6 Sitcom Stars Who Were Tragically Killed Off Their Shows 

Tragedy can be a powerful storytelling tool. It makes you appreciate the depth that sitcoms can achieve.

Mine too.

It's not even close.

Just the fact that Dick York lasted as long as he did was incredible, considering his devastating back injury. His reactions and facial expressions but Sargent to shame!!?

Dick York is always be Darren Stephen for ever

21:17

I don't think he means literal death in the show

"Killed off" is a little deceiving. 😮

This channel sucks. They always get things wrong and the writing is horrible. It’s nothing but clickbait

Good catch.

​@@Nicksonianand the narration voice is terrible.

Dick York's back injury occurred on the set while filming the movie They Came to Cordura (1959) with Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth, he suffered a permanent, disabling back injury. In York's own words, "Gary Cooper and I were propelling a handcar carrying several 'wounded' men down the railroad track. I was on the bottom stroke of this sort of teeter-totter mechanism that made the handcar run. I was just lifting the handle up as the director yelled 'cut!' and one of the 'wounded' cast members reached up and grabbed the handle. Now, instead of lifting the expected weight, I was suddenly, jarringly, lifting his entire weight off the flatbed - 180 pounds or so. The muscles along the right side of my back tore. They just snapped and let loose. And that was the start of it all: the pain, the painkillers, the addiction, the lost career.

Suzanne's Husband was greedy. He ruined her career.

She was asking for equal pay. She took a stand and she lost. Maybe she played the dumb blond too well. She should have received equal pay.

The 'then and now' perspective adds a layer of nostalgia. It's like revisiting a chapter in our own lives.

Ummmm, she was fired right after those nude photos of her appeared.

i live in az and i learned really quickly that panty hose and hot dry weather does not mix. i felt like i was walking in panty hose full of water.

@@lauragardner7210 That's weird, I've always worn pantyhose on stage behind my drums playing 2 to 4 hours per gig and, even though I'd be sweating like a pig (my leotard was soaked), my pantyhose stayed almost completely dry. If they GOT wet, it only took about 2 to 5 minutes for them to dry. They were a HUGE help to me, keeping the sweat from my legs getting onto my arms and hands and making it impossible to hold my sticks! I nearly always wore No Nonsense so, maybe they made them different from other brands.

Reflecting on the fate of these characters adds a layer of nostalgia. It's like revisiting old friends and the journey they took us on.

She had the best pair of legs on that show bar none...I'd definitely would've took Janet out on a date over all the blondes..

Now you know what a quesadilla feels like... Lol

The show floundered without Suzanne. She should have gotten the same money...but it was the 70's, when women weren't allowed to get a credit card without a man's permission and women were paid less because men had a family to support.

Again, it wasnt the pay it was her demands for a cut of the show's profits.

You're mistaken, some of the funniest episodes were the later ones because John Ritter was hilarious, also Suzanne left the show in the 80s.​@queenboudicca31

Bad title click bait 👎👎👎👎

Tragedy in sitcoms adds a whole new layer of storytelling. The evolution of characters is truly intriguing.

he consistently makes shit content. Somehow, he's managed to make being aggressively inept work for him.

Yeah, they should mentioned Maclean Stevenson since his character actually died in a plane crash.

Killed off means the character they played was no longer on the show or was replaced by another actor. Not that the character actually died though obviously happens to some. Is simply a term used in media and theatrical Productions.

Heartbreaking to see how some sitcom stars met tragic fates on their shows. Life can be so unpredictable!

Grammar is the grave of letters haha.

BRAVO sweetheart ! i concur with all you said ,i fell under opiums spell in my early years after many long probs i stopped only too find my body suffering many DIFFERANT ill effects {mind and body} for the last 25-30 yrs i no longer abuse {get hi} but take as prescribed a LEGAL amount {as far as state driving laws} for severe pain , im told i should,and could legal wise take more BUT iv learned a bit of pain and suffering are good for the soul {attitude} more power to you !!

