# How TV shows have dealt with death of an actor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504 "2013-07-14T20:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/81 "2013-07-17T03:22:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > As to the OP how they dealt withit was having Coach die offscreen and Woody came in as the new bartender. I think it may have helped the series by adding a new dynamic to the show. During the transition when Coach was always off on vacation or whatever, there was a bit I thought was pretty funny: Sam: [going through the mail] Hey, I got a letter from Coach. He’s at his family reunion. Norm: Oh, yeah? Sam: He sent a picture. [shows Norm a photograph] Norm: Sam, why is everybody in that picture except Coach black? Sam: Well, he got an invitation by mistake, didn’t want to offend anybody by not going. Norm: They seem to have accepted him. Sam: Sure, he’s been going for ten years. Next year it’s at his place. Look, he signed it “Regards, Uncle Whitey.” For some reason, this just kills me. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/82 "2013-07-17T14:33:01Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Here’s [the scene on YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkMqVdElSto). It’s pretty awkward. I didn’t know this was CGI when I first watched it. But now…damn, that’s creepy. It must have felt weird for Mr. Gandolfini and the other actor to watch later. Peter Sellers passed away during the making of one of the Pink Panther movies - they had Inspector Clousseau “disappear” and at the end of the film there was a montage of all his funniest scenes. Edit: sorry, that was a movie. But still. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/83 "2013-07-17T15:53:15Z")
In “Monk,” his therapist, Dr. Kroger, was originally played by Stanley Kamel. When Kamel died, the character died too. Then they had an episode with Monk trying to get used to a new therapist, Dr. Neven Bell, played by Héctor Elizondo. Due to Monk’s phobias and quirks, the transition was predictably traumatic. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/84 "2013-07-17T21:30:29Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > I didn’t know this was CGI when I first watched it. But now…damn, that’s creepy. It must have felt weird for Mr. Gandolfini and the other actor to watch later. Somebody should ask him what it felt like… oh shit. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/85 "2013-07-17T22:39:34Z")
The deaths of Will Geer (The Waltons) and Jon-Erik Hexum (Cover Up) were written into their respective shows by having their characters die. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/86 "2013-07-17T23:01:00Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > [QUOTE=Musicat] > Then we have actors who left the show, were replaced by another actor (same on-screen name) without a word, then came back to resume their original roles. Only a few veiled references were ever made on-screen, although the opening montage did show the “transition.” > > Think Becky on Rosanne. Lacy Goransen never died though. [/QUOTE] That would have made her return… awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/87 "2013-07-18T00:14:20Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Another variation that interests me is how long-running ad campaigns deal with the death of the spokesperson. As Elmer Lynn Hauldren, aka “[the Empire Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s56GioFUs9w)” grew older, he was transitioned into a [pretty dire CGI character](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwvr4_QW8uo). Hauldren, probably as well known to any Chicago area kid from the 70’s/80’s as their own father, passed away in 2011 but Empire carpeting still uses his CGI likeness in commercials. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/88 "2013-07-18T00:33:05Z")
OMG, I despise those Empire Carpets commercials. Rolling out a wall-to-wall shakes the whole house, but dropping an entire wood floor doesn’t? Bad choice, CGI Dude. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/89 "2013-07-18T01:47:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > John Spencer died during the production of the final episodes of _The West Wing_. But because he was a major character, they had to address his death in the series by having his character die. How unrealistic! They couldn’t do what real biggies in an administration do, quit to head some upscale university? > [@Musicat](#): > > Think Becky on _Rosanne._ I do often, especially now that Second Becky is an adult. (Did they really call her that on Scrubs? Because that was her name in my house.) > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Especially because Morgan Smith is not a real redhead. She is now, and can never have hair a different color as long as she lives. