# Show where the most actors died while it was still on the air? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737 "2007-07-06T14:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/21 "2007-07-06T23:44:16Z")
[QUOTE=DataZak] Was it _True Colors_? Black man, a widower, with two sons marries a white divorcee? She also has a teenage daughter and a bigoted mom. That show? The first actor to play the husband, Frankie Faison, didn’t die. He’s still working according to imdb. The second actor, Cleavon Little (_Where the white women at?_), who took over the role in the second season died but I don’t remember whether he died mid-season. Anyway, the show was not renewed for a third season. [/QUOTE] That’s the one. Who knoww why I thought the other guy died too. So, it looks like Petticoat Junction and AMC would be the “winners.” Good point about soaps **Annie Xmas**. They have a good chance of racking up lots of actor deaths since the series usually last for decades. ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/22 "2007-07-06T23:52:22Z")
[QUOTE=Cub Mistress] On “Passions” there was also the young man who played Timmy, who passed away suddenly. [/QUOTE] Yeah but Timmy comes back every episode. 😃 Sorry nothing to add to the op but a stupid south park joke. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/23 "2007-07-07T01:04:36Z")
[QUOTE=t-mobileguy] Yeah but Timmy comes back every episode. [/QUOTE] We’re going to need another Timmy! ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/24 "2007-07-07T01:59:21Z")
[QUOTE=t-mobileguy] Yeah but Timmy comes back every episode. 😃 Sorry nothing to add to the op but a stupid south park joke. [/QUOTE] Yeah, you’re thinking of Kenny or getting two shows mixed up. Timmy was on a spoof of Mr. Wizard frequently shown on the show “Dinosaurs,” but either works. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/25 "2007-07-07T02:05:37Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] But, but, but, who’s died on _Mythbusters_? 😕 [/QUOTE] Buster. Repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/26 "2007-07-07T02:11:45Z")
If news programs count, _60 Minutes_ lost both Harry Reasoner and Ed Bradley. And Morley Safer and Andy Rooney don’t look all that long for this world. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/27 "2007-07-07T14:44:52Z")
_Saturday Night Live_ is still on the air and has had several people die including John Belushi, Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, Michael O’Donoghue, Gilda Radner, and Danitra Vance. Admittedly most of them were no longer on the show at the time of their deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/28 "2007-07-07T15:08:40Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] Both of lung cancer. both heavy smokers…hmmmm, I’m getting a message here… [/QUOTE] That message being “_Night Court_ kills smokers”. _Dallas_ had the actors who played at least 4 major characters die during the course of the series, but there are asterixes beside 3 of those names. Jim Davis- the patriarch Jock Ewing- died while _Dallas_ was running and his death was worked into the show (no body found, of course, for it was a soap opera). The asterix obits: Keenan Wynn, who played Jock’s archenemy and patriarch of the rival Barnes clan, died during the run of the show, but his character had already been killed off. Timothy Patrick Murphy, who played Lucy’s love interest for a season, died of AIDS during the run of the show but, again, his character had already been killed off. Donna Reed played matriarch Ellie Ewing, taking over the role when Barbara Bel Geddes quit the show for health reasons. Hagman and the producers decided she didn’t work (too glamorous for “just plain folks billionaire” Miss Ellie) and when Bel Geddes was well enough they unceremoniously (and in breach of contract) fired Donna Reed and brought Barbara B-G back to the role. Reed sued the producers, won millions in court (which she didn’t need or particularly want- it was a principal thing and what she really wanted was the role), and died soon after (in fact the verdict may even have been posthumously awarded, not sure- the firing and lawsuit and her death were all over the course of about a year or two). ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/29 "2007-07-09T14:26:47Z")
British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine has to be the record holder: **Actor - - - - - - - - Character** Bill Owen - - Compo Simmonite Michael Bates - Cyril Blamire Joe Gladwin - Wally Batty John Comer - Sid (the cafe owner) Dame Thora Hird - Edie Pegden Tony Capstick - Policeman That’s six - Mind you, the show has been running _forever_! ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737/30 "2007-07-09T17:55:54Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Yes. Soap opera actors do die. Another World lost two big stars, Constance Ford (Ada McGowen) and Douglas Watson (Mac Cory) during its run. [/QUOTE] Also Brent Collins, who played Wally. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-where-the-most-actors-died-while-it-was-still-on-the-air/410737.md?page=1)