TV Stars We Lost in 2022

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier

Poitier, the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, died on Jan. 6 at the age of 94. According to his death certificate, the actor died of a combination of heart failure, dementia and prostate cancer. After his career began in the early 1950s, Poitier was nominated for his first Oscar in 1959 (for The Defiant Ones), then later won in 1964 for Lilies of the Field. Other film credits included Porgy and Bess, In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. His most recent acting work came in the TV-movies To Sir, with Love II (1996), Showtime’s Mandela and de Klerk (1997), The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn (1999) and The Last Brickmaker in America (2001).

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Dwayne Hickman

Hickman, star of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and The Bob Cummings Show, died Jan. 9 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 87. On The Bob Cummings Show, Hickman played Chuck MacDonald for 155 episodes. Five years later, he landed the starring role in his own series, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, which ran on CBS from 1959-63 for a total of 148 episodes. In the 1970s, Hickman returned to TV as a network executive with CBS Television, supervising shows such as Maude, M*A*S*H and Designing Women, and spent the rest of his career juggling both on-camera and behind-the-scenes work.

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Jordan Cashmyer

Cashmyer, who appeared on Season 5 of MTV’s reality series 16 and Pregnant, was just 26 when she died of an undisclosed cause in January. Cashmyer’s 16 and Pregnant appearance aired in June 2014, following her and her then-boyfriend Derek Taylor’s struggles with homelessness and unemployment while the couple was expecting daughter Genevieve. Cashmyer was arrested for drug possession in 2017, but had celebrated a year of sobriety in January 2021.

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Bob Saget

Saget’s death was confirmed on Jan. 9 by the Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. Exactly one month later, head trauma was revealed to be his cause of death.

The actor and comedian is best remembered for playing patriarch Danny Tanner on ABC’s Full House, a role he later reprised on Netflix’s continuation Fuller House. He also hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos from 1989 to 1997 and provided the voice of Future Ted Mosby on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother from 2005 to 2014. At the time of his death, Saget was in the middle of a stand-up tour that was set to run through June 2022.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, (from left): judge Andre Leon Talley, host Tyra Banks, judge Nigel Barker,

André Leon Talley

Talley, a fashion icon, former editor-at-large of Vogue and a judge on America’s Next Top Model, died in January at the age of 73. A cause of death has not been disclosed. Talley joined Top Model as a judge during Season 14, on which he appeared alongside host Tyra Banks, creative director Jay Manuel, runway coach J. Alexander and fellow panelist Nigel Barker. He remained with the competition series through four cycles, departing after the completion of its 17th season. Additional TV credits included a cameo on the Fox soap Empire, and he appeared in the first Sex and the City movie, which was released in 2008.

Obit Gaspard Ulliel

Gaspard Ulliel

French actor Ulliel, who posthumously appeared in Disney+’s Moon Knight series, died in January following a ski accident. He was 37. Prior to landing his Moon Knight role of villain Anton Mogart (aka Midnight Man), Ulliel’s credits included the French series Il Etait Une Seconde Fois (released in English as Twice Upon a Time), the 2016 film Juste la fin du Monde (for which he earned multiple awards and nominations) and the title role in 2007’s Hannibal Rising prequel, the fifth film of the Hannibal Lecter franchise.

Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf

Grammy winner Meat Loaf died in January due to undisclosed causes at the age of 74. The “Bat Out of Hell” singer’s extensive list of TV credits included episodes of Elementary, The Equalizer (1985), Glee, House, Monk, Nash Bridges, South Park and Tales From the Crypt. He also competed during Season 4 of NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, where he placed third behind Oscar winner Marlee Matlin and country artist John Rich.

Louie Anderson

Louie Anderson

The stand-up comedian, game show host and Emmy-winning actor died at age 68 in January, following a battle with cancer. Most recently, Anderson co-starred on the FX comedy Baskets, which earned him an Emmy in 2016 for playing Christine, the mother of Zach Galifianakis’ Chip and Dale Baskets. He also took home two Daytime Emmys for his voice work on the animated series Life With Louie; headlined the short-lived CBS sitcom The Louie Show in 1996; and hosted the game show Family Feud from 1999 to 2002.

in attendance for The Camp: A FANmily Reunion Celebrity Meet and Greet, The Hilton Peachtree City Hotel, Peachtree City, GA May 29, 2021. Photo By: Derek Storm/Everett Collection

Peter Robbins

Robbins, who in his youth provided the original voice of Charlie Brown in various Peanuts cartoons, died by suicide in January. He was 65. Throughout the 1960s, Robbins lent his voice to Charlie Brown in several Peanuts specials, including the beloved holiday staples A Charlie Brown Christmas (in 1965) and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (in 1966). He also voiced the character in other CBS primetime shorts, including Charlie Brown’s All Stars!, You’re in Love, Charlie Brown and He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown, as well as the 1969 feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Outside of his voice work, Robbins co-starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom Blondie and appeared in episodes of Rawhide, The Munsters, F Troop, Get Smart and My Three Sons, among other series.

