two, three years tops before being canceled again. You have to remember that when Reeves first took on the role in 1951, he was 37 years old, in great physical shape, and had a full head of hair. Plus the Black & White episodes included a lot of action scenes. By the time the show ended in 1957 Reeves has put on weight, was losing his hair, and the scripts were geared more towards children. That means viewers who were kids in the early 50's wouldn't have been interested in watching Superman in 1960.
 
Re: What TV shows have been most impacted by a real life death of a major charac

The Voice of Reason said:
I don't know where you are getting your information from but from what I have read the original cast of the 'Adventures of Superman' had already signed contracts, including Noel Neill. No where was it written that Phyllis Coates was either interested, or approached to reprise her role as Lois Lane.
As for the show itself, even if George Reeves had lived, I highly doubt the series would have lasted for two, three years tops before being canceled again. You have to remember that when Reeves first took on the role in 1951, he was 37 years old, in great physical shape, and had a full head of hair. Plus the Black & White episodes included a lot of action scenes. By the time the show ended in 1957 Reeves has put on weight, was losing his hair, and the scripts were geared more towards children. That means viewers who were kids in the early 50's wouldn't have been interested in watching Superman in 1960.
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From what I understand Reeves, who needed the money, signed on as Superman with the promise of a huge raise, plus being able to direct episodes. Apparently Reeves wanted to focus more on directing than acting, and since he couldn't land another role because he was so closely associated with Superman, he figured that would be a way for him to learn more about directing, while making a living.

Regarding Phyllis Coates: While Reeves got along very well with Noel Neill, he was also close to Coates; maybe she was even a closer friend (nothing sexual). From what I read Reeves wanted to work with Coates again and suggested she return as Lois Lane. Considering that Coates' career was going no where, who knows if she might have accepted the job offer just to keep her acting career alive?

When it comes to how the black & white series format changed when Superman went to color is due in large part to Whitney Ellsworth, the Executive Producer. Ellsworth felt the earlier episodes were too violent for children and thus "tamed them down" to where Superman wasn't throwing villians around, or punching them. This format apparently worked because 90% of children between a certain age watched Superman on a regular basis. Let's face it, the show was not meant for adults; at least after the first season.

Granted that Reeves physical appearance changed over the years, but he didn't go from Charles Atlas to Jackie Gleason. In real life Reeves loved his booze and partying ways. That, along with advancing age, and hair loss not uncommon to middle-age men, made him look different in 1957 compared to 1951.
A lot can happen to a person in six years. Reeves' hair was naturally grey, and I'm sure that black hair dye didn't help his follicles grow.

Of course all of this is a moot point since the actor died in June of 1959. What is ironic is that Reeves thought television ruined his career. Had he not taken the role of Superman, he would have just been another unknown "B" movie actor.
 
And I still have a hard time accepting anyone else as Superman.

Same problem with Batman.

Born in '61, these were formative years for me.
 
Oddly, though, George Reeves insisted that Phyllis
Coates' name be listed just below his in the credits;
that was not the case with Noel Neill. He and Jack
Larson were close friends; Larson has also said that
he and Reeves would run through their lines before
filming started in the mornings, and that Reeves was
always letter-perfect. Indeed, Reeves was a party
animal when not working, but when he was working
he was the 100% pro, always prepared and on time.

I suspect that if Reeves had lived to make new Superman
episodes, they would have been like many of the later
shows: he'd be Clark Kent up until the climactic moment,
then show up as Superman to save the day.

Maybe it's just as well that the red cape has been passed
on to other actors; I prefer to remember Reeves' Superman
just as he was (and I still think he was the most believable).
 
Andy Coleman said:
But the only star death in real life that affected a show was Bonanza . Hoss Cartwright died Bonanza to me was the end. It didn't run but what a year after he died. granted death at times his sudden but all tv shows are affected by death at anytime.
Click to expand...
Bonanza didn't last that long. Dan Blocker died in the summer
of 1972, just before filming was to begin for the 1972-73 season,
and the show was canceled in January 1973. There may be another
reason for Bonanza's demise: in September 1972 NBC moved it from
its longtime Sunday 9 PM slot to Tuesday at 8, directly opposite one
of the hottest shows of the era, CBS's Maude. But I think most Bonanza
fans would agree with you: the show wasn't the same without Hoss.
 
Re: What TV shows have been most impacted by a real life death of a major charac

bpatrick said:
Oddly, though, George Reeves insisted that Phyllis
Coates' name be listed just below his in the credits;
that was not the case with Noel Neill. He and Jack
Larson were close friends; Larson has also said that
he and Reeves would run through their lines before
filming started in the mornings, and that Reeves was
always letter-perfect. Indeed, Reeves was a party
animal when not working, but when he was working
he was the 100% pro, always prepared and on time.

I suspect that if Reeves had lived to make new Superman
episodes, they would have been like many of the later
shows: he'd be Clark Kent up until the climactic moment,
then show up as Superman to save the day.

Maybe it's just as well that the red cape has been passed
on to other actors; I prefer to remember Reeves' Superman
just as he was (and I still think he was the most believable).
Click to expand...

Reeves reportedly tried to talk Coates into staying on for the second season, but Coates was offered a role on another TV show. From published articles it appears that Coates did not want to be stereo-typed as Lois Lane, plus she thought this new TV show would be a success; it wasn't.

Since Whitney Ellsworth was going to return as Executive Producer, the show would have gone back to the color formats, meaning less violence and targeted for the kiddies.

On a personal note I still think the first two seasons (B&W) were the best. Once Ellsworth took as over as Executive Producer, he replaced the gritty action with silly characters like Professor Pepperwinkle.
 
Law & Order has certainly been able to survive and continue pulling in the ratings without Orbach, but the show just isn't the same. Luckily we have Sam Waterston and as long as Jack McCoy is there I'm watching.
 
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