@@sayhey7482 Thank you! I’m so proud of you! 👏 ❤️ we learnt our lessons early in life. I have refused opioid injections for almost 25 years now but breakthrough pain makes it necessary for opioid tabs. I live with pain like you. We got to. The alternative is total addiction and death! We will make it 🤗

@@jojowynne233 sweetie i never liked using the word SURVIVORS i reserved it for war vets or anyone who put themselves in A literal LINE OF FIRE ! but as of recent times {millenium} i learned folks like you and me {plenty others}are SURVIVORS and meant too live and share ALL WE EXPIRIENCED to benefit anyone who cares to share of it,thanx multiplied a BILLION times for your encouragement ,bless you for BEING YOU ! 💖💖

@@sayhey7482 today we just got our power back on, internet, the ability to ring people and your’s was the first message I saw. Thank you 🙏 you are the bestest 🤗🥰 I live at Oxenford on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia and Christmas night, they’re now saying it was a Tornado hit us at 10:30pm. We don’t get them normally. Our fences our down and roof damage but we are all ok at our house. Our neighbours are great, no fence so lucky we are friends! The worst was 33 -36 degree Celsius days and nights, no fans or air conditioning 😂😂 It ‘‘twas lovely to see your comment after a hot, boring and miserable 3 days. My big 40 kg American Staffy who may look a bit like a huge pit Bull much prefers the air conditioning and won’t run away, I’m just scared someone might steal him. My 18 yrs old shaved Ragdoll cat has a cosy blanket on the end of my bed. His fur is growing back quickly. Too hot in Oz for all that fur! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or Happy Holidays and we will keep surviving because we are tough and we get it! I’m guessing we’re both marshmallows on the inside 😂 Take care my lovely 🥰 🤗❤️🙌🏻

Guys, JoJo & Sayhey, your comments, forward looking/thinking, respect & strength blessed me as well as ur kindness towards each other & others that deal w/ pain. My physical pain doesn’t come close 2 what u 2 have described but being exhausted every waking hour along w/ other health issues gives me some knowledge of how hard life can b & ur comments made a difference. Thank you so very much. 🙏🏼🫶🙌🏼

Actually her Husband was greedy and ruined her career

@@OneOfUsHere he was right though. At the time women were paid much less than men, and her character was just as popular as John Ritter's. Clearly the fact that they couldn't replace her successfully attests to that. Why is it when women stand up for their right to be treated as equal to men they are called greedy?

@@tracyroweauthor It was not the pay, it was her demand for the percentage of the show. She was never as big a star again. Ritter was the glue. Also, it wasnt her, it was her greedy husband controlling her. Hows that for women's lib.

@@tracyroweauthor Btw, she didnt want equal pay, she wanted more money than everyone else. Kinda like women's lib, equality but only when it suits them.

I admit she should've got an equal amount that Ritter was getting but I also the that the 30% was a bit much.

Hello Lynda, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

These stars may have been killed off, but their legacy lives on. Remarkable how they've shaped the sitcom landscape.

Can't believe the twists and turns these shows took. The unpredictability is what makes them memorable.

Yes!!

@@RL-jd2lr True 🤣

The pants episode refers to the time Hawkeye was officer of the day and radar was getting undressed and every time he started to take off his pants he thought Hawkeye was looking then he dropped them an a lady was there to see a Dr... And there was Radar with his pants around his ankles

Yep! I remember seeing the outtakes reel where that particular scene had at least 5 or 6 takes.

Is that the scene where he's got the little teddy bear drawn in ink rather than a tattoo?

These stories really highlight the emotional rollercoaster that some characters and actors endure. Such a fascinating journey through TV history!

What a sweet guy he was! I had no idea. He had great hair, too. Not as important but just saying.

He said he died on February 2nd when it clearly says February 20th on his headstone.

What a douche bag

Discussing the 'then and now' brings a sense of closure to these characters' arcs. A thoughtful way to revisit the past.

That is so cool. I loved her books. I am from Minnesota too. She's one of the people I would want at a dinner.

I discovered LIW books very early in life. I became an avid reader because of her.

That is very cool.