Howard Hesseman WKRP in Cincinnati

Howard Hesseman

Hesseman, star of WKRP in Cincinnati, died January 29 at the age of 81 due to complications from a colon surgery. The actor received two Emmy nominations for his work on WKRP, and was also widely known for playing schoolteacher Charlie Moore on ABC’s Head of the Class. His other TV credits include guest-starring spots in Boston Legal, One Day at a Time, Fresh Off the Boat, Jon From Cincinnati, Psych and House. He even played another fictional radio station employee, a manager named Max, on three episodes of That ’70s Show.

Cheslie Kryst Dead at 30

Cheslie Kryst

Kryst, the former Miss USA 2019 and an Extra correspondent, died Jan. 30 by suicide at the age of 30. In addition to her work as a news correspondent, Kryst appeared as a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show and Live With Kelly and Ryan, plus served as a panelist on VH1’s Black Girl Beauty. More recently, she appeared as Miss USA in Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick’s Netflix series Colin in Black and White.

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Nightbirde

America’s Got Talent fan favorite Jane Marczewski, who performed under the stage name Nightbirde, was just 31 when she died of cancer in February. She became an overnight sensation during Season 16 of the NBC competition series, earning the Golden Buzzer from judge Simon Cowell with a beautiful audition performance of original song “It’s OK.” Unfortunately, her battle with cancer caused Nightbirde to pull out of the season: “Since my audition, my health has taken a turn for the worse and the fight with cancer is demanding all of my energy and attention,” she said at the time. “I am so sad to announce that I won’t be able to continue forward on this season of AGT. Life doesn’t always give breaks to those that deserve it—but we knew that already.”

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Bob Beckel, Eric Bolling, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld and Andrea Tantaros

Bob Beckel

Beckel, a former political operative-turned-Fox News personality, died in February at the age of 73. In 2011, he made his debut as one of the original co-hosts of Fox News’ The Five. He was first let go in 2015 after he entered rehab for substance abuse. Later that year, Beckel was hired as a CNN political commentator, weighing in throughout the 2016 election. He departed the network less than two years later to return to The Five, but was again fired just five months later after he reportedly made an insensitive remark to a Black employee. Beckel is survived by his two children.

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Ralph Ahn

Ralph Ahn, a character actor best known for his recurring role as Tran on Fox’s New Girl, died in February at the age of 95. Ahn made his debut in the Season 2 episode “Menzies,” when Jake Johnson’s Nick Miller met the elderly man at the park and formed an unlikely friendship. He went on to appear in six more episodes, including the 2018 series finale. Additional credits included All-American Girl, The Division, ER, Gilmore Girls, The Golden Girls, The King of Queens, The Shield, Suddenly Susan and Walker, Texas Ranger.

Good Times' Johnny Brown

Johnny Brown

The actor, best known for playing housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on the hit ’70s series Good Times, died March 2 in Los Angeles. He recurred on the Maude spinoff until he was made a series regular for Seasons 5 and 6, starring in a total of 58 episodes. His other credits include Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, The Jeffersons, 227, Archie Bunker’s Place, Family Matters, Sister, Sister, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, The Wayans Bros., Martin and Moonlighting.

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Emilio Delgado

The actor, best known for playing Sesame Street‘s Luis Rodriguez for nearly 50 years, died on March 10 at his home in New York City.

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Traci Braxton

The singer and star of Braxton Family Values passed away March 11 after a year-long battle with cancer. In addition to starring in 147 episodes of her family’s We TV reality series, the singer appeared on The Real, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Celebrity Family Feud. She also took part in the third season of Marriage Boot Camp alongside her husband, Kevin Surratt.

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William Hurt

The veteran actor died of natural causes on March 13. Hurt won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1986 for his portrayal of Luis Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman. He was nominated three other times for the films A History of Violence, Children of a Lesser God and Broadcast News. On the TV side of things, his credits include the legal drama Damages (which earned him an Emmy nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor), in addition to Prime Video’s Goliath.

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Scott Hall

The Hall of Fame wrestler died in March due to complications from hip replacement surgery. Best known for being one third of the revolutionary staple New World Order alongside Nash and Hulk Hogan, Hall got his start with the National Wrestling Alliance in 1984 feuding with Dusty Rhodes. He wrestled in the WWE from 1992-1996 as Razor Ramon, aka “The Bad Guy,” a suave Cuban American bully from Miami. After a memorable feud with Shawn Michaels in 1993, he defeated the Heartbreak Kid at WrestleMania X to become the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. He went on to wrestle in WCW from 1996-2000 under his own name, forming the Outsiders with Nash.

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Barrie Youngfellow

The ’80s sitcom star died March 28 in New York from unknown causes. Youngfellow appeared in all 120 episodes of It’s a Living, and also appeared in other TV shows such as Blossom, Murder, She Wrote, Trapper John, M.D., It Takes Two, Filthy Rich, Good Time Harry, Paris, Three’s Company, The Jeffersons and WKRP in Cincinnati. Her last role was a 1998 guest spot on Law & Order.

