Famous TV deaths: Readers' choice

Article by: NEAL JUSTIN , Star Tribune
Updated: April 5, 2012 - 2:36 PM

TV fans recall some memorable departures from classic shows.

Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker and Carroll O'Connor as Archie in "All in the Family."

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Inspired by HBO's "Game of Thrones," we picked 10 classic TV deaths in last Friday's Variety section and asked you to submit ones we missed. Here's what some of you came up with:

"How about the death of Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) on 'All in the Family'? Not sure if that counts, since it launched a new series. I was sad to see her go."

"Gary Shepherd (Peter Horton), killed on 'Thirtysomething.' I think he was hit by a car while riding his bike." (Editor's note: Yep. Gary hated cars)

"'L.A. Law' character Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) falls down an elevator shaft."

"Sid Fairgate (Don Murray) on 'Knots Landing.' He was paralyzed as a result of his car being forced off the road by some crooks. He was to have risky surgery to try and correct his injury but died on the table. I did not see this coming and was devastated!"

"Coach (Nicholas Colasanto) on 'Cheers.' The reason, of course, was the actor died in real life. Replaced by Woody Harrelson."

"Agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander) was killed in the line of duty during one of the first seasons of 'NCIS.' What was the real-life reason, though? Did her departure make way for Coté de Pablo?" (Sure looks that way. Alexander's character was killed in the season-two finale. De Pablo joined in Season Three.)

"The death of Hoss Cartwright (Dan Blocker) on 'Bonanza' was the game-changer of all game-changers. His unexpected, sudden death after 13 seasons was also fatal to this classic program, which was No. 1 for many years, and only rarely out of the Top 10. He was irreplaceable."

"Paul Hennessy (John Ritter) from '8 Simple Rules.' What can you do when an actor in a key part dies? They tried some things but there was always the shadow of him being gone."

"The death of 'Friends' neighbor Mr. Heckles (Larry Hankin), while not a game-changer, was a central theme to an episode which led the main characters to reflect on their lives and mortality."

"George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) on 'Grey's Anatomy' deserves four teardrops. He threw himself under a bus."

"Janet Frasier (Teryl Rothery) was killed off on 'Stargate SG-1' as part of a story which emphasized that people in the military put their lives on the line for the rest of us. It wouldn't have worked the same way if a less popular character had been killed instead."

"What about the death of Mr. Hooper (Will Lee) on 'Sesame Street'?"