In Memoriam: TV Stars Who Died in 2017
While it is sad to think that many of these TV personalities will not be seen in anything new, their legacies have left audiences with much to remember. From shows like Twin Peaks, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Big Love the entertainment world has been brighter because of their contributions.
David Cassidy
1950-2017
Cause of death: Liver failure
David Cassidy starred in hit television series The Partridge Family and became a teen icon.
Jim Nabors
1930-2017
Cause of death: Natural causes
Nabors starred in the popular television series as Gomer Pyle The Andy Griffith Show and was also a professional singer.
Jerry Lewis
1926-2017
Cause of death: Cardiovascular disease
Lewis was a comedian, actor, singer, producer, director, and screenwriter. He was nicknamed the “King of Comedy” and partnered with Dean Martin.
Della Reese
1931-2017
Cause of death: Not known
Reese was best known for her role as Tess on Touched By an Angel. She was also an accomplished gospel singer.
Mychael Knight
1978-2017
Cause of death: Complications from irritable bowl syndrome
Knight was a successful fashion designers who got his break from being on Season 3 of Project Runway.
Hugh Hefner
1926-2017
Cause of death: Natural causes
Hefner started Playboy and was Editor-in-chief of the magazine, which he founded in 1953.
Nelsan Ellis
1977-2017
Cause of death: Complications from heart failure
Ellis was best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO’s True Blood. His family revealed that the actor struggled with years of alcohol and drug abuse.
Sam Shepard
1943-2017
Cause of death: Complications from ALS
Shepard was a playwright, actor, writer, and author. He most recently he played Robert Rayburn on Bloodline.
John Heard
1946-2017
Cause of death: Heart attack
Heard was a TV and film actor . You probably know him as Peter McCallister in Home Alone and he was nominated for an Emmy for his work on The Sopranos.
Harry Dean Stanton
1926-2017
Cause of death: Natural causes
Stanton was an actor and singer. He has roles in movies like Cold Hand Luke, The Godfather, and Alien.
Robert Guillaume
1927-2017
Cause of death: Prostate Cancer
Robert Guillaume starred in groundbreaking television comedies Benson and Soap.
Frank Vincent
1939-2017
Cause of death: Complications related to heart surgery
Vincent was best known for his many roles in mafia movies and television shows, such as Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas and HBO’s The Sopranos.
Jay Thomas
1948-2017
Cause of death: Cancer
An Emmy-Award winning actor, Thomas is best known for his work on sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers.
June Foray
1917-2017
Cause of death: Undisclosed
Foray was a voice actress best known for providing the voices of Rocky and Natasha in The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.
Martin Landau
1928-2017
Cause of death: Organ failure
Oscar winner Landau was well known for his film and television roles, including his run on the original Mission: Impossible TV series.
Adam West
1928-2017
Cause of death: Leukemia
TV’s Batman was known as much for being the caped crusader as he was for being a nice guy around Hollywood.
Roger Moore
1927-2017
Cause of death: Cancer
The British actor portrayed James Bond on the big screen.
Roger Ailes
1940-2017
Cause of death: Subdural hematoma
The embattled former Fox News president was a key figure in the modern American political system.
Powers Booth
1940-2017
Cause of death: Heart attack
The Emmy-winning actor most recently starred on the CMT drama Nashville.
Jonathan Demme
1940-2017
Cause of death: Esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease
Demme was known for his directorial work on the hit films Silence of the Lambs and Married to the Mob. As well as his TV work.
Erin Moran
1960-2017
Cause of death: Cancer
The actress will be remembered as Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days and on its spinoff, Joanie Loves Chachi.
Charlie Murphy
1959-2017
Cause of death: Leukemia
The actor and comedian was best known for his role on the sketch comedy show, Chappelle’s Show, and as a writer on some of his brother Eddie Murphy’s films.
Don Rickles
1926-2017
Cause of death: Liver failure
The ‘Merchant of Mean’ was one of the greatest insult comics to ever live. But by all accounts, he was also one of the nicest.
Bill Paxton
1955-2017
Cause of death: Complications related to surgery
The actor may have been well known for his role in films like Titanic but his role as Bill Henrickson on Big Love was iconic. Paxton passed shortly after filming his final scenes for the CBS show Training Day and appeared in a slew of other TV roles.
Mary Tyler Moore
1936-2017
Moore was best known as the lead character of her self titled show which aired from 1970 to 1977. The actress also had a strong presence on The Dick Van Dyke Show where she starred alongside the man himself. Her most recent credit includes a small role on the show Hot in Cleveland.
Robert Osborne
1932-2017
This TV personality was well known for his profound knowledge of Hollywood and the films that were made there. He hosted many specials on Turner Classic Movies, and appeared on shows like 20/20 and Dateline.
Chuck Barris
1929-2017
Barris was the producer behind some of the most iconic game shows. The most popular among the titles he produced was The Newlywed Game.
Miguel Ferrer
1955-2017
Cause of death: Cancer
This veteran TV star played a regular role on the show Crossing Jordan and was also known for his role in the cult hit Twin Peaks. Ferrer’s time on television hasn’t come to an end yet, he reprized his Twin Peaks character for the show’s revival, set for release later this year.
Neil Fingleton
1980-2017
Cause of death: Heart failure
This young talent had been featured on popular series like Game of Thrones and Doctor Who. Fingleton was reported to stand over seven feet tall.
Barbara Hale
1922-2017
This actress was best known for her role as Della Street on the show Perry Mason. Hale’s other credits include Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
Warren Frost
1925-2017
Cause of death: Illness
Frost’s credits include David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, Matlock, and a recurring role on Seinfeld. He also finished filming his part in the revival of Twin Peaks like fellow actor Miguel Ferrer.
George “The Animal” Steele
1937-2017
Starting out as a professional wrestler, Steele appeared in a slew of wrestling shows and specials. Among the legend’s credits are shows like WWF Challenge and Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Mike Connors
1925-2017
Connors is probably most famous for his part as the title character in the show Mannix which aired from 1967-1975. The actor also had roles in shows like Tightrope and The Love Boat.
Richard Hatch
1945-2017
Cause of death: Pancreatic cancer
This actor appeared in the original and more recent version of the show Battlestar Galactica. Hatch appeared in many popular shows over the years including The Love Boat and Dynasty.
Brenda Buttner
1962-2017
Cause of death: Cancer
The Fox newscaster was best known as the host of Bulls & Bears. Buttner held the position of host since she began on the show in 2006.
Tony Rosato
1954-2017
Rosato who was born in Italy lent his voice to animated shows like The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 as Luigi. He also had a role on the sketch comedy series SCTV with actors like Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin.
Dick Gautier
1931-2017
This established actor had a role on the popular series Get Smart as well as the show Mr. Terrific in the sixties. Gautier also lent his voice to popular animated series’ The Transformers and G.I. Joe.
Frank Pellegrino
1944-2017
Cause of death: Lung cancer
Pellegrino had found his niche with the mobster genre starring in films like Goodfellas. The actor’s best known TV role though, would have to be as Frank Cubitoso on the series The Sopranos.
Alan Colmes
1950-2017
Colmes was a TV personality known for his reporting on shows like Hannity & Colmes and The O’Reilly Factor.
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