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Tom Parker

Best known for being in the UK boy band The Wanted, Parker was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer, in 2020. Parker’s wife Kelsey Hardwick announced on March 30 that he “passed away peacefully.”

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Estelle Harris

Harris, best known for playing Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld, died of natural causes April 2 at the age of 93. She began her most famous role as George Costanza’s mom in 1992, first appearing in the Season 4 episode “The Contest” and recurring on the series through the end of its run. In addition, she guest-starred on shows like Mad About You, Law & Order, Married… With Children, Living Single and Moesha, and later appeared as herself in a 2009 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, alongside Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards.

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June Brown

A British TV vet best known for her 30-plus year run as EastEnders‘ Dot Cotton — and also a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) — Brown died on April 3 at age 95; no cause of death was given. “We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE sadly passed away last night,” said a rep for the BBC sudser. “There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten. June created one of the most iconic characters in Dot Cotton, not just in soap but in British television.” Brown was a two-time British Soap Awards winner, as well as a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. She also netted a BAFTA Award nom for her role as Dot. 

Kathryn Hays Obituary

Kathryn Hays

Hays, who played Kim on CBS’ As the World Turns for 38 years, died on March 25 in Fairfield, Conn., at age 87. In a statement, ATWT scene partner Bob Hastings said, “Our relationship as Bob and Kim was as close as Kathryn and my relationship, except we were not married. We were more like brother and sister and we were great friends. Our biggest squabble was that she always wanted to rehearse and I wanted to take a nap. This is a huge loss to all who knew her.” Hays is also well remembered for playing the titular Gem in the 1968 Star Trek episode “The Empath.” 

Gilbert Gottfried Dead Dies

Gilbert Gottfried

The legendary comedian died in April at the age of 67. He suffered from recurrent ventricular tachycardia, a form of heart failure, due to myotonic dystrophy type II. He lended his iconic voice to myriad cartoons, including the role of Iago the Parrot in Disney’s Aladdin and, of course, the voice of the Aflac Duck (until 2011). He was once a Saturday Night Live cast member (during the 1980-81 season), co-starred in the cult-classic film Problem Child, and made guest appearances on Anger Management, Becker, The Cosby Show, Crashing, Episodes, Hannah Montana, Law & Order: SVU, Mad About You, Married… With Children, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Night Court and Wings.

Liz Sheridan Dead Seinfeld Obituary

Liz Sheridan

The veteran actress best known for playing Jerry’s overly supportive mother Helen on Seinfeld passed away in April of natural causes; she was 93 years old. Sheridan had a long list of TV credits to her name, including a turn as nosy neighbor Mrs. Ochmonek on ALF, before first appearing in Seinfeld‘s Season 1 episode “The Stakeout.” She went on to appear in more than 20 episodes, including classics like “The Pen,” and was the only Seinfeld cast member to appear in all nine seasons, apart from the four leads.  

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Ralph Kiser

The former Survivor: Redemption Island contestant died at the age of 56 after suffering a heart attack. Kiser — a farmer from Lebanon, Va. — competed in the show’s 22nd season, which aired in 2011. He was a member of the Zapatera tribe, where he placed ninth overall in the competition after being eliminated on Day 33.

Robert Morse Dead Mad Men Obituary

Robert Morse

Morse, best known to TV audiences as Mad Men‘s Bert Cooper, died in April at the age of 90. He got his start on Broadway, originating the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, for which he earned his first Tony. He took home his second Tony for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the 1989 production of one-man play Tru. The play was filmed for PBS’ American Playhouse and earned him the 1993 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special. Later in life, he recurred as the aforementioned Bert Cooper — aka the shoeless Col. Sanders of Madison Avenue — a part that earned him five Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series between 2008 and 2014. 

MELISSA ARCHER, CHRISTIAN/GAVIN MCGINLEY, JERRY VERDORN, BREE WILLIAMSON, MATTHEW/ NICHOLAS URBANOWICS, ERIKA SLEZAK

Jerry verDorn

The actor, best known to daytime-TV audiences for his run on Guiding Light, died peacefully at home in May after a months-long cancer illness. He was 72. He starred as Ross Marler, a role he played until 2005 and for which he earned two Daytime Emmys and four additional nominations. In 2005, verDorn moved to One Life to Live, recreating the role of Clint Buchanan until that ABC serial and its online revival ended in 2013. 

Mike Hagerty

Mike Hagerty

Hagerty, best known to TV audiences for his recurring role as Friends building super Mr. Treeger, died in May at the age of 67; a cause of death was not disclosed. A longtime character actor, Hagerty appeared in episodes of Boston Legal, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Cheers, Community, CSI, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, ER, Ghost Whisperer, Glee, The Goldbergs, Grey’s Anatomy, Happy Endings, Medium, The Mindy Project, Mob City, Monk, Seinfeld, Shameless, The Wayans Bros. and the original Wonder Years. Series-regular gigs included The George Carlin Show, Lucky Louie and, most recently, HBO’s Somebody, Somewhere, on which he played Bridget Everett’s TV dad.

