2019 deaths in American television

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The following deaths of notable individuals related to American television occurred in 2019.

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
January 2 Bob Einstein 76 Actor best known as Super Dave Osborne on Super Dave, Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire, and several other shows; also played Marty Funkhouser on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman on Arrested Development. Also comedy writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Brother of Albert Brooks. [1]
Gene Okerlund 76 Professional wrestling announcer and interviewer for AWA, WWF/WWE and WCW and member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Made a guest appearance on The A-Team and a Mountain Dew commercial. Also appeared in live-action segments of Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. [2]
Daryl Dragon 76 Musician (Captain & Tennille, The Beach Boys), co-host of The Captain and Tennille Show. [3]
January 3 Sylvia Chase 80 American broadcast journalist (20/20, KRON-TV/San Francisco) [4]
John Falsey 67 Writer/producer, most noted for work on St. Elsewhere, Northern Exposure, and I'll Fly Away [5]
January 4 Louisa Moritz 72 Cuban-American actress (The Joe Namath Show, Love, American Style, Ironside, One Day at a Time, Chico and the Man, The Rockford Files and The Incredible Hulk) [6]
January 6 W. Morgan Sheppard 86 Actor (Max Headroom, Star Trek, seaQuest DSV) and voice actor (Biker Mice from Mars, Gargoyles, Prep & Landing) [7]
January 9 Verna Bloom 80 Actress (Where Have All the People Gone?, Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic, Playing for Time) [8]
Stefanos Miltsakakis 60 Greek-American MMA-fighter and actor (Matlock, Eerie, Indiana, Baywatch, Martial Law, Nash Bridges and Cold Case) [9]
January 15 Bill Anagnos 60 American stuntman (TV work includes recurring spots on Banshee, The Sopranos, and Kennedy) [10]
Bradley Bolke 93 American voice actor, known for his role of Chumley Walrus on Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales [11]
Carol Channing 97 Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, dancer and comedienne (TV work includes several guest spots on What's My Line?, a recurring role on The Love Boat, and the voice of Grandmama on The Addams Family) [12]
January 16 Sam Christensen 70 American casting director [13]
January 17 Barbara Claman 89 American casting director [14]
Anthony Potter 84 American producer and writer [15]
Daniel C. Striepeke 88 American makeup artist (TV work includes several episodes of Planet of the Apes and Mission: Impossible) [16]
January 20 William Swan 90 American actor [17]
January 21 Russell Baker 93 Writer, columnist, and host of Masterpiece Theater [18]
Kaye Ballard 93 American actress, comedienne, and singer, best known as Kaye Buell in The Mothers-in-Law, Angie Pallucci in The Doris Day Show, a regular on both Kraft Music Hall and The Perry Como Show, and a record-setting 50 guest appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. [19]
Steve Bean 58 American comedian and actor [20]
Merwin Goldsmith 81 American actor (Goodtime Girls, Ryan's Hope, Kennedy, Law & Order and The Good Wife) [21]
January 22 Kevin Barnett 32 Comedian, actor and writer (The Carmichael Show, Broad City). Co-creator of Rel. [22]
James Frawley 82 American director and producer (The Monkees, That Girl, Paper Moon, Magnum, P.I., Vengeance Unlimited, Thieves, Judging Amy, Three Moons Over Milford, Ghost Whisperer, Side Order of Life and Grey's Anatomy) [23]
January 25 Fatima Ali 29 Pakistani-born American chef and reality show contestant (Chopped, Top Chef) [24]
Steve Bell 83 News anchor (Good Morning America, World News This Morning, USA Updates, KYW-TV/Philadelphia) and correspondent for ABC News [25]
January 26 Ken Welch 92 American composer (The Carol Burnett Show) [26]
January 27 Erica Yohn 90 Character actress (guest spots on Rhoda, ER, Night Court, Murphy Brown, and Picket Fences) [27]
January 29 James Ingram 66 Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter (appeared as himself in Suburgatory and a participant on Celebrity Duets; his 1983 number-one Billboard Hot 100 single "Baby Come to Me" with Patti Austin was featured in General Hospital) [28]
Fernando Gaitán 58 Colombian screenwriter, producer, television executive, and journalist, whose telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea was adapted into the American dramedy Ugly Betty and the Telemundo remake Betty en NY, of which he served as a consultant on both programs [29]
January 30 Dick Miller 90 Actor (recurring roles on Fame and The Flash) [30]
January 31 Candice Earley 68 American actress best known for her role of Donna Beck in All My Children [31]

