In Memoriam: Remembering the TV stars we lost in 2019

We've said goodbye to comedy legends and heartthrobs.

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In Memoriam | People We Lost in 2019
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As we reach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to reflect upon the beloved television stars that passed away in 2019.

This year, we have had to say goodbye to sitcom scene-stealers, sketch-comedy pioneers, silly stuntmen, animal handlers and heartthrobs. Thankfully, their wonderful work lives on.

Here are some of the losses that hit the TV industry in 2019. Visit our remembrances page to read more obituaries.


Valerie Harper, pioneering star of Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show

 

The sitcom legend passed away at 80. READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Tim Conway, comedy legend of The Carol Burnett Show and McHale's Navy

 

The man who brought us Mr. Tudball and Dorf passed away at 85.

READ MORE

Diahann Carroll, the groundbreaking star of Julia and Dynasty

 

The award-winning actress was 84. READ MORE

Doris Day, legendary singer, movie icon and star of The Doris Day Show

 

The Hollywood legend and animal activist passed away at the age of 97.

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Peter Tork of The Monkees

 

On February 21, Peter Tork passed away at the age of 77.

READ MORE

Image: AP Photo / Ray Howard

Carol Channing, the bubbly Broadway star turned TV darling

 

The boa-loving actress died at the age of 97.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Peggy Lipton, star of The Mod Squad

 

The '60s style icon passed away at the age of 72.

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René Auberjonois of Benson, Star Trek and Boston Legal

 

The Odo actor was 79. READ MORE

Luke Perry, heartthrob star of Beverly Hills, 90210

 

The television actor passed away at 52 after a stroke.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Georgia Engel, the adorable Georgette Franklin Baxter of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

 

The five-time Emmy nominee was 70 years old.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

David Hedison, captain on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and ally of James Bond

 

The actor also starred in the horror classic The Fly. He was 92. READ MORE

Katherine Helmond of Soap, Who's the Boss? and Coach

 

On February 23, Katherine Helmond passed away at the age of 89.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Arte Johnson, the sketch comedy master of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

 

The "Ver-r-r-y Interesting" funnyman passed away at 90. READ MORE

Rip Torn, a scene stealer in everything from The Larry Sanders Show to Columbo

 

The veteran character actor died at 88. READ MORE

Max Wright, who played TV dad Willie Tanner on ALF

 

The '80s sitcom star was 75 years old.

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Image: AP Photo / Nick Ut

Michael J. Pollard, who played both the cousin of Barney Fife and the cousin of Maynard G. Krebs

 

The "Cousin Virgil" actor also inspired the screen name of Michael J. Fox. He was 80 years old. READ MORE

Jan-Michael Vincent of Airwolf and The Banana Splits Adventure Hour

 

The former teen idol of 'Danger Island' was 73 years old.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Kaye Ballard of The Mothers-in-Law

 

The Sixties sitcom star died at the age of 93.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection


Bob Einstein, better known as Super Dave Osborne

 

The older brother of Albert Brooks passed away at 76.

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Image: The Everett Collection

John Witherspoon of Barnaby Jones, The Wayans Bros. and more

 

The Friday actor passed away at 77. READ MORE

Shelley Morrison, Sister Sixto of The Flying Nun and Rosario Salazar of Will & Grace

 

She drew on her Spanish heritage in a career spanning four decades. She was 83. READ MORE

Beverley Owen, the original Marilyn Munster and first Munster ever seen onscreen

 

On February 21, the actor passed away at the age of 81.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Philip McKeon, the child star who played Linda Lavin's son on Alice

 

The older brother of Nancy McKeon was 55. READ MORE

Caroll Spinney, the Muppeteer who performed Big Bird for half a century

 

He also played Oscar the Grouch beginning in 1969. READ MORE

Karen Pendleton, one of the original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers

 

The youngest of the original Mouseketeers was 73. READ MORE

Sid Haig, the horror icon who appeared all over classic television

 

He played a mummy alongside Lucille Ball. READ MORE

Bill Macy of Maude fame and guest star across MeTV

 

He made appearances on Matlock, The Love Boat and more. READ MORE

Jim Fowler, Wild Kingdom host

 

The 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom' star was 89.

READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Carol Lynley, 1950s teen covergirl turned blonde ingénue of the 1960s

 

The Golden Globe winner went from Playboy to The Poseidon Adventure. READ MORE

Joan Staley, co-star of Don Knotts and classic Batman villain

 

The former Playboy Playmate appeared on Perry Mason and 77 Sunset Strip before becoming Bob Barker's agent. READ MORE

Denise Nickerson of Dark Shadows and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

 

The '70s child star also appeared on The Electric Company and The Brady Bunch. READ MORE

Barry Coe, who was briefly the fifth Cartwright on 'Bonanza'

 

The Follow the Sun and Peyton Place actor died at 84. READ MORE

Jack Donner of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible

 

He taught Craig T. Nelson and Don Johnson in his acting school, too. READ MORE

John Clarke of The Twilight Zone and Days of Our Lives

 

The soap opera legend was 88. READ MORE

Jerry Fogel of The Mothers-in-Law and The White Shadow

 

The DJ-turned-actor was 83. READ MORE

William Wintersole of The Young and the Restless, Star Trek and more

 

The television actor was 88. READ MORE

D.C. Fontana, influential writer for Star Trek and the mind behind Vulcan culture

 

The hall of fame screenwriter was 80 years old. READ MORE

Claude Earl Jones, who twice played a deputy to Andy Griffith

 

Jones was in two of Griffith's Abel Marsh pilots in the 1970s. READ MORE

Robert Walker Jr., Charlie from Star Trek's ''Charlie X''

 

The actor, best known for his turn as a teenager with powers on Star Trek, was 79 years old. READ MORE

SEE MORE: METV SALUTES OUR BELOVED STARS.

 

Find more obituaries from the television world. READ MORE

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10 Comments

talmida22 48 months ago
Glad I am a Me tv fan. I MISS the Love Boat Show on Sundays.
Also fan of Andy Griffith shows, as I tried before I can say it is an OASIS on tv shows.
Now a days many shows are about killing, plus more killing, drug using/selling . About sex and crime. When we tune in Me TV is like going back to our OWN Mayberry, when we could talk, eat home made meals with our family. When our mom and dad gave us advice, tuck us in, taught us by example, when we could go fishing to a near by pond or brook. All times have both the positive and negative side, of course, but
we had more positive on those "Mayberry" days of our lives.
Keep on to air them....for older people like me that make us go back to memory lane!!!!! Thanks Me Tv........good job !!!!!!
Jhh 59 months ago
Tim Conway - Oh Lord the Dentist sketch with Harvey Corman,,,I'll be in a box and still laugh:)

Peggy Lipton? I'd drink her tea cold or hot anytime
kb7rky 59 months ago
You folks missed one:

Aron Eisenberg, "Nog" on Star Trek, Deep Space Nine. He was 50 when he passed.
Jhh kb7rky 59 months ago
Big time DS9 fan here
Jayme 59 months ago
RIP.... Rip... Rip... there were only the two Rips... let r Rip...
DawnGraham 59 months ago
Lost a lot of great ones. It is nice that we can still see their work.
Runeshaper 59 months ago
R.I.P to all of these wonderful people and best wishes to their families. Their memories shall live on.
MrsPhilHarris 59 months ago
Rip Torn on Larry Sanders was the best. Loved Shelley Morrison on Will& Grace too.
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