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Marnie Schulenburg

The As the World Turns veteran died in May following a battle with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer; she was just 37 years old. She played Alison Stewart on the CBS daytime soap from 2007 to 2010, along with a stint on One Life to Live as Jo Sullivan. Her other TV credits include Blue Bloods, The Good Fight and the upcoming third season of City on a Hill.  

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John Aylward

The veteran character actor passed away in May at the age of 75. Aylward was best known for playing chief of staff Donald Anspaugh on the NBC hit ER; he made his debut in Season 3s second episode and continued the role through the medical drama’s 15th and final season. He also played former DNC chair and head of transition Barry Goodwin on NBC’s The West Wing; his other TV credits included Mad Men, Alias, Brothers & Sisters, The Practice, Yellowstone and Briarpatch.

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Clay Jordan

The Survivor alum died in May at the age of 66 after suffering from a brief illness. He was the second-place finisher in Season 5’s Thailand-set edition, where he ultimately lost the prize to winner Brian Heidik.  

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Ray Liotta

Liotta, best known for his work in films such as Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, died at the age of 67 in late May. The actor passed away in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming the movie Dangerous Waters. In addition to his many film credits, the actor won an Emmy for his guest-starring role as ex-con Charlie Metcalf in a memorable Season 11 episode of ER. Series-regular gigs included CBS’ short-lived drama Smith, which ran for seven episodes in 2006; History Channel miniseries Texas Rising, which aired in 2015; and the role of Lt. Matt Wozniak in Jennifer Lopez’s NBC cop drama Shades of Blue, which ran for three seasons and ended in 2018.

THE LOOP, Philip Baker Hall, Bret Harrison, 'Bear Drop Soup' (Season 1, premiere episode, aired Marc

Philip Baker Hall

Hall, a veteran character actor whose TV credits included The Loop, Modern Family and Falcon Crest, died in June at age 90. His long and varied TV résumé also featured episodes of Family Ties, Civil Wars, The Practice and Seinfeld (as memorable library cop Lt. Joe Bookman), among many others; more recently, he popped up on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Second Chance and the 2020 Netflix thriller Messiah.

Mark Shields PBS NewsHour

Mark Shields

The longtime PBS NewsHour commentator died in June from kidney failure at the age of 85. Shields retired from contributing regular segments in 2020 after 33 years on the program. He began as an editorial writer at The Washington Post in 1979, following a career as a legislative assistant and speechwriter for Sen. William Proxmire, and later, the 1968 presidential campaign of Robert Kennedy. Throughout his time spent at NewsHour, he provided insight on six U.S. presidents’ administrations, the Persian Gulf War, the Iran-Contra affair, 9/11 and more.

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James Caan

The veteran Hollywood actor passed away in July at the age of 82. In a career that spanned seven decades, Caan found his most memorable role as hotheaded gangster Sonny Corleone in the classic mob movie The Godfather. His other film roles include Misery, Elf, Thief and Rollerball. On the TV side, he earned an Emmy nomination as doomed football player Brian Piccolo in the TV movie Brian’s Song and starred as casino boss Ed Deline on NBC’s Las Vegas, along with roles on Magic City and Back in the Game.

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Gregory Itzin

Well-remembered for his run as 24‘s Charles Logan, a Machiavellian-if-sniveling politician, Itzin died on July 8. “He was one of the most talented actors I had the honor to work with,” said 24 EP/director Jon Cassar, “but more than that he was an all around great guy. He’ll be missed by his 24 family who had nothing but love and respect for him.” Itzin’s first major gig came in 1989 on the NBC sitcom The Nutt House, followed by roles on L.A. Law, Murder One, Profiler, Friends, Judging Amy and a variety of Star Trek series. Hot off his 24 run, Itzin would play Big Love‘s Senator Dwyer, Lisbon’s boss Virgil Minelli on The Mentalist, Jai’s father Henry Wilcox on Covert Affairs, and Mob City‘s Mayor Brown.

Larry Storch Obituary F Troop

Larry Storch

Storch, who memorably played Corporal Randolph Agarn on the ABC sitcom F Troop, died in July, six months shy of his 100th birthday. In addition to F Troop, Storch held many guest spots on series such as I Dream of Jeannie, Get Smart, Gomer Pyle: USMC and The Love Boat. His final TV appearances included playing himself in a 1995 episode of Married… With Children, and guesting on a 1996 episode of Days of Our Lives.

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Tony Sirico

The actor best known for playing mobster Paulie Walnuts on HBO’s The Sopranos died in July; he was 79 years old. Sirico played a number of gangster roles in films like GoodFellas and Bullets Over Broadway before landing the role of tough-guy enforcer Paulie Gualtieri, aka “Paulie Walnuts,” on The Sopranos. He would appear in all six seasons of the Emmy-winning classic, winning a pair of Screen Actors Guild awards as part of the Sopranos ensemble.

