In Memoriam: TV Stars We Lost in 2019 (PHOTOS)
Danny Aiello
1933-2019
Cause of Death: Illness
Famous for: The actor known for roles in films such as Do the Right Thing and Moonstruck appeared on TV in such projects as miniseries The Last Don.
Brian Tarantina
1959-2019
Cause of Death:TBD
Famous for: The character actor was best known for his roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Gaslight nightclub promoter Jackie, and Gilmore Girls as Bootsy. He’d also had guest roles in various TV series through the years, including Law & Order, Oz, ER, and Blue Bloods, along recurring roles One Life to Live. Tarantina appeared in movies like Carlito’s Way, Uncle Buck, BlacKkKlansman, and most recently The Kitchen.
John Witherspoon
1942-2019
Cause of Death: Unknown
Famous for: The comedian and actor was known for his work in The Tracy Morgan Show, The Wayans Bros., The Boondocks and more
Bill Macy
1922-2019
Cause of Death: Unknown
Famous for: The actor appeared as Bea Arthur’s husband in the beloved series ‘Maude’ among other titles
Diahann Carroll
1935-2019
Cause of Death: Cancer
Famous for: The iconic actress is best known for making history as the first black woman to lead a primetime network series in Julia, as well as playing the first African-American character in a primetime soap as Dominique Deveraux in Dynasty. More recently, she guest starred on A Different World, Grey’s Anatomy and White Collar.
Linda Porter
1933-2019
Cause of Death: Cancer
Famous for: The actress was best known for her roles on Superstore as Myrtle, as well as on Twin Peaks, Porter had roles on The Mindy Project, American Horror Story and more
Carl Ruiz
1975-2019
Cause of Death: Cardiovascular Disease
Famous for: Food Network star and restaurateur
Suzanne Whang
1962-2019
Cause of Death: Breast Cancer
Famous for: Hosting House Hunters and appearing in General Hospital and Las Vegas
Cokie Roberts
1943-2019
Cause of Death: Breast Cancer
Famous for: Roberts was a legendary ABC News journalist and political commentator. The Emmy winner was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
Eddie Money
1949-2019
Cause of Death: Esophageal Cancer
Famous for: Money was best known for his music including the late ’70s hit “Two Tickets to Paradise.” Most recently he appeared in his own reality show on AXS TV titled Real Money.
Valerie Harper
1939-2019
Cause of Death: Brain cancer
Famous for: Harper was best known as wise-cracking Rhoda on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ its spinoff ‘Rhoda,’ and the sitcom ‘Valerie.’
Rip Torn
1931-2019
Cause of Death: Not yet released
Famous for: Torn was best known for his role as Artie on HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show and Zed in Men in Black, as well as his numerous other TV, movie, and stage roles
Cameron Boyce
1999-2019
Cause of Death: Seizure as a result of an ongoing medical issue
Famous for: The actor was best known for his work in Jessie, Disney’s Descendants films and series, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything and more
Arte Johnson
1929-2019
Cause of Death: Heart failure
Famous for: The actor was best known for his roles in Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Glitter, The Smurfs and more
Max Wright
1943-2019
Cause of Death: Lymphoma
Famous for: He was best known for the TV shows ALF and Norm
Max Wright
1945-2019
Cause of Death: Complications from a stroke
Famous for: His role in the film The Untouchables, Charmed and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Beth Chapman
1967-2019
Cause of Death: Throat cancer
Famous for: Dog the Bounty Hunter and Dog and Beth: On the Hunt
Tim Conway
1933-2019
Cause of Death: Water on the brain
Famous for:The Carol Burnett Show, McHale’s Navy, The Tim Conway Show and more
Peggy Lipton
1946-2019
Cause of Death: Cancer
Famous for:Twin Peaks and The Mod Squad. She was also the mother of actress Rashida Jones.
Barbara Perry
1921-2019
Cause of Death: Natural Causes
Famous for:The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Hathaways and more
Ken Kercheval
1935-2019
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Famous for:The actor was best known for his role in the original Dallas in which he also appeared for the revival
Georgia Engel
1948-2019
Cause of Death: Unknown
Famous for: The comedic actress was best known for her roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Betty White Show
Denise DuBarry
1956-2019
Cause of Death: Fungus
Famous for: The actress was best known for her roles in Black Sheep Squadron, CHiPs and Days of Our Lives
Dan Blankenship
1923-2019
Cause of Death: Natural causes
Famous for: History’s The Curse of Oak Island
Dr. Jim Raman
1976-2019
Cause of Death: TBD
Famous for: The denist was a competitor during The Amazing Race‘s 25th season in 2014 alongside wife Misti Raman
Jed Allan
1935-2019
Cause of Death: TBD
Famous for: The Soap veteran was best known for his roles in Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara and Beverly Hills, 90210.
Jan-Michael Vincent
1944-2019
Cause of Death: Cardiac Arrest
Famous for: The actor was best known for his role in the ’80s series Airwolf and The Winds of War as well as films The Mechanic and White Line Fever.
Luke Perry
1966-2019
Cause of Death:Complications from a stroke
Famous for:
Playing Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210 and, most recently, Fred Andrews on Riverdale
Katherine Helmond
1929-2019
Cause of Death: Alzheimer’s Disease
Famous for: The actress was best known for her role as Jessica Tate in the late ’70s soap opera sitcom Soap, as well as for roles in Who’s the Boss?, Coach, and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Vinny Vella
1950-2019
Cause of Death: Cancer
Famous for: The actor is best known for his many mobster roles including Jimmy Petrille in HBO’s The Sopranos as well as parts in films such as Scorsese’s Casino.
Albert Finney
1936-2019
Cause of Death: Chest Infection
Famous for: Apart from appearing in a number of series such as My Uncle Silas and Nostromo, the British actor may be best known for his film roles in movies like Big Fish and Erin Brockovich.
Kristoff St. John
1966-2019
Cause of death: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Famous for: Star on the long-running soap opera Young and the Restless.
Fatima Ali
1989-2019
Cause of death: Bone cancer
Famous for: She was Top Chef‘s Season 15 Fan Favorite winner.
Kevin Barnett
1989-2019
Cause of death: Non-Traumatic Hemorrhage, caused by pancreatitis
Famous for: Comedian, writer and co-creator of Rel on Fox
Carol Channing
1921-2019
Cause of death: Natural causes
Famous for: Her Tony Award-winning role as Dolly Levi in the hit Broadway musical ‘Hello Dolly!’ She also appeared on The Love Boat, Touched by an Angel and Family Guy.
Bob Einstein
1942-2019
Cause of death: Leukemia
Famous for: He’s a two-time Emmy winner and comedian who appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Gene Okerlund
1942-2019
Cause of death: Kidney failure
Famous for: WWE Hall of Famer and iconic professional wrestling interviewer/announcer.
Peter Tork
1942-2019
Cause of death: Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Famous for: Being the bassist of the band The Monkees, featured on the NBC sitcom of the same name from 1966 to 1968
In 2019, we’ve lost a number of our most beloved TV stars.
Though they may be gone, their legacies will live on. Audiences can still enjoy their TV projects, so a little part of them will be celebrated and remembered forever.
Click through the gallery above for all of the small-screen celebs who have left us so far this year.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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