February

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
February 1 Harold Bergman 99 American actor (guest spots on All My Children, One Life to Live, Santa Barbara, Murder, She Wrote, Port Charles, Sunset Beach, and The City) [32]
Neal James 55 American reality television actor (Call of the Wildman) [33]
Lisa Seagram 82 American actress, acting teacher, and realtor (TV credits include Batman, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, My Three Sons, My Favorite Martian, The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, Perry Mason, McHale's Navy, Honey West, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. and Burke's Law) [34]
February 3 Kristoff St. John 52 American actor; best known for playing Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless. Also played Adam Marshall on Generations. [35]
Julie Adams 92 Actress (recurring roles on K-Ville, Loving, Murder, She Wrote, Another World, Capitol, Code Red, and The Jimmy Stewart Show) [36]
February 4 Gary LaPierre 76 News anchor (WBZ-TV/Boston) [37]
February 5 George Klein 83 Host of Talent Party on WHBQ-TV/Memphis [38]
February 7 Albert Finney 82 English actor, producer, and director, who won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his performance as Winston Churchill in The Gathering Storm. Also portrayed Sidney Kentridge in The Biko Inquest, which he co-produced. [39]
February 9 Salvatore Bellomo 67 Belgian professional wrestler; best known for wrestling preliminary matches in the WWF during the 1980s [40]
February 10 Linda Sawyer 57 Television producer, writer and director at ABC, MTV and HBO, freelance production work for programs on VH1 and PBS, and podcaster [41]
Jan-Michael Vincent 74 American film/TV actor, best known for his television roles as Lincoln 'Link' Simmons in the Danger Island segments of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, Jeffrey Hastings in The Survivors, Byron Henry in The Winds of War, and Stringfellow Hawke in Airwolf [42]
Carmen Argenziano 75 Actor (recurring roles on Stargate SG-1, Booker, L.A. Law, Melrose Place, and The Young and the Restless) [43]
February 12 Pedro Morales 76 Puerto Rican WWE Hall of Fame professional wrestler [44]
February 14 David Horowitz 81 Consumer advocate and television show host, alumnus of KNBC Los Angeles and host of Fight Back! with David Horowitz. [45]
February 16 Jerry Blum 86 American radio executive (most notably GM/president of Atlanta's WQXI and WQXI-FM, 1960–1989) and the inspiration for Gordon Jump's Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson character on WKRP in Cincinnati [46]
Patrick Caddell 68 Pollster and Fox News contributor [47]
Ken Nordine 98 Voice-over artist and poet (TV work includes Sesame Street) [48]
February 17 Perry Wolff 97 News documentary producer for CBS News (several projects, most notably A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy) [49]
February 21 Beverley Owen 81 Actress best known for playing Marilyn Munster in the first thirteen episodes of The Munsters; guest starring on As the World Turns, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, Guiding Light, and The Young and the Restless [50]
Peter Tork 77 Bassist/keyboardist/singer for The Monkees and actor on the TV show of the same name [51]
February 22 Clark James Gable 30 Host of Cheaters. Grandson of Clark Gable. [52]
Brody Stevens 48 Actor and comedian (star of Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!, guest spots on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Friday, Premium Blend, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Fox NFL Sunday, Conan, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Burn with Jeff Ross, Kroll Show, The Ben Show, @midnight, and Chelsea Lately) [53]
Morgan Woodward 93 Actor best known as Marvin "Punk" Anderson on Dallas. Also guest spots on several other shows including a record amount of roles as several different characters on Gunsmoke. [54]
February 23 Katherine Helmond 89 American actress best known as Jessica Tate on Soap, Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss?, Doris Sherman on Coach and Lois Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond. [55]
February 26 Mitzi Hoag 86 American actress (notable for her regular role as Liz Platt in We'll Get By, and recurring roles in Here Come the Brides and The Facts of Life) [56]
Jeraldine Saunders 95 American writer, lecturer, model, and astrologer. Best known as the creator of The Love Boat, (based on her 1974 memoir Love Boats) and whose career as a cruise director was fictionalized in the series as Julie McCoy (played by Lauren Tewes), and the author of "Omarr's Astrological Forecast" (with then-husband Sydney Omarr) [57]
February 27 Nathaniel Taylor 80 Actor best known for playing Rollo Lawson on Sanford and Son [58]
February 28 André Previn 89 German-born American conductor, composer, and musician (conductor/host of Previn & The Pittsburgh, music director for The Donald O'Connor Show) [59]
William G. Schilling 79 Best known for playing Dr. Harold Samuels on Head of the Class [60]
Aron Tager 84 American-born Canadian actor (Are You Afraid of the Dark?) [61]