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Busi Lurayi

The South African actress, who starred in the Netflix comedy How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, died in July. Upon confirming Lurayi’s death, her representatives at Eye Media Artists said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened to notify you of the passing of our beloved Busisiwe Lurayi. Busisiwe passed away suddenly and was pronounced dead at her residence on Sunday [July 10, 2022] by medical personnel. The reason for her death is still unknown as we await the results of the autopsy report.”

Lurayi’s additional screen credits included the South African sitcom City Ses’la and its spinoff Ses’Top La, the drama Wild at Heart and a 2006 episode of ER.

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Jak Knight

The actor and comedian who wrote for Big Mouth and black-ish died by suicide in July; he was just 28 years old. First gaining notice as a stand-up comic, Knight served as a staff writer and later story editor for Netflix’s animated comedy Big Mouth; he also voiced the character of DeVon. He went on to serve as an executive story editor on ABC’s black-ish and then costar in and co-create Peacock’s Bust Down, along with SNL‘s Chris Redd, Sam Jay and Langston Kerman.

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Rebecca Balding

Balding, who recurred on the classic ’70s sitcom Soap (as attorney Carol David) and the original Charmed (as Phoebe’s boss Elise), died in July after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was 66. Additional TV credits included Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, Home Improvement, MacGyver, Family Ties, 7th Heaven, ER and Starsky and Hutch, among many others.

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Melanie Rauscher

Former Naked and Afraid contestant Rauscher was found dead on July 17, at age 35. She appeared on Season 7 of the Discovery Channel reality show in 2017, then returned the following year for an all-star edition of its spinoff series, Naked and Afraid XL.

“She came into my life in a way I can’t explain,” wrote Rauscher’s former castmate Jeremy McCaa. “We had such a chemistry on the show and it blossomed into a friendship that goes beyond words could describe… I love you and I’ll see you again one day. The world lost an amazing person. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers. See you again my Queen.”

GOODFELLAS, Paul Sorvino, 1990, (c) Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

Paul Sorvino

Sorvino passed away of natural causes in late July; he was 83 years old. After appearing in TV series such as the police drama Bert D’Angelo/Superstar and the miniseries Seventh Avenue and Chiefs, Sorvino boarded the original Law & Order‘s Season 2 cast as Sergeant Phil Cerreta, a role he played for one-and-a-half seasons. Other small-screen credits included That’s Life, Still Standing, The Goldbergs and Godfather of Harlem.

On the film side, Sorvino is remembered for his role/garlic slicing in Goodfellas, plus his turn as Henry Kissinger in Nixon.

Top-Chef

Howie Kleinberg

Kleinberg, who finished in seventh place on Top Chef‘s Miami-set third season, died of a heart attack in July at age 46. Following his Top Chef run, Kleinberg made a name for himself on the Miami restaurant scene, opening several eateries, including Bulldog Barbecue.

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Tony Dow

Dow, best known for his role as Wally Cleaver on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver, died on July 27 at the age of 77. In addition to playing one of pop culture’s most iconic older brothers — a role he played from 1957 to 1963, then reprised in The New Leave It to Beaver from 1983 to 1989 — Dow’s career included high-profile appearances on shows like Diagnosis Murder, Knight Rider, Lassie and Mod Squad.

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Bernard Cribbins

Cribbins, known to viewers of Doctor Who as Wilfred “Wilf” Mott, grandfather of Catherine Tate’s Donna, died in July; he was 93. Across the pond, the British actor was a legend of children’s programming. His myriad credits included The Wombles (1973-75), Jackanory (1966-1991) and Old Jack’s Boat (2013-2015). In 2009, Tate presented him with the BAFTA Special Award at the EA British Academy Children’s Awards. In 2011, he was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to drama.

Mary Alice Obituary

Mary Alice

Alice, best known to TV viewers for her roles in A Different World and I’ll Fly Away, died of natural causes in late July. Following appearances on shows such as Sanford and Son and Good Times, Alice later went on to join A Different World as Leticia “Lettie” Bostic, a Hillman dropout who became the new resident director at Gilbert Hall, and NBC’s period drama I’ll Fly Away as Marguerite Peck. (The latter role earned her two Emmy nominations and one win.) Other TV credits included Law & Order, Cosby, Touched by an Angel and Oz.

On the big screen, Alice’s résumé included Sparkle, Awakenings, Malcolm X, Sunshine State and The Matrix Revolutions. She also won the 1988 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, for her role as Rose in Broadway’s Fences.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell

Russell, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players and a 11-time champion with the Boston Celtics, died in July at the age of 88. A 6-foot-10 shot-blocker, Russell attended the University of San Francisco and won two NCAA national basketball titles there, with legendary UCLA coach John Wooden calling him “the greatest defensive man I’ve ever seen.” He was drafted by the NBA’s St. Louis Hawks but was soon traded to the Boston Celtics, where he led a dominating dynasty, with the Celtics winning eight straight NBA championships from 1958 to 1966. He also served as a player-coach, becoming the first Black coach in NBA history.

