# Major characters killed off sitcoms but not because of the actor's death. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379 "2017-04-27T17:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/81 "2017-05-14T21:53:24Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Not really a sitcom. Depends on your sense of humor. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/82 "2017-05-14T23:03:56Z")
Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) on LA Law exited the series by famously walking into an open elevator shaft. [Goodbye Rosalind Shays - YouTube](https://youtu.be/Mj8FIbuoWPY) The surprise scene where Roz and Leland are seen in bed together was ranked as the 38th greatest moment in television in an issue of EGG magazine. Equally spectacular was Roz’s fatal exit from the show, falling down an elevator shaft. Muldaur joked: “I was as shocked as everybody else. I thought maybe I had asked for too much money!” [Diana Muldaur - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Muldaur#L.A._Law) ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/83 "2017-05-14T23:05:08Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Depends on your sense of humor. 😉 The things that Penelope can do with her computer are certainly comedic. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/84 "2017-05-15T14:51:35Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Violates the “not due to the actor’s death” exception. I’m getting truly desperate now. All I have is another **Simpsons** character: **Snowflake the cat…** TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/85 "2017-05-15T15:04:53Z")
Why do I always come up with a better example just after I have posted? How about **Kristine Z. Kochanski** (Lister’s love interest) from British Sci-Fi sitcom **Red Dwarf**? This example slightly complicated since, in Red Dwarf fashion, Kochanski has died, but has also returned as a hallucination, from an alternative universe, as a hologram and not to mention been portrayed by a couple of different actresses over the years. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/86 "2017-05-15T16:20:08Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > I’m getting truly desperate now. > > All I have is another **Simpsons** character: **Snowflake the cat…** Snowball II (and III and implied IV). ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/87 "2017-05-16T21:40:00Z")
Not sure if you call “Nichols” a sitcom…a humorous western is probably more accurate. But in the last episode the main character, played by James Garner, is killed and later on his twin brother, also played by Garner, comes to town. He leaves at the end but says he may return someday. Apparently the producers were hoping it would get picked up for a second season and having Garner as a twin brother left the door open. Garner in later years said he proposed killing the character off because he didn’t want the show revived. ``` There is also George and Marion Kirby, along with their dog Neil, killed in the first episode of "Topper" but staying on as "that sporting spirit" and "the ghostess with the mostest". ``` ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/88 "2017-05-16T22:00:19Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > There is also George and Marion Kirby, along with their dog Neil, killed in the first episode of “Topper” but staying on as “that sporting spirit” and “the ghostess with the mostest”. Nitpicks: Their name was “Kerby” and Neil wasn’t their dog initially. They met Neil just prior to the accident. Can you own a ghost-dog? I had considered this example but ruled it out since my recollection was that the show started with Topper moving into the haunted house. (Hence George and Marion weren’t killed during the run of the show.) But apparently the series _did_ start with them alive (for a small bit) and then jumped to Topper moving in. Anne Jeffreys, btw, is the only surviving major cast member. Of course it would be one of the ghosts. There have been similar ghost-comedies. But for ones like _My Mother the Car_, the deceased died prior to the start of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Thuringwethil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@Thuringwethil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thuringwethil)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/89 "2017-06-14T17:24:11Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Ed Marinaro’s character (whose name escapes me) on _Hill Street Blues_. Didn’t two characters (Hill & Renko) die at the end of the pilot episode of HSB but were later retconned to say that they survived? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/90 "2017-06-14T17:39:37Z")
> [@Thuringwethil](#): > > Didn’t two characters (Hill & Renko) die at the end of the pilot episode of HSB but were later retconned to say that they survived? They’re shot but aren’t pronounced dead ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/91 "2017-06-14T17:39:51Z")
> [@Thuringwethil](#): > > Didn’t two characters (Hill & Renko) die at the end of the pilot episode of HSB but were later retconned to say that they survived? The original scene had Esterhaus reporting to Furillo: “Two men down. One critical, one DOA.” Renko (with his cowboy boots) was the one killed, but test audiences liked him so much, he was resurrected and that scene was reshot. This is why Charles Haid had a special credit at the start of each episode. His contract was different from those of the people who originally signed on. ---
**Author:** ![Haldurson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Haldurson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haldurson)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/92 "2017-06-16T03:23:00Z")
In “The I.T. Crowd”, the big boss, Denholm Reynholm (Christopher Morris) kills himself because he’s being investigated by the police. He’s replaced by his son Douglas, who shows up at his dad’s funeral. It’s one of my favorite British sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/93 "2017-06-16T04:56:13Z")
Last Man on Earth killed off the \*other \*Phil portrayed by Boris Kodjoe. He was killed off in a botched appendectomy. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/94 "2017-06-16T06:16:26Z")
Every version of The Doctor (Doctor Who) was killed off. He regenerates as a new actor. 13 so far ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/95 "2017-06-16T12:15:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Every version of The Doctor (Doctor Who) was killed off. Sitcom? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/96 "2017-06-16T14:05:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Every version of The Doctor (Doctor Who) was killed off. Well, they’ve not all been killed off _yet_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/97 "2017-06-16T15:27:07Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Bob Newhart’s Professor Proton was killed off of “Big Bang Theory” although he continued to appear to Sheldon in his dreams. Not a sitcom but, come to think about it Bob Newhart’s character’s ghost appeared several time in the series The Librarians. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/98 "2017-06-16T16:42:40Z")
John Goodman’s character died in the final episode of the first run of “Roseanne”, but will apparently be back in the new reboot as if nothing had happened. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Matt_Mason)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/99 "2017-06-19T04:03:34Z")
Chuck Cunningham has been buried under the concrete floor of the Cunninghams’ basement since the first season of “Happy Days”… -MMM- ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379/100 "2017-06-19T13:27:20Z")
I suppose the weekly (often big-name) guest stars on the old _Police Squad_ don’t count as ‘major characters’? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-characters-killed-off-sitcoms-but-not-because-of-the-actors-death/785379.md?page=6)