March

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
March 2 Janice Freeman 33 Singer (contestant on season 13 of The Voice) [62]
March 4 Keith Flint 49 British singer/dancer and member of the Alternative Dance group The Prodigy (TV appearances include MTV Music Video Awards and guest hosting 120 Minutes; his vocals and videos from "Breathe" (a 1997 VMA winner for Viewer's Choice) and "Firestarter" have been used in numerous television programs and commercials) [63]
Luke Perry 52 American actor best known as Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210, a recurring role as Fred Andrews on Riverdale and guest spots on The Simpsons, Family Guy, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Will & Grace. [64][65]
[66]
Ted Lindsay 93 Canadian Hall of Fame ice hockey player (U.S. TV work included color commentary for the NHL on NBC during the 1970s) [67]
Chris Pallies 63 American professional wrestler (better known as King Kong Bundy) and occasional actor (recurring role on Married... with Children, whose lead characters were surnamed Bundy in homage to the wrestler) [68][69]
March 5 Susan Harrison 80 American actress, best known for playing the "Ballerina" in The Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" and the mother of Darva Conger, the winner of Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? [70]
March 7 Dick Beyer 88 Legendary professional wrestler [71]
Marshall Brodien 84 Magician (Wizzo the Wizard on The Bozo Show) [72]
March 9 Jed Allan 84 Actor best known as C.C. Capwell on Santa Barbara, Don Craig on Days of Our Lives, Edward Quartermaine on General Hospital, Rush Sanders on Beverly Hills, 90210, Scott Turner on Lassie, Harold Johnson on The Bay, and the host of Celebrity Bowling [73]
March 10 Rex Sorensen 73 American broadcaster, television/radio executive, and real estate developer (owner of the Sorensen Media Group, the parent company of ABC affiliate KTGM and Fox affiliate KEQI-LP Tamuning, Guam) [74]
March 16 Larry DiTillio 79 American TV writer (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Beast Wars: Transformers, Babylon 5) [75]
Richard Erdman 93 American actor (recurring roles on Community, Where's Raymond, The Tab Hunter Show, and Saints and Sinners) [76]
Tom Hatten 92 Host of The Popeye Show and Family Film Festival on KTLA/Los Angeles [77]
March 17 Dick Dale 81 American musician, whose pioneering surf music sound was used in numerous television programs, most notably his signature songs "Pipeline" and "Misirlou"; TV credits include The Ed Sullivan Show [78]
Norman Hollyn 66 TV/film editor (TV work includes episodes of The Equalizer and Wild Palms) [79]
March 20 Jacqueline Rossetti 65 Radio/television personality, broadcaster, and programmer in the Honolulu market (known on air as "Honolulu Skylark"), notably as co-host/emcee for The Merrie Monarch Festival broadcasts and co-founder/host of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, both during its broadcast tenure on KITV. [80]
Eunetta T. Boone 63 American television writer and producer (One on One, Raven's Home, The Hughleys, Cuts, The Parent 'Hood, My Wife and Kids, Lush Life, Living Single) [81]
March 21 Chris Corley 55 American voice-over artist on MLB Network and numerous TV stations [82]
March 23 Denise DuBarry 63 American actress and producer. Founder and president of Palm Springs Women in Film and Television, and creator of The Broken Glass Awards (Credits include Baa Baa Black Sheep, Days of Our Lives, CHiPs and The Love Boat) [83]
Larry Cohen 77 American director, producer, and writer (creator of Branded, Blue Light, Coronet Blue, Griff, and The Invaders) [84]
March 24 Joseph Pilato 70 Actor (recurring roles on Big Bad Beetleborgs and Digimon) [85]
Nancy Gates 93 American film/television actress (Studio 57, The Millionaire, 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, Tales of Wells Fargo, Wagon Train, Perry Mason, Burke's Law, and The Mod Squad) [86]
March 26 Yoji Harada 46 Japanese tattoo artist and reality show personality (Miami Ink) [87]
March 31 Ermias Asghedom 33 Eritrean American rapper, remixer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and actor, known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle (appeared in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) [88]

April

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
April 1 Ron Sweed 70 Nationally syndicated horror host (known as "The Ghoul," an evolution/recasting of the earlier Ghoulardi character) [89]
April 9 Charles Van Doren 93 Author whose fraudulent winning streak on the scripted game show Twenty One was a defining moment in the 1950s quiz show scandals and the subject of the film Quiz Show in which he was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes; also appeared on and wrote for Wide Wide World and The Today Show [90]
April 12 Georgia Engel 70 Character actress best known as Georgette Franklin (Baxter) on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Also starred in Jennifer Slept Here and Goodtime Girls and was the voice of the Snuggle Bear in the Snuggle commercials. [91]
April 17 Chet Coppock 70 Sports anchor/sports director at Chicago stations WSNS-TV, WMAQ-TV, WISH-TV, and WFLD [92]
April 20 Jacqueline Saburido 40 Venezuelan activist and burn survivor who campaigned against drunk driving, after a car crash (while visiting Texas in 1999) that left her with burns on 60% of her body and became the face of an anti-drunk driving campaign (appeared twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show and featured in a Discovery Health documentary on face transplants) [93]
April 21 Steve Golin 64 Oscar and Golden Globe-winning producer, founder of Propaganda Films and Anonymous Content (Executive producer and co-creator of True Detective, Mr. Robot, Catch-22, 13 Reasons Why and The Alienist) [94]
Ken Kercheval 83 American actor, best known for his role as Cliff Barnes on Dallas and its 2012 revival, as well as daytime roles on Search for Tomorrow (as Dr. Nick Hunter #1), The Secret Storm and How to Survive a Marriage [95]
April 23 Jim Dunbar 89 Host of AM San Francisco on KGO-TV, who received several calls from a man claiming to be the Zodiac Killer during an episode in 1969. [96]
April 29 Tom Ellis 86 News anchor at Boston stations WBZ-TV, WHDH, WCVB-TV, and New England Cable News [97]
John Singleton 51 Director, screenwriter and producer (TV work includes Rebel and Snowfall) [98]
Doug Adair 89 News anchor at Cleveland, Ohio stations WJW and WKYC; and Columbus, Ohio station WCMH-TV [99]
April 30 Peter Mayhew 74 English-born American actor, stuntman, author, and businessman, who portrayed Chewbacca in the Star Wars film and television series, as well as appearing as the character on Donny & Marie, Star Wars Holiday Special, The Muppet Show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Glee [100]