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols

Nichols, who originated the role of Uhura on the original Star Trek series, died in July at the age of 89. The actress played communications officer Nyota Uhura, who helped Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew make contact with alien lifeforms. Nichols was a trailblazer for Black actors in science fiction: She and Shatner shared the first kiss between a white person and a Black person on television, and when Nichols considered leaving the role after Trek’s first season, Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged her to stay, telling her what a role model she was to Black children.

Nichols reprised the role in six Trek movies, from 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture to 1991’s Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Her other TV credits include Heroes, Sharknado 5 and voice work on Futurama, The Simpsons and Gargoyles.

Pat Carroll Dead at 95

Pat Carroll

Carroll died in late July at her home in Cape Cod, Mass. while recovering from pneumonia. She was 95. Best known by modern audiences for voicing the popular Disney villain Ursula in The Little Mermaid, the actress began her work in the late 1940s. She appeared on The Jimmy Durante Show, The Danny Thomas Show, The Red Skelton Hour, Getting Together, Laverne & Shirley, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, E.R. and more. She also lent her voice to other animated fare such as Pound Puppies, Galaxy High School, Foofur and Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure. 

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Roseanna Christiansen

The Dallas actress died July 14 in Lancaster, Calif. No cause of death was given. Christiansen joined CBS’ primetime soap in Season 6, where she played maid Teresa for 112 episodes. Before that, she portrayed another maid character on three episodes of The Jeffersons in 1981. Her other credits include Matlock, CBS Summer Playhouse and A Year in the Life.

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Clu Gulager

The veteran Western actor died in August from natural causes at the age of 93. Best known for his starring roles in The Tall Man and The Virginian, Gulager’s credits also include Murder, She Wrote, MacGyver, The Fall Guy, Barnaby Jones, Wagon Trail and The Untouchables.

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Roger E. Mosley

The Magnum P.I. star died in early August at the age of 83. Best known for playing helicopter pilot Theodore “T.C.” Calvin on the CBS crime drama, the actor also appeared on Love Boat, Night Gallery, Sanford and Son, Kung Fu, Kojak, McCloud, The Rockford Files, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Starsky and Hutch, You Take the Kids, Night Court, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Walker, Texas Ranger, Rude Awakening, Las Vegas and Fact Checkers Unit, among others.

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Ryan Fellows

Fellows, star of the long-running Discovery Channel reality series Street Outlaws, died in August at the age of 41, following a car accident near Las Vegas that reportedly occurred during filming of the series. “The Street Outlaws family is heartbroken by the accident that led to the tragic death of Ryan Fellows,” read a statement on the series’ official Twitter feed. “We extend our deepest sympathy to Ryan’s loved ones as they process this sudden and devastating loss.”

Julien's Auctions Hosts VIP Reception For Upcoming "Property Of Olivia Newton-John Auction Event

Olivia Newton-John

A beloved singer and actress best known for starring in the 1978 movie musical Grease, Newton-John died Aug. 8 at the age of 73. No official cause of death was released, but she had been battling breast cancer for years, with the cancer returning in 2017.

Newton-John’s TV appearances were mostly concert specials and celebrity cameos: She hosted Saturday Night Live in 1982 and also appeared as the episode’s musical guest. She recorded a number of concert specials for ABC and HBO, including 1988’s Olivia Down Under. She also served as a guest judge on American Idol in Season 2 and then again in Season 6, and played herself in a pair of Glee episodes.

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Anne Heche

Heche’s small-screen career began with a four-season stint on Another World, one which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award in 1989. She went on to land memorable lead and recurring roles on shows like Murphy Brown, Ally McBeal, Nip/Tuck, Hung and Men in Trees. Heche even competed on Season 29 of Dancing With the Stars, finishing in 13th place.

Heche was pronounced dead on Aug. 12, one week after she crashed her car into a Los Angeles home. She was 53.

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Denise Dowse

Veteran TV actress Dowse died in August after a battle with viral meningitis. She was 64. A frequently seen face on ’90s TV shows like Seinfeld, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and ER, Dowse played West Beverly Hills High vice principal Yvonne Teasley on the Fox primetime soap Beverly Hills, 90210, appearing in two dozen episodes. She went on to recur on Simon Baker’s CBS legal drama The Guardian as family court judge Rebecca Damsen. More recently, Dowse played Molly’s therapist Dr. Rhonda Pine on HBO’s Insecure, debuting in Season 2 and returning for two more seasons.

Joe E. Tata

Joe E. Tata

Tata, who played Peach Pit owner Nat Bussichio on Beverly Hills, 90210, died at the age of 85 in August. A cause of death was not confirmed at the time, but Tata reportedly was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. He recurred throughout all 10 seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210, appearing in 238 episodes over the course of its 293-episode run. Additional TV credits included episodes of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Hogan’s Heroes, Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible, Quincy M.E., Wonder Woman, The A-Team and Hill Street Blues.

