Sitcoms are not TV shows—home, laughter, and comfort that we can always go back to. And yet, when the stars who provided us with those laughs remove themselves from us too abruptly, the sorrow is so very intimate. These are 10 of the most heartbreaking goodbyes of popular sitcom actors, not only remembered for their characters, but for the laughter they provided us.
10. David Strickland (Suddenly Susan)
David Strickland was great on television as good guy Todd Stiles on Suddenly Susan. Behind the laughter, however, he battled the ravages of bipolar illness. In 1999, he committed suicide at the age of 29. The show later alluded to his suicide in a tearful finale, a moving requiem that saw viewers and co-stars mourning a life too short.
9. Merlin Santana (The Steve Harvey Show)
Best recognized for playing the role of Romeo on The Steve Harvey Show, Merlin Santana was a sultry, hot young actor with charisma that overflowed. Just 26, his life was cut short in a random shooting after a misleading tip in Los Angeles. His premature death left Hollywood raising an eyebrow, ultimately resulting in justice being served for those who callously cut short his life.
8. Bob Saget (Full House)
To most people, America’s dad was Bob Saget in Full House’s Danny Tanner. That is why his sudden death at 65 struck so personally. Found dead in a Florida hotel room after performing a stand-up routine, police reported he had succumbed to merciless head trauma after he fell. Bob Saget’s goodness, sense of humor, and dedication to doing good are still cherished by fans and colleagues alike.
7. Farrah Forke (Wings)
As Wings’ Alex Lambert, Farrah Forke added sassy wit and charm to the show. Off-camera, she engaged in an unseen battle with cancer, dying at age 54 in 2022. Even though she retired from acting decades ago, her high-spirited nature and classic characters left a lasting impression on audiences.
6. James Avery (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
James