May

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
May 2 Chris Reccardi 54 Animator (The Ren & Stimpy Show, Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls) [101]
May 5 Barbara Perry 97 Actress (The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Hathaways, The Donna Reed Show, My Three Sons) [102]
May 6 Kip Niven 73 Actor (Alice, The Waltons, Blind Ambition, Once an Eagle, Emergency!) [103]
May 8 Jim Fowler 87 Zoologist and host of Wild Kingdom [104]
May 9 Allene Roberts 90 Character actress (Adventures of Superman, Dragnet, The Public Defender) [105]
May 11 Pua Magasiva 38 New Zealand actor (Power Rangers Ninja Storm, Power Rangers Dino Thunder, and Shortland Street) [106]
Peggy Lipton 72 American actress/singer, best known for playing Julie Barnes in The Mod Squad, Norma Jenkins in Twin Peaks, Hadley Larson in Angel Falls, Kelly Foster in Popular, Olivia Reed in Alias, and Susie in Crash. [107]
Harold Lederman 79 Boxing judge and analyst on HBO World Championship Boxing [108]
May 12 Elsa Patton 84 Reality television personality (The Real Housewives of Miami, Havana Elsa) [109]
May 13 Doris Day 97 American actress, singer, and activist, who played Doris Martin in the self-titled The Doris Day Show; other appearances include Doris Day's Best Friends as well as numerous specials and occasional promos for MeTV. [110][111]
[112]
May 14 Tim Conway 85 Actor best known as Ensign Charles Parker on McHale's Navy and several guest spots (and later a regular) on The Carol Burnett Show. Also recurring roles on SpongeBob SquarePants, Dragons: Riders of Berk, Yes, Dear, Rango, and several versions of The Tim Conway Show. [113]
Grumpy Cat 7 Cat best known as the basis for the Internet meme "Grumpy Cat" (portrayed itself in the TV film Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever in addition to several guest appearances) [114]
May 16 Steve Duemig 64 American golfer and host on The Golf Channel [115]
Ashley Massaro 39 Wrestler (WWE). Also appeared on Survivor: China, guest spots on Smallville and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the music videos "Throw It on Me" by Timbaland and "Hell Yeah" by Rev Theory. [116]
May 20 Ronnie Virgets 77 Reporter on New Orleans stations WDSU and WWL-TV [117]
May 22 Dick Ellis 69 Journalist at Austin, Texas stations KVUE and KTBC [118]
May 26 Bart Starr 85 Pro Football Hall of Famer and both quarterback (1956–71) and head coach (1975-83) of the Green Bay Packers (Appearance in the first and second Super Bowl Championships with the Packers, a contributor and commentator for NFL broadcasts including NFL Network films and specials, and host of his weekly review show during his coaching tenure) [119]
May 30 Leon Redbone 69 Cypress-born Canadian/American jazz/folk singer (Notable for his two appearances on Saturday Night Live in the first season and frequent guest spots on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, performed the theme songs for Mr. Belvedere and Harry and the Hendersons, a regular role on Between the Lions, guest starred in Life Goes On, commercial work for All detergent, Budweiser, Chevrolet and Ken-L Ration) [120]

June

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
June 1 Brian Taggert 81 American screenwriter (V: The Final Battle and original 1984–85 series, Adam-12 and Emergency!) [121]
June 2 Alistair Browning 65 New Zealand actor (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess and several entries in the Power Rangers series)
June 3 Todd Tongen 56 Longtime news anchor/reporter at WPLG in Miami, Florida [122]
June 4 Bob Welti 94 Longtime weathercaster at KSL-TV in Salt Lake City [123]
June 6 John Rebbenack 77 Musician best known by the stage name "Dr. John" (performed theme song to Blossom and appeared on SCTV) [124]
June 11 Linda Giannecchini 70 Executive, Governor, committee member, and trustee with the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (a recipient of two Emmys, a Governors' Award, a NATAS service medallion, and an induction to the Silver Circle), whose credentials includes producer, director, line producer, production coordinator, closed captioner and event planner. [125]
June 15 Franco Zeffirelli 96 Italian film/stage/television director, producer, and politician (Jesus of Nazareth) [126]
June 17 Gloria Vanderbilt 95 Artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress and socialite. TV work includes guest spots on The Love Boat, Person to Person, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live! with Kelly and Michael, and CBS News Sunday Morning. Mother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. [127]
June 19 Peter Allan Fields 84 American television writer (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) [128]
June 21 Avelino Muñoz Stevenson 62 Puerto Rican sports journalist and father of Jowell. Worked for television stations WIPR-TV, WKAQ-TV, WSJN-TV, and WLII. Also founder of the Cabecitas Rapadas foundation. [129]
Jim Taricani 69 American investigative journalist (WJAR/Providence, Rhode Island) [130]
June 22 Judith Krantz 91 American journalist and novelist, whose adaptations of her best sellers Scruples, Princess Daisy, Mistral's Daughter, I'll Take Manhattan, Till We Met Again, Dazzle, and her made for TV original production Judith Krantz's "Secrets" became popular miniseries, and producer/writer on original TV movie Torch Song. [131]
June 23 Stephanie Niznik 52 Actress best known for her role as Nina Feeney on Everwood. [132]
June 24 Billy Drago 73 Actor (TV roles include Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, Walker Texas Ranger, Trapper John, M.D., The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and The X-Files). [133]
June 25 Russ Ewing 95 American journalist at Chicago stations WLS-TV and WMAQ-TV [134]
June 26 Beth Chapman 51 American bounty hunter and reality show personality (Dog the Bounty Hunter, Dog and Beth: On the Hunt, and Dog's Most Wanted). Wife of Duane "Dog" Chapman. [135]
Max Wright 75 Actor best known as Willie Tanner on ALF, Max Denby on The Norm Show, Dick Stetmeyer on Misfits of Science, and Karl Shub on Buffalo Bill [136]

