Site stats 10 TV Characters Killed Off After Actor Deaths – Brain Berries

10 TV Characters Killed Off After Actor Deaths

Advertisements

It’s a huge downer to see a beloved TV character get killed off, but it’s even more tragic when the reason for their on-screen death was a real-life loss. When an actor passes away while their show is still running, writers face the difficult task of addressing the loss. Some shows manage the loss with grace and respect, while others incorporate humor to mitigate the impact.

Here are 10 TV characters whose deaths mirrored the passing of the actors who portrayed them.

1. Edna Krabappel (The Simpsons)

Marcia Wallace lent her iconic, lovely voice to Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons. After Wallace’s death from breast cancer in 2013, the show retired Edna, giving her a respectful send-off. In 2021, they used Wallace’s archived voice for one final, touching goodbye.

2. Richard Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Edward Herrmann’s portrayal of Richard Gilmore added depth and complexity to Gilmore Girls. It’s hard to wrap one’s head around it, but after Herrmann’s death due to brain cancer in 2014, the show saw a huge revival. Fans witnessed the emotional fallout as Lorelai and Emily grappled with their loss.

3. Dr. Charles Kroger (Monk)

Stanley Kamel played Monk‘s understanding therapist, Dr. Kroger, until his sudden passing from a heart attack in 2008 at age 65. The quirky crime drama honored Kamel by having Monk mourn his therapist deeply, capturing the real grief felt by fans. His absence left a void in the series that no replacement could fill.

4. Finn Hudson (Glee)

Cory Monteith’s overdose on drugs and alcohol in 2013 devastated the Gleeks. Monteith’s substance abuse was almost a perfect reflection of what his character was going through. The show’s tribute episode, “The Quarterback,” left viewers in tears, mourning both Finn and Cory as one.

5. Lennie Briscoe (Law & Order)

Jerry Orbach’s character, Lennie Briscoe, was a cornerstone of the whole Law & Order franchise. When Orbach died from prostate cancer in 2004 at 69, the writers transitioned his character to a spin-off before briefly addressing his death. Fans mourned the loss of a TV legend.

6. Mrs. Wolowitz (The Big Bang Theory)

Carol Ann Susi’s unseen but hilariously overbearing Mrs. Wolowitz was a staple of The Big Bang Theory. Her sudden death from cancer in 2014 at age 62 left fans and cast members stunned. The show gave her character a quiet, heartfelt farewell, showing her passing in her sleep while visiting family.

7. Fred Andrews (Riverdale)

After Luke Perry died from a stroke in 2019 at just 52, fans all around the world were crushed. The tragic storyline wrote off his character, Fred Andrews, as he died while assisting a stranger on the roadside. The heartfelt tribute episode honored Perry’s kind spirit and cemented his legacy.

8. Mr. Hooper (Sesame Street)

When Will Lee, who played the warm-hearted Mr. Hooper, died in 1982, Sesame Street chose to address the topic of death directly. In an emotional episode, Big Bird learns about loss and grief, helping generations of children understand and cope with the death of a loved one.

9. Mayor Adam West (Family Guy)

Voiced by the iconic Adam West, the quirky Mayor of Quahog was a fan favorite. After passing away from leukemia in 2017, Family Guy producers stopped using West’s voice for a time before giving him a proper send-off and retiring the character.

10. Peter Gregory (Silicon Valley)

Christopher Evan Welch brought humor and eccentricity to his role as Peter Gregory. When lung cancer did its horrible thing in 2013, the showrunners wrote off Welch’s character Gregory with an absurd storyline. While true to the show’s tone, it marked a bittersweet goodbye to one of its brightest talents.