NFL
By: Greg Rector
Here are the rest of those we lost in 2024 in television.
July 2024
James B Sikking- Actor
Sikking became well-known, playing the SWAT leader on Hill Street Blues. He was as fantastic as Howard Hunter as you watched him. Then his fame grew even more as he played Doogie Howser, MD’s father. Sikking was 90 when he passed away.
Richard Simmons- Fitness Fanatic/ Media Personality
Simmons was known as this quirky guy who became a household name in the 1980s. He passed away at 76, one day after his birthday.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer– Sex Therapist/ Media Personality
Yes, folks, the 1980s saw the rise of media personalities who would become famous when they had their own TV shows. Dr.Ruth gave millions of people advice on sexuality and certainly saved millions of lives when she had people wear condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS.
Shannon Doherty – Actress
Whether you liked her or not, Doherty was a teen star and was the daughter of Beverly Hills 90210. As an adult, she starred in Charmed. She suffered through several bouts of breast cancer and passed away at the age of 53.
Bob Newhart– Comedian/Actor
No one who passed in 2024 on television can compare to Newhart. Newhart was the star of The Bob Newhart Show, and then for Newhart, For someone my age, his time on the Bob Newhart Show was so special. Suzanne Pleshette played his wife, and he dealt with many lunatics as a psychologist. His later show featured Newhart as the owner of an inn in Vermont and was just as funny dealing with Larry Darryl and his brother Darryl. How they ended the show with Bob Newhart waking up beside Suzanne Pleshette was such a classic moment in TV history.
Newhart was also a lifelong friend of Don Rickles, and they traveled the world with their wives. So many people thought seeing the loud-mouthed Rickles traveling around the world alongside the far more sedate Newhart was funny. He passed away at the age of 94.
August 2024
Patti Yasutake– Actress
Sadly, Yasutake, best known for her time on Star Trek: The Next Generation, passed away at 70. Later in her career, she played the domineering mother on Beef.
Peter Marshall– Actor/Game Show Host
From 1966 until 1981, Marshall presided over The Hollywood Squares. Dealing with the lunacy of Paul Lynde and many other celebrities who occupied the squares. He also starred in CHIPS and The Love Boat. He passed away at the age of 98.
John Amos– Actor
Amos first rose to prominence as the dad on Good Times, starring JJ Walker. He then portrayed Kinta Kunta in the original Roots series. The younger folks might remember him better as the dad whose Eddie Murphy’s character falls in love with in the film Coming To America. I will never forget John Amos for his portrayal of Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing. He passed away at the age of 84.
Phil Donahue– Talk Show Host
Before Oprah, Geraldo, and the rest of the daytime TV talk show hosts, Phil Donahue was the star of that genre. Donahue was an unabashed liberal who blasted right-wing folks. His guest list is far too numerous to name here. He married Marlo Thomas after she appeared on his show, and you can see the two of them falling in love in their first meeting.
That was always a great story to see in this day and age. Donahue passed away at the age of 88. He won nine daytime Emmy awards.
September 2024
James Darren– Actor Singer
Darren was first known for his role in the Gidget movies in the late 1950s and early 60s. He then had a number three hit with “Goodbye Cruel World” in 1961. He went from the film genre to television. He was on TJ Hooker with William Shatner. For Star Trek fans, though, he was also the holographic singer Vic Fontaine on Deep Space Nine. His first child is entertainment reporter Jim Moret. He passed away at the age of 88. Seeing Darren perform in Las Vegas was always a treat, especially if you are my age.
Drake Hogestyn – Actor
Hogestyn starred on Days of Our Lives and portrayed John Black for over 4.200 episodes. Millions of fans watched his love affair with Deidre Hall’s Dr Marlena Evans. Hogestyn died at the age of 70 after dealing with pancreatic cancer. He never stopped working until his health made the job impossible to do.
Frank Fitz- Reality TV Star
Fitz starred as one of the pickers on American Pickers, appearing in over 300 show episodes on The History Channel. He was 60 years old.
November 2024
Chuck Woolery – Game Show Host
Woolery was the first host on Wheel of Fortune before it moved to primetime. He then hosted Love Connection and the game show Scrabble.
Helen Gallagher – Actress
Ryan’s Hope star who portrayed Maeve Ryan from 1975 until 1989. Her career started in 1944, and she passed away at 98.
Earl Holliman– Actor
Holliman was a film actor who starred with John Wayne in The Sons of Katie Elder. However, his most famous role was that of Bill Cowley, working alongside the beautiful Angie Dickinson on Police Woman from 1974 to 1978. Holliman passed away at the age of 98.
Wayne Northrop-Actor
Days of Our Lives lost many actors in 2024. Northrop was Roman Brady, who was married to Dr.Marlena Evans before John Black showed up in Salem. Northrup suffered from Alzheimer’s and died at the age of 77.
December 2024
The Amazing Kreskin- Celebrity Mentalist
If you have ever watched a daytime or late-night TV talk show, The Amazing Kreskin was a constant guest. He would find hidden objects and predict things. He passed away at age 89.
Michael Cole– Actor
Cole played Pete Cochran on The Mod Squad from 1968 until 1973. He passed away at the age of 84.
Those are the stars we lost in 2024. Farewell and Godspeed!!