July

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
July 2 Lee Iacocca 94 Automotive executive who appeared in commercials for Chrysler and for Olivio margarine [137]
July 3 Arte Johnson 90 Actor/comedian best known for his Emmy-winning role on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Also recurring roles on Don't Call Me Charlie!, Sally, It's Always Jan, and Glitter, and voice work on Animaniacs, The Smurfs, The Flintstone Kids, Yo Yogi!, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, The Dukes, Baggy Pants and the Nitwits (which he voiced his Laugh-In character Tyrone Horniegh), and The Houndcats [138]
June Bacon-Bercey American meteorologist, who was also a contestant and winner on The $128,000 Question [139]
July 6 Cameron Boyce 20 Actor; best known as Luke Ross in Jessie, Conor in Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything, the voice of Jake in Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Carlos in the Descendants telefilm franchise. Other roles include guest appearances in Bunk'd, Liv and Maddie, Code Black, General Hospital: Night Shift and Paradise City, and voice roles in Ultimate Spider-Man and Spider-Man. [140]
July 7 Bob Fouts 97 Sports reporter on San Francisco stations KPIX-TV and KGO-TV. Father of NFL on CBS announcer Dan Fouts. [141]
July 9 Ross Perot 89 Politician and businessman who appeared as the independent candidate in the 1992 presidential debates. [142]
Rip Torn 88 Actor best known for his Emmy-winning role as Artie on The Larry Sanders Show. Also narrator of Ghost Stories and a recurring role on 30 Rock. [143]
July 10 Denise Nickerson 62 American child actress/singer; TV roles included Amy Jennings and Nora Collins on Dark Shadows, Allison (a member of the Short Circus) on The Electric Company, and a young version of Liza Walton Kaslo Sentell Kendall on Search for Tomorrow. Other roles include Wonderful World of Disney ("Child of Glass"), If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?, The Man Who Could Talk to Kids, Flipper, and The Brady Bunch. Best known for playing Violet Beauregard in the frequently-televised film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory [144]
Jim Bouton 80 Professional baseball player, author, entrepreneur and sports anchor at New York City stations WCBS-TV and WABC-TV. His 1970 tell-all book, Ball Four, became the basis of a short-lived 1976 sitcom in which he starred as a fictionalized version of himself. [145]
July 13[a] Charles Levin 70 Actor (recurring roles on NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, Capital News, Karen's Song, Hill Street Blues, Punky Brewster, and Alice) [146]
July 14 Ernie Mims 86 Host of Cap'n Ernie's Show Boat on WOC/Davenport, Iowa [147]
July 18 Ben Kinchlow 82 Author, minister and televangelist, co-host of The 700 Club [148]
David Hedison 92 American film/television actor, known for his role as Captain Lee Crane in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Victor Sebastian in Five Fingers, and daytime roles in Another World and The Young and the Restless among his numerous credits, including The Saint, alongside his best friend and Live and Let Die co-star Roger Moore (as James Bond's CIA agent friend Felix Leiter in the first of his two appearances in the 007 film series) [149][150]
July 19 Fred Griffith 90 Television personality, host of The Morning Exchange on WEWS-TV/Cleveland, Ohio [151]
Bob Losure 72 American television journalist, worked as an anchor for KOTV in Tulsa and CNN Headline News [152]
July 23 Jeff Maynor 75 American television journalist, worked for WKYC, WEWS-TV and WJW in Cleveland [153]
Gabe Khouth 46 Canadian television, film, and voice actor, best known for playing Sneezy/Tom Clark in Once Upon a Time [154]
July 25 Scott Rubenstein 71 American television writer/story editor best known for writing episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Welcome Back, Kotter, MacGyver, 9 to 5, Night Court, Hunter, Cagney and Lacey, and Diff'rent Strokes = [155]
July 26 Russi Taylor 75 Voice actress best known for providing the voice of Minnie Mouse; also voice of Huey, Dewey and Louie on DuckTales; various roles on The Simpsons [156]
July 31 O. Leonard Press 97 Instructional television producer; founder and first executive director of the Kentucky Educational Television network [157]