Charlbi Dean

Charlbi Dean 

The up-and-coming actress who played villainous assassin Syonide on The CW’s Black Lightning passed away in August following an unexpected illness; she was just 32 years old. After starting out as a model, Dean appeared in a 2017 episode of Elementary before taking on the role of Syonide, the surrogate daughter of main villain Tobias Whale, on Black Lightning. Dean made her debut in the series premiere and appeared in a total of nine episodes; she also starred alongside Woody Harrelson in the Palme d’Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness.   

Bernard Shaw, CNN

Bernard Shaw

Shaw, who served as CNN’s first chief anchor when the network launched in 1980, died in September at age 82, from pneumonia unrelated to COVID-19. Shaw, who retired in 2001, was with CNN for more than 20 years.

“Bernie was a CNN original and was our Washington anchor when we launched on June 1, 1980,” said Chris Licht, CNN’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “He was our lead anchor for the next 20 years, from anchoring coverage of presidential elections to his iconic coverage of the first Gulf War live from Baghdad in 1991. Even after he left CNN, Bernie remained a close member of our CNN family, providing our viewers with context about historic events as recently as last year. The condolences of all of us at CNN go out to his wife Linda and his children.”

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Angela Lansbury

The Emmy-nominated star of Murder, She Wrote passed away in October at the age of 96. Lansbury won five Tonys for her stage work in productions like Mame and Gypsy and earned three Oscar nominations along with an honorary award, with a memorable voice role in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. But TV fans knew her best as Jessica Fletcher, the crime-solving mystery writer from Cabot Cove on the CBS drama Murder, She Wrote. The series ran for 12 seasons and earned Lansbury a dozen Emmy nominations for best lead actress in a drama, though she never won the prize. Her recent credits include Law & Order: SVU and the BBC miniseries Little Women.

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Willie Spence

Spence, who finished in second place on Season 19 of American Idol, died in October from injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 23. A Georgia native, Spence became an Idol fan favorite throughout Season 19 with his soulful, gospel-infused performances; he ultimately reached the finale alongside Grace Kinstler and Chayce Beckham, with Beckham going on to become that year’s winner.

Ron Masak Dies, Sheriff Mort Metzger on Murder, She Wrote

Ron Masak

Masak, best known to TV audiences for his recurring role as Cabet Cove Sheriff Mort Metzger on CBS’ Murder, She Wrote, died Oct. 20 of natural causes; he was 86. His TV career began in the 1960s, with roles on The Twilight Zone (in the episode “The Purple Testament”), The Monkees, The Flying Nun and Get Smart. In the 1970s, he added bits on Bewitched, Ironside and Mission: Impossible to his resume, before landing a lead role on the ABC sitcom Love Thy Neighbor. After that, he guested on shows such as Police Story, Magnum P.I. and Webster, before booking the first of multiple roles on Murder, She Wrote in 1985; he would not begin his run as Metzger until Season 5, however, when Metzger succeeded Tom Bosley’s Amos Tupper as town sheriff.

Zuri Craig

Zuri Craig

The America’s Got Talent contestant died Friday, Oct. 21 at the age of 44. Craig was part of an Atlanta-based singing duo called The CraigLewis Band. In 2015, he, alongside his partner Jeffrey Lewis, competed on the talent show where they ultimately placed fifth overall. Craig was also known for his work with Tyler Perry, which included Madea’s Big Happy Family, Madea Gets a Job and A Madea Christmas.

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Leslie Jordan

An Emmy Award winner for his recurring run as Will & Grace‘s Beverley Leslie, Jordan died on Oct. 24 in a car accident; he was 67.  Jordan’s TV credits date back to the mid-1980s, with guest spots on series such as The Fall Guy, Night Court, Murphy Brown and Newhart, while his more recent roles came on American Horror Story (appearing in Seasons 3, 6 and 9), The Cool Kids and then Fox’s Call Me Kat, which is now in Season 3 and where as an original cast member he played cafe baker Phil. 

Laney Parkhurst

Laney Parkhurst

The FX/makeup artist and contestant of Syfy’s Face Off series died late October from an accidental overdose. In addition to placing fifth on Season 5 of the reality show, she worked with Bella Thorne, Marilyn Manson and Lil Nas X. Her work can be seen in the music video for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” which won the VMA for Video of the Year in 2021. She was 33 years old.

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Roger Sexton 

An alum of Survivor: The Amazon, Sexton died in late October following “a valiant and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia,” according to his family. The retired Marine-turned-reality contestant played in the show’s sixth season, and placed 10th overall after becoming the first castaway voted out after the merge.

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Delores Hughes

The Hollywood Hillbillies star died from heart failure on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Also known as “Mema,” she became a breakout character in the series, which followed YouTube star Michael “Coppercab” Kittrell as he and his family moved from Georgia to Hollywood, Calif. It aired on Reelz between 2014-2015, and lasted a total of 23 episodes before its cancellation.

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Robert Clary

The actor who played beret-clad French chef Corporal Louis LeBeau on the CBS sitcom Hogan’s Heroes passed away in November at the age of 96. Clary was actually sent to a Nazi concentration camp as a Jewish teenager during World War II, but he survived and started his showbiz career by recording music and appearing on Broadway. In 1965, he debuted as LeBeau, whose French cooking often tempted Sergeant Schultz, on Hogan’s Heroes, alongside Bob Crane and Richard Dawson. The show became a hit, and Clary starred in all six seasons, later appearing on daytime soaps Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.

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Jason David Frank

The actor best known for his work in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers franchise died in November. Frank portrayed the Green and White Rangers for three seasons before starring in spinoff series like Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers Turbo and Power Rangers Wild Force. He returned to the franchise for Power Rangers Dino Thunder, and eventually reunited with original co-star Amy Jo Johnson for a cameo in the 2017 Power Rangers film.

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Nicki Aycox

The former actress-turned-musician died Nov. 16 at the age of 47. Aycox portrayed a demon who went by the name Meg Masters in the first and fourth seasons of The CW’s Supernatural. She appeared in a total of five episodes. She also held roles in movies like Jeepers Creepers 2 and The X-Files: I Want to Believe, before retiring from acting and releasing her debut EP.

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Don St. Claire

The Amazing Race participant died at the age of 87 after suffering from a heart issue in late November. In 2004, he appeared on Season 6 of the Race with his wife Mary Jean. They were eliminated fourth in Berlin, and placed eighth overall. 

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Al Strobel

The Twin Peaks actor died in early December from unknown causes. He portrayed “the One-Armed Man” in 19 episodes of the series, plus the 1992 movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. His other credits include Child of Darkness, Child of Light, Shadow Play, Sitting Target, Megaville and Ricochet River.

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Bob McGrath

Sesame Street actor, singer, musician and children’s author died Dec. 2 peacefully at home and surrounded by family. He was one of the original and longest-standing human stars of Sesame Street, appearing on the show from 1969-2017. He starred in a total of 460 episodes over the course of 47 seasons, serving as an educator and musician. He performed many of the show’s original songs including “People in Your Neighborhood,” “Sing a Song,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and its extremely popular theme song, “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?”

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Kirstie Alley

The Emmy Award-winning actress’ death was announced on Monday, Dec. 5: “We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” her children True and Lillie said in a statement.

Best known for playing Rebecca Howe on Cheers, a role for which she won an Emmy in 1991, Alley’s TV resume also included memorable roles on shows like Veronica’s Closet and Scream Queens. Alley earned her second Emmy for the 1994 made-for-TV movie David’s Mother. She made her final TV appearance as a contestant on The Masked Singer earlier this year.

JUDGE MILLS LANE, Mills Lane, 1998-2001. © Rysher Entertainment / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Mills Lane

The boxing referee-turned-TV judge passed away in December at the age of 85. Lane was a boxer in his youth who worked as a prosecutor and later a district attorney and judge while moonlighting as a boxing referee. He oversaw many big heavyweight fights, including when Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997. The following year, Lane began starring in his own syndicated courtroom show, Judge Mills Lane, which lasted for three years. He also appeared as himself on MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch.  

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Helen Slayton-Hughes

The actress best known for playing Parks and Recreation‘s Ethel Beavers died in December; she was 92 years old. Slayton-Hughes didn’t earn her first screen credit until she was 50 years old, but she still compiled an impressive resume of comedy credits, including New Girl, Arrested Development and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Her most prominent role, though, was saucy court stenographer Ethel Beavers on Parks and Rec, appearing in 11 episodes, including the 2015 series finale.

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Stuart Margolin

Margolin won two Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor (in 1979 and 1980) for playing The Rockford Files’ Evelyn “Angel” Martin, a role he later reprised in a series of made-for-TV movies. His lengthy TV resumé includes roles on countless iconic TV shows, including Bewitched, That Girl, The Partridge Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Gunsmoke, M*A*S*H, Rhoda, NCIS and The X-Files.

His death was announced on Dec. 12 by his stepson. He reportedly died of natural causes.

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Stephen “Twitch” Boss

A staple of So You Think You Can Dance (where he first competed as a contestant and later served as a judge) and The Ellen DeGeneres Show (where he served as DJ and an exec producer), Boss died by suicide on Dec. 14, at age 40. 

Boss is survived by wife Allison Holker — a fellow SYTYCD alum with whom he recently celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary — and their three children.

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Barbara Walters

The longtime TV news anchor and host, known for her work on NBC’s Today and ABC’s 20/20, died in December at the age of 93. In 1989, she was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame after 25 years in television. She also created and co-hosted ABC’s The View, a daytime talk show anchored by an all-female panel. She retired from co-hosting the show in 2014, but remained an executive producer.