The behind-the-scenes stories are as captivating as the on-screen drama. Such a unique aspect of sitcom history!

Andy Griffith was considered to be Barney Fife but Andy Griffith felt Mr.Knox would be a better actor for the part and he was right.

Don Knox ruined Three's Company. He never stopped playing the Barren Phif character. Even on Mattlock, he still played Barney Phiff. Sickening!

No, Andy Griffith said he also started out as a similar type of character Knotts played. But he quickly discovered the show was better when he played more of a straight man to Knott's comedy. He was right. Watch the first season and you'll see Griffith's character change from heavy hick to a more responsible man-with-the-solutions. He was still very funny, but he knew when to push Knotts to the front. Theirs was a great pairing.

These tragic exits showcase the challenges actors face in the industry. Resilience personified!

Don Knox never starred on Three's Company or as Barney Fife... Don Knotts did...lol

It's fascinating to see how these tragic exits influenced the trajectory of the shows. The ripple effects are remarkable.

Killed off means the character was no longer on the show or the actor was replaced. It's a term used by media and theatrical productions and doesn't mean the character was killed, though some obviously are.

@@demoncatman6575 killed off means the character was killed off. When a character is replaced, we have a word for that. You can actually find that word in my last sentence. You can't just decide things mean things they don't mean when the words for what things do mean are still being used. You might as well have your head shoved up your horse. See ? I don't mean horse. You know what I mean. Because you know what your head's shoved up. I hope this was helpful to you in some way.

Wow so having worked in media and heard both the terms killed off and written out used, in the same scenarios plus learning in my media qualification must all have been wrong then. I suggest you pull your head from yours and realise production companies and the media use both to describe it.

Alright some clarification here as I don't like nastiness and have thought about it. You are thinking about scripts and reports. Killed off is a generic term in production, much like theatre has generic terms covering the different things that lead to the same place. In this particular meaning killed off = an end. It doesn't just mean a character or actor. It can mean the end to a situation in a story for instance. Along the lines of it's a wrap. On to the next. I took from my experiences that being what the title meant. Possibly the OP didn't. Possibly also we live in different places in the world and different phrases or slang are used. Anyway let's be compassionate adults and learn. Far better than negativity.

Realize that many of your readers have not worked in media and avoid the jargon.

Hello Terry, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 Virus??

The dynamic between characters is forever changed when a star is killed off. It's a testament to the writers' ability to keep us on our toes.

@@trevorjennings72 Hello, Trevor. I’m doing well, thank you for asking. I did end up contracting COID a year ago but suffered none of the complications I so dreaded. I was actually diagnosed with COVID when I was briefly hospitalized for something else.

Sorry, but Friends DID NOT end due to high costs or the cast salaries. It was the hugest and most watched sitcom generating a fortune for all involved. I saw an interview with Jennifer Anniston who said she felt guity for the end of Friends. She was getting more and more big screen movie rolls and just couldn't juggle it all. She said spoke to the other cast who relunctantly agreed without her, the show would lose popularity. So the show they ended on a high. She told the producers a year before the show ended and the writers had a year to work the script so the ending seemed perfect.

@@terrycole2407 Hey Terry! I'm really glad to hear that you didn't have any serious complications from COVID, especially since you were diagnosed while in the hospital for something else. That must have been a bit of a surprise, but I'm relieved to hear that you're doing well now. Hope you’re having a nice and a wonderful day today??

Killed off means the character was no longer on the show or the actor was replaced. It is a term used by media and theatrical productions and doesn't mean that the character dies though some obviously do.

@@demoncatman6575 Interesting. Thanks for the clarification. 😊

Don't believe him it's click bait he's just trying to defend the OP ​@@Marrero79

This is the story I've read too, and I think it's probably closer to the truth. I read that he was actually quite the jerk. Personally, I cheered when he left MASH, and thought the show was vastly improved by his absence. A forty-something year old man still trying to pretend to be some clueless farm boy was not only ridiculous, but detracted from the direction the show had taken. And I'm fully aware this isn't a popular opinion ha ha.