August

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
August 1 Harley Race 76 American wrestler (eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion) and manager, and one of six men to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, the NWA Hall of Fame, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in the same year (2004). [158]
August 4 Stu Rosen 80 American voice director and actor (Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling, The Legend of Prince Valiant, Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series; creator of Dusty's Treehouse) [159]
August 9 Ivy Anderson 22 American television journalist at WHNT-TV/Huntsville, Alabama [160]
August 12 Jim Marsh 73 American basketball player (Portland Trail Blazers) and color commentator (Seattle SuperSonics) [161]
August 16 Peter Fonda 79 American actor, producer, and activist. Son of Henry Fonda and younger brother of Jane Fonda. (TV work includes Naked City, The New Breed, Wagon Train, The Defenders, Channing, Arrest and Trial, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, 12 O'Clock High, and In the Heat of the Night and the TV movies Certain Honorable Men, A Reason to Live, Capital City, The Tempest, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, and Journey to the Center of the Earth) [162]
Nancy Parker 53 American television journalist at WVUE-DT/New Orleans, WAFB/Baton Rouge, and WSFA/Montgomery [163]
Richard Williams 86 Canadian-British animator (U.S. TV work includes the 1971 version of A Christmas Carol and Ziggy's Gift) [164]
August 18 Jack Whitaker 95 American sportscaster (CBS, ABC), host of The NFL Today [165]
August 19 Jack Perkins 85 American reporter (WEDU/Tampa, KNBC/Los Angeles, WTCI/Chattanooga) and television host (The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Biography) [166]
August 27 Jessi Combs 36 American racer and television host (Xtreme 4x4; guest spots on Overhaulin', MythBusters, The List: 1001 Car Things To Do Before You Die, All Girls Garage, and How to Build... Everything) [167]
August 30 Valerie Harper 80 American actress, starred as the title characters in Valerie and Rhoda (Rhoda Morgenstern in the latter, a role she originated on The Mary Tyler Moore Show) [168]
Gordon Bressack 68 American television writer (Pinky and the Brain, Animaniacs, Bionic Six) [169]
Lee Van Ameyde 66 News anchor at WZZM/Grand Rapids, Michigan and news director at WEYI-TV/Flint, Michigan [170]

September

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
September 3 Carol Lynley 77 Actress (recurring role on Fantasy Island and guest spots on several shows) [171]
September 5 Bill Harris 75 American film critic (At the Movies) and journalist (Entertainment Tonight) [172]
Chris March 56 American fashion and costume designer (Project Runway) [173]
September 7 Robert Axelrod 70 Actor best known as the voice of Lord Zedd and Finster on Power Rangers [174]
September 9 Fred McLeod 67 American sportscaster for Detroit stations WJBK and WDIV-TV, and play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Lions, and Detroit Pistons [175]
September 13 Eddie Money 70 American singer/songwriter, actor, and reality television personality (his family and his battle with stage 4 esophageal cancer was the basis for the series Real Money; appeared as himself on The King of Queens, as well as "fictionalized" versions in both The Drew Carey Show and The Kominsky Method; music work for Hardball, commercial work for GEICO, musical appearance as guest VJ on MTV, Solid Gold, The Midnight Special, and American Bandstand. Performed the theme song of Quack Pack. His music video for his 1986 hit "Take Me Home Tonight" with Ronnie Spector was a staple on music video outlets) [176][177]
[178]
September 15 Phyllis Newman 86 Actress and singer (TV work includes recurring roles on Thirtysomething, One Life to Live, and Coming of Age; guest spots on That Was The Week That Was, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Burke's Law, ABC Stage 67, Murder, She Wrote, The Wild Wild West, Decoy, and Diagnosis: Unknown; panelist on What's My Line?, Match Game, and To Tell the Truth; and frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) [179]
Ric Ocasek 75 American singer/songwriter, music producer, painter, and poetry writer, best known as the lead singer and founder of The Cars (numerous appearances on The Colbert Report; featured in memorable music videos during his tenure with The Cars included "Shake It Up," "Magic," and "You Might Think," the latter which won the first MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year at the 1984 inaugural event) [180]
September 16 Sander Vanocur 91 American journalist, reporter, and presenter (White House correspondent and national political correspondent for NBC News, including host of First Tuesday and was the last person to interview Robert F. Kennedy during the 1968 United States presidential election just one day before he was assassinated; Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Senior Correspondent in Buenos Aires, and anchor for Business World at ABC News; played himself in Without Warning, and hosted History Channel's Movies in Time and History's Business) [181]
September 17 Cokie Roberts 75 Longtime political commentator and journalist for ABC News [182]
Suzanne Whang 56 American comedian, actress and host (hosted House Hunters from 1999 to 2007, recurring roles on Las Vegas and General Hospital) [183]
September 18 Ed Hopkins 68 American voice-over artist on numerous TV stations [184]
September 21 Aron Eisenberg 50 American actor best known for portraying Nog on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Also recurred as Jerry on The Secret World of Alex Mack. [185]
Sid Haig 80 American character actor, main antagonist of Jason of Star Command; guest/recurring roles on Batman, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Rockford Files, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Get Smart, Fantasy Island, Sledge Hammer!, The A-Team, All My Children, The Fall Guy, The Dukes of Hazzard, Just the Ten of Us, and MacGyver [186]
Carl Ruiz 44 American chef and restaurateur (featured on Guy's Grocery Games and Guy's Ranch Kitchen, and a judge on Dinner: Impossible) [187]
September 22 J. Michael Mendel 54 American television producer (The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, The Critic), four-time Emmy Award winner (1995, 1997, 1998, 2018). [188]
September 27 Linda Porter 86 American character actress, notable for her recurring roles as Mrytle Vartanian in Superstore and the Lady Slot-Addict in Twin Peaks, as well as the sample lady in a series of Nature Valley Cereal commercials. [189]
September 28 Hogan Sheffer 61 American television writer (The Young and the Restless, As the World Turns, Days of Our Lives). [190]
September 30 Wayne Fitzgerald 89 American title designer (The Bronx Zoo, Maverick, Mister Ed, The Beverly Hillbillies, Night Gallery, McMillan & Wife, Dallas, Matlock, Columbo, Guiding Light, The Bold and the Beautiful, and One Life to Live). Emmy winner (1987). [191]

