In Memoriam: Remembering the TV stars we lost in 2020
Looking back at the actors, creators, comedians and musicians who made television great.
Images: The Everett Collection
As we reach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to reflect upon the beloved television talent that passed away in 2020.
Over the past 12 months, we have had to say goodbye to sitcom creators, theme-song singers, soap scene-stealers, sci-fi standouts, cowboy character actors, and more. Thankfully, their wonderful work lives on.
Here are some of the losses that hit the TV industry in 2020. Visit our remembrances page to read more obituaries.
Carl Reiner, legendary creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Alex Trebek, the beloved longtime host of Jeopardy!
Robert Conrad, star of The Wild Wild West and Black Sheep Squadron
David Lander, Squiggy from Laverne & Shirley
Lyle Waggoner of The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman
Ja'Net Dubois, singer of The Jeffersons theme song and star of Good Times
Tom Lester, friendly farmhand Eb Dawson of Green Acres
Ken Osmond, who played best buddy Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver
Conchata Ferrell of 'L.A. Law' and 'Two and a Half Men' and much more
Jerry Stiller, who took his comedy from The Ed Sullivan Show to Seinfeld
Kellye Nakahara, who played Nurse Kellye on 10 seasons of M*A*S*H
Edd Byrnes, the hip Kookie of 77 Sunset Strip
Linda Cristal, the Golden Globe-winning star of The High Chaparral
James Drury, star of The Virginian and TV Western icon
Honor Blackman, Sixties spy stunner of Goldfinger and The Avengers
Bill Withers, R&B legend and ''Ain't No Sunshine'' singer
James Lipton, who went from soap operas to host of Inside the Actors Studio
Jack Burns, the man who replaced Barney on The Andy Griffith Show
Diana Rigg, Emma Peel of 'The Avengers' and James Bond's wife
Terry Jones, founding member of Monty Python
Buck Henry of Get Smart and Saturday Night Live fame
Gene Dynarski, who went from Star Trek and Batman henchman to Seinfeld
John Ericson, costar of Ann Francis on Honey West
Richard Herd of T.J. Hooker, Star Trek: Voyager and Seinfeld
Marge Redmond, the friendly Sister Jacqueline on The Flying Nun'
She was also the narrator in the Sally Field sitcom and a Cool Whip spokesperson. She was 95.
Anthony James, actor in Gunsmoke and Return to Witch Mountain
Peggy Pope, TV character actress and Margaret from 9 to 5
She started on Broadway then transitioned to movies and television in a career that spanned more than five decades.
Mary Pat Gleason, comedic talent in everything from Mama’s Family to Mom
Johnny Mandel, Grammy winner and composer of M*A*S*H theme song
He played in jazz bands and studied at Julliard before composing for film and TV.
Image: Associated Press
Danny Goldman, who went from M*A*S*H to voicing Brainy Smurf
Timothy Brown, the NFL star who became a M*A*S*H surgeon
Forrest Compton, who played Col. Edward Gray on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Julie Bennett, Yogi Bear voice actress and Dragnet regular
The voice actress, also heard on Spider-Man: The Animated Series and The Banana Splits, was 88 years old.
David Schramm, airline owner Roy Biggins on Wings
Fred ''Curly'' Neal of the Harlem Globetrotters
Stuart Whitman, star of Cimarron Strip and Highway Patrol
Claudette Nevins, sitcom wife to Andy Griffith, M*A*S*H guest star and JAG regular
Ben Cooper, a familiar face from dozens of TV westerns and the Twilight Zone
Helen Reddy, Seventies pop icon and ''I Am Woman'' singer
The Australian-born singer appeared on Carol Burnett several times and starred in Pete's Dragon.
Paula Kelly, dancer and Night Court star
Orson Bean, voice of The Hobbit and Twilight Zone star
Gene Reynolds, who went from The Little Rascals to co-creator of M*A*S*H
Reynolds was also the man who moved into the Ricardos apartment and directed "Mayberry on Record."
Marj Dusay, soap actress and the alien who stole Spock's brain
Monique van Vooren, Batman and Tarzan villainess
John Karlen, star of Dark Shadows and Cagney & Lacey
Carol Serling, the wife of Rod Serling who made a cameo in Twilight Zone: The Movie
Natalie Trundy, who went from Perry Mason client to Planet of the Apes regular
The actress was married to the Planet of the Apes franchise in more than one way. She was 79.
Martin West, who went from Perry Mason client to Assault on Precinct 13
Warren Berlinger, frequent Happy Days guest star and Joey Bishop Show funnyman
He memorably received a heart transplant on 'Emergency!' and raced in 'The Cannonball Run.'
Abby Dalton, star of The Joey Bishop Show and Falcon Crest
She also appeared in fantastic episodes of The Rifleman, Maverick and Rawhide — not to mention hundreds of game shows.
Norm Crosby, comedian who always knew the wrong words to say
The Amazing Randi, the popular magician who appeared on Happy Days
Tom Kennedy, hard-working game show host of the 1970s and '80s
Mac Davis, singer, actor and variety show host
Kevin Dobson, star of Kojak and Knots Landing
Joe Ruby, co-creator of Scooby-Doo
Lori Nelson, costar of both Barbara Eden and the Creature from the Black Lagoon
Jacqueline Scott, who played both the Fugitive's sister and Festus' love interest
Brandis Kemp, Fridays cast member and onetime Klinger nemesis
Hugh Downs, who once held the record for most hours on network television
Marvyn Roy, the Ed Sullivan Show magician nicknamed ''Mr. Electric''
Mary Hartline, star of classic kids' shows 'Super Circus' and 'Princess Mary's Castle'
216 Comments
Dawn Wells "Mary Ann Summers" on "Gilligan's Island" died Wed. morning Dec. 30, at 82.
Tina Louise (now 86) is the last survivor of the 7 iconic members in "Gilligan's Island" cast.
R.I.P. Dawn Wells, 82 (Oct. 18, 1938 Reno, NV - Dec. 30, 2020 Los Angeles, CA).
Thanks Me TV for doing a wonderful job for your viewers. I am 64, I grew up watching these shows and lots of them I was seeing the first time released for the public. These shows send me to memory lane and that very much makes me feel happy. I appreciate your service with tremendous Gratitude. I watch Me TV more than anything else these days. The shows were clean without all those sexual unwanted one liners and violence kids should never see. Children of today end their Childhoods way to early by knowing things that certainly should wait until their adults. I think kids should stay at home until they finish College. I feel sorry for them. They miss out to much on Family togetherness way to young. I believe most people wish they would of made better choices when they were young. It’s not always the parents fault! I think it’s to much exposure to things they do not need. Advanced technology is not helping either. Kids always want what looks forbidden or to dangerous for their own good. There should laws requiring kids not to have or use smart phones until their at least 18, unless it’s just at school under supervision. Just my opinion!
I do wish everyone a wonderful, safe, and Healthy HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021. LOLOL ☃️❄️🌈☀️🌝✨🌟✨☮️💕❤️🌹🤞Help stop the spread! Please follow protocol and wear that mask please!!!
Batman and BRUCE WAYNE
Adam West
Alfred Pennyworth
Alan Napier
Aunt HARRIET MADGE BLAKE
Commissioner Gordon
Neil HAMILTON
CHIEF O HARA
STAFFORD REEP
BATGIRL
YVONNE CRAIG
Mel Sharples Vic Tayback
Vera Gorman Beth Howland
Carrie Martha Raye
Elliot Novak Charles Levin
Tommy PHILIP MCKEON
HENRY Marvin Kaplan
Andy PAT CRANSHAW
DOUG Doug Robinson
EARL HICKS Dave MADDEN
ARTIE TONY LONGO
Guests
Wendall David Rounds