The emotional investment we have in sitcom characters is a testament to the writing and acting skills at play. Truly a rollercoaster ride!

Discussing the 'then and now' of these characters really puts into perspective the impact they had on the audience.

The reason Little House resembled Bonanza is because Michael Landon was an executive producer on the show, and he also wrote many episodes, some of which were Bonanza episodes retooled for Little House.

These stars may have left the sitcoms, but they're very much alive in our memories. The impact is everlasting.

who was judy winslow???

@@ellenfleming9685 the younger daughter on Family Matters. She disappeared after Season 4.

Both are terms used by media and theatrical productions to describe a character being removed from a show or an actor being replaced. They mean the same.

Killed off means the character was no longer on the show or the actor was replaced. Its a term used by media and theatrical productions and doesn't mean the character died, though obviously some do.

Asking for five times as much plus 10% of profits was insane.

Yes god forbid a woman makes the same as a man. Had to make an example.

Her Husband was greedy, he ruined her career with his outrageous demands.

​@susanhudak1542 Yeah, like she never had another show with Patrick Duffy in the 90's for years....ruined, ruined, ruined.

Suzanne Sommers was Toxic on Three's Company. I'm that she got pink slipped. Her character was annoying

Killed off means the character was no longer on the show or the actor was replaced. Its a term used by media and theatrical productions and doesn't mean the character died, though some obviously do.

​@@demoncatman6575Many people have not worked in media or theatrical productions and will not understand the jargon.

You don't need to RIP. Joyce. She is the only one still alive I always thought she was wasted on that show. I thought her talents were better than "jiggle" TV.

Her character was the smart one. ❤

Killed off means the character was no longer on the show or the actor was replaced. Its a term used by media and theatrical productions and doesn't mean the character died, though obviously some do.

He has a deformed left hand.

The media and theatrical productions use both the terms of written out or killed off to describe a character who is no longer on a show or an actor who was replaced. It doesn't mean the character died though some obviously do.

Right! His Uncle Ed died and he was given a hardship discharge.

Wow! I didn’t know that! I liked Willie’s character.

@beyondtheskye1 Sara Gilbert is adopted half-sister. The last name Gilbert is Melissa's father. Who Sara had no connection to.

Just in case some people don’t know. What happened to him? It’s s sad! So don’t ell your kids. Santa is real and so is Rudolf. And he l es Who make the gifts. So you kids don’t need to worry about a Ty of that. An ordinary man played him , and the other peanuts. So the man who was using his Voice. When he was younger. He was sad. You may know a friend or even a family me bee. MOST of them see a counselor. Most people can help their turn off whoever help from my family is a good hug every day we can help let them know you love them around her and Charlie Brown’s voice didn’t have anybody to help him so he got really mad and really settled on just had to leave this earth because he wasn’t a good man anymore he was really sad so God. Took him to heaven. It’s okay to be a little sad at things . Some for other places So now you understand how some p are sad and in pain. You tell your mom and dad or your mom Or your dad, Get help if you think you Nordic it.

Hello Linda, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 Virus??

Hello Susan, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 Virus??

W*A*L*T*E*R was the title of the pilot. Also, AfterMASH was about Colonel Potter, Father Mulcahy and Corporal Klinger after the Korean War as civilians. 😮

@@Joe_Narbaiz The last bit I already knew, it was the name of Burghoff's pilot I could not remember.... until now. Thanks for the info. Actually, if I recall, After-M*A*S*H had been available on RU-vid.

queenbrat, you should also report it. I don't believe RU-vid cares much about Truth, but maybe someday they will, and start draining the swamp. I am sick of all the dishonesty. If it is too much trouble to speak truth, how about just STFU?

Don Knotts also is famous for being Deputy Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show.

​@@RL-jd2lr I know. I've caught a lot of errors in his videos. I replied here by writing a book (lol) and telling him so. Three's Company was my fave TV show when I was 5 years old (closely followed by my 2nd fave Solid Gold 😂) Anyone who watched it even occasionally would know they lived in CA.