October

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
October 2 Alan Zaslove 91 Animation director and producer (Darkwing Duck, Aladdin, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers and several others) [192]
October 3 Lewis Dauber 70 Character actor (guest spots on Who's the Boss?, Diagnosis: Murder, Melrose Place, NYPD Blue, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Bernie Mac Show, and The League). [193]
October 4 Diahann Carroll 84 Actress/Singer, best known for her groundbreaking role as Julia Baker in Julia, Dominique Deveraux in both Dynasty and The Colbys; regular roles in The Court, Soul Food and host of her self-titled variety series; recurring regular on The Garry Moore Show, White Collar, Grey's Anatomy, and A Different World; TV movie roles in Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle, Jackie's Back and Murder in Black and White; miniseries work in Lonesome Dove: The Series and Sally Hemings: An American Scandal [194]
James Schmerer 81 Television writer (CHiPs, MacGyver) and producer (The High Chaparral, Chase) [195]
October 6 Rip Taylor 88 Actor and comedian, host of The $1.98 Beauty Show; regular role as Stanley McCloud on Down to Earth and recurring role on Sigmund and the Sea Monsters; frequent appearances on Hollywood Squares, Super Password, The New Battlestars, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and The Mike Douglas Show; voice work on The Emperor's New School, The Addams Family, and Popeye and Son [196]
Karen Pendleton 73 American child actress/singer and disability rights advocate. Original member of The Mickey Mouse Club. [197]
October 7 Wendy Chioji 57 News anchor and reporter at WESH in Orlando [198]
October 8 Ryan Nicholson 47 Canadian makeup artist (The X-Files, The Outer Limits, Stargate and Andromeda) [199]
October 11 Robert Forster 78 American actor, (guest star on Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, appeared in 2017 remake of Twin Peaks, played Bud Baxter on Last Man Standing) [200]
Sam Bobrick 87 American television writer best known as the creator of Good Morning, Miss Bliss (the predecessor of Saved by the Bell). Also wrote for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Get Smart, Captain Kangaroo, The Flintstones, and Bewitched. [201]
October 12 Emilio Nicolas, Sr. 88 Mexican-American television station owner (KWEX-TV) [202]
October 13 Joseph Rice 62 American dancer (American Bandstand) and entertainment agent/manager [203]
October 17 Elijah Cummings 68 American politician and the member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland's 7th congressional district, civil rights activist/historian, columnist, and frequent guest on numerous news and talk programs [204][205]
Bill Macy 97 Actor best known for playing Walter Findlay on Maude [206]
October 22 Al Burton 91 American television producer (The Jeffersons, Diff'rent Strokes, One Day At A Time, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Charles in Charge, The New Lassie, Win Ben Stein's Money, Hollywood A Go Go and Romp!!!) [207]
October 26 Mike Sands 34 American sports anchor (WABG-TV/Greenwood, Mississippi and WDBD/Jackson, Mississippi) [208]
October 29 John Witherspoon 77 Actor (The Wayans Bros., The Boondocks, The Tracy Morgan Show, Townsend Television, Black Jesus, and The First Family) [209]
October 30 Bernard Slade 89 Canadian-born American film/television/stage screenwriter, director, and producer. Creator of The Partridge Family, The Girl With Something Extra, Love on a Rooftop, Bridget Loves Bernie and The Flying Nun; story editor on Bewitched [210]

November

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
November 1 Rudy Boesch 91 Retired Navy SEAL and reality show contestant (placed third on the inaugural season of Survivor and reappeared on Survivor All-Stars, hosted Combat Missions and one week of Modern Marvels and made a guest appearance on JAG) [211]
November 2 Walter Mercado 87 Puerto Rican-born astrologer. Appeared on Primer Impacto and made a guest appearance on Sábado Gigante. [212]
Brian Tarantina 60 American actor (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, City by the Sea, Gilmore Girls, One Life to Live) [213]
November 5 Laurel Griggs 13 Child actress (TV appearances include guest spots on Saturday Night Live, Louie and Bubble Guppies) [214]
November 6 Tazeen Ahmad 48 British foreign correspondent for NBC News [215]
November 8 Robert "Bob" Norris 90 American rancher and philanthropist, who was an early "Marlboro Man" featured in the Phillip Morris-brand cigarette commercials and print ads during the 1960s, despite the fact he was a non-smoker. [216]
November 10 Maria Perego 95 Italian animation artist who created the character Topo Gigio (in 1959 with her husband Federico Caldura), who became famous during its appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show from 1963 to 1971, and on numerous television shows in the United States and Puerto Rico. [217]
Rick Ludwin 71 American television executive (NBC). Advocated against the cancellation of Seinfeld during its first season and worked on several versions of The Tonight Show; Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Saturday Night Live. [218]
November 13 Arthur Marks 92 Producer and director (Perry Mason) [219]
November 20 John Mann 57 Canadian musician (Spirit of the West) and actor (guest spots on Millennium, Dark Angel, Haunted, Blood Ties, Stargate SG-1, Battlestar Galactica, and Smallville) [220]
November 21 Michael J. Pollard 80 Actor (recurring roles on Toxic Crusaders and Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills and guest spots on numerous shows) [221]
November 24 Ed Dague 76 Longtime news anchor at WRGB and WNYT in Albany [222]
Gregg Mace 65 Longtime sports reporter/anchor/director at WHTM-TV in Harrisburg [223]
November 25 Frank Biondi 74 American businessman, CEO of HBO (1983), Viacom (1987–1996) and Universal Studios (1996–1998) [224]