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/90 "2013-07-18T14:49:28Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > As Elmer Lynn Hauldren, aka “[the Empire Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s56GioFUs9w)” grew older, he was transitioned into a [pretty dire CGI character](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwvr4_QW8uo). Hauldren, probably as well known to any Chicago area kid from the 70’s/80’s as their own father, passed away in 2011 but Empire carpeting still uses his CGI likeness in commercials. I have his [bobblehead](http://bartersauce.com/sites/default/files/images/items/empire-man-bobble-head-1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/91 "2013-07-18T15:13:08Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > As Elmer Lynn Hauldren, aka “[the Empire Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s56GioFUs9w)” grew older, he was transitioned into a [pretty dire CGI character](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwvr4_QW8uo). Hauldren, probably as well known to any Chicago area kid from the 70’s/80’s as their own father, passed away in 2011 but Empire carpeting still uses his CGI likeness in commercials. They still use a snippet of one of his old voiceovers usually too. Wonder if his family is still getting paid for that, or how he set things up in his will to cover that? I grew up in Wisconsin, but in a Cubs fan household, so I knew Empire as well as any Chicago kid. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/92 "2013-07-18T17:00:53Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > They still use a snippet of one of his old voiceovers usually too. Wonder if his family is still getting paid for that, or how he set things up in his will to cover that? I grew up in Wisconsin, but in a Cubs fan household, so I knew Empire as well as any Chicago kid. I grew up in Colorado, but knew Empire as well as any Chicago kid thanks to WGN’s broadcasts of Cubs games. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/93 "2013-07-18T17:32:14Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > How unrealistic! They couldn’t do what real biggies in an administration do, quit to head some upscale university? Coincidentally, John Spencer’s character had last collapsed on a solitary walk at Camp David. So the death of the character worked perfectly. > [@Soylent Juicy](#): > > Peter Sellers passed away during the making of one of the Pink Panther movies - they had Inspector Clousseau “disappear” and at the end of the film there was a montage of all his funniest scenes. He didn’t die during the making of it - that \*entire \*movie (_Trail of the Pink Panther_) was made after Peter Sellers died. All of Sellers in that movie is archival footage. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/94 "2013-07-18T18:31:26Z")
> [@bup](#): > > He didn’t die during the making of it - that \*entire \*movie (_Trail of the Pink Panther_) was made after Peter Sellers died. All of Sellers in that movie is archival footage. :eek: I did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/95 "2013-07-19T09:07:49Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > During the transition when Coach was always off on vacation or whatever, there was a bit I thought was pretty funny: > > Sam: [going through the mail] Hey, I got a letter from Coach. He’s at his family reunion. > Norm: Oh, yeah? > Sam: He sent a picture. [shows Norm a photograph] > Norm: Sam, why is everybody in that picture except Coach black? > Sam: Well, he got an invitation by mistake, didn’t want to offend anybody by not going. > Norm: They seem to have accepted him. > Sam: Sure, he’s been going for ten years. Next year it’s at his place. Look, he signed it “Regards, Uncle Whitey.” > > For some reason, this just kills me. My favorite was Sam on the phone: “Congratulations, Coach! All the weeks of cramming, burning the midnight oil, and drilling with your friends, it’s all paid off. We’re proud of you. All right. take care.” “Coach pass his driver’s test?” “No, he found Vermont.” ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/96 "2013-07-21T04:26:46Z")
Roger Delgado, the original Master on Doctor Who, was killed in a car crash in Turkey while making a film. His death was one of the reasons that Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor and a close friend of Delgado’s, decided to leave the show. A couple of years later, the Master appeared in a highly atrophied state, having run through his natural Time Lord regeneration cycle. A third actor made an appearance like this, before the Master did a body switch, laying the groundwork for several years’ worth of Anthony Ainley as the Master. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504/97 "2013-07-21T23:06:01Z")
When Dolph Sweet died of cancer after season 4, Gimme A Break just had them start the next season with the Chief dead (don’t think they ever actually give a cause) and Nell now being in charge of the house and the daughters (not that she wasn’t already pretty much in charge). Then after a season of that, they retooled the show and had Nell and Joey move to New York for what turned out to be the final season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tv-shows-have-dealt-with-death-of-an-actor/663504.md?page=4)