December

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
December 1 Shelley Morrison 83 American character actress, best known for her roles as Sister Sixto on The Flying Nun, Rosario Consuelo Yolanda Salazar on Will & Grace, and a recurring role on General Hospital [225]
Lil Bub 8 American cat and Internet celebrity (appearances on Good Morning America, Today and The View) [226]
December 2 D. C. Fontana 80 American television writer (Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Streets of San Francisco, The Waltons, Logan's Run, Dallas, Babylon 5, The Six Million Dollar Man, Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys, Ghost Story, Lancer, The High Chaparral, Bonanza, The Tall Man) [227]
December 4 Don Chiodo 54 American sportscaster at Michigan stations WNEM-TV (Flint/Tri-Cities) and WPBN/WTOM (Traverse City/Cheboygan) [228][229]
Leonard Goldberg 85 Network executive (ABC, CBS) and producer (Brian's Song, Charlie's Angels, Something About Amelia, Blue Bloods, Hart to Hart, Starsky & Hutch, Fantasy Island, and Family) [230]
December 5 Robert Walker 79 Character actor (guest spots on Dallas, Beulah Land, The Six Million Dollar Man, and numerous other shows) [231]
December 6 Ron Leibman 82 Emmy Award-winning American actor, producer, director, and writer (creator and star of Kaz; regular roles in Pacific Station, Central Park West, and Holding the Baby; recurring roles on Friends and The Sopranos; voice work on Archer; daytime role as Johnny on The Edge of Night) [232]
December 7 Denise D'Ascenzo 61 11-time Emmy Award-winning anchorwoman at WFSB/Hartford [233]
December 8 René Auberjonois 79 American actor and singer, best known as Clayton Endicott III on Benson, the Changeling Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Paul Lewiston on Boston Legal. [234]
Caroll Spinney 85 American actor, cartoonist, author, and puppeteer who performed Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and several other characters on Sesame Street and numerous Muppets-related shows and specials for nearly 50 years. [235]
Juice WRLD 21 Rapper and actor. Made guest appearances in Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
December 9 Nina Russell 89 American television writer and actress. Wife of Paul Winchell, she wrote and performed in Winchell-Mahoney Time (1965–1968), and, prior to that, KABC-TV's The Paul Winchell Show (1963-1964) [236][237][238][239]
December 10 Philip McKeon 55 American actor best known as Tommy Hyatt on Alice [240]
December 11 Chris Cotton 32 American comedian (Diwal'oween, Gotham Comedy Live, Carpool Rules, Every Damn Day) [241]
December 12 Danny Aiello 86 American actor (recurring roles on Dellaventura, The Last Don, Lady Blue and The Andros Targets) [242]
December 14 Chuy Bravo 63 Mexican-born American actor, best known as the co-hosting sidekick on Chelsea Lately and its reality-based spin-off After Lately [243]
December 21 Joseph Segel 88 American direct marketer and founder of QVC [244]
December 24 Edward Aschoff 34 College football reporter for ESPN [245]
Allee Willis 72 Songwriter who wrote "I'll Be There for You" for The Rembrandts, which became the theme song to Friends [246]
Andrew Dunbar Northern Irish stuntman and actor (Game of Thrones, Line of Duty, Derry Girls) [247]
December 25 Lee Mendelson 86 Producer notable for his collaborations with Bill Melendez, including many of the Peanuts television specials [248]
December 26 Jerry Herman 88 Composer (television credits include Mrs. Santa Claus) [249]
December 27 Don Imus 79 American broadcaster (host of the long-running radio program Imus in the Morning, which was simulcast on TV from 1996 to 2015) [250]
Sue Lyon 73 American film/television actress (credits include Letter to Loretta, Love, American Style, and Fantasy Island) [251]
Jack Sheldon 88 American singer, trumpeter, and comic actor (starred in Run, Buddy, Run; served as sidekick on The Merv Griffin Show; sang several songs on Schoolhouse Rock including favorites "Conjunction Junction" and "I'm Just a Bill") [252]
December 28 Carley Ann McCord 30 American sports reporter (WDSU/New Orleans and Cox Sports Television) [253]
Bill Smith and Joe Smith 32 British reality show contestants (My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding) [254][255]
Fred Graham 88 American legal correspondent (CBS News) and television anchor (Court TV). Peabody Award winner (1974). [256]
December 29 Allen Stroud 31 American news reporter (WAFF/Huntsville) [257]

See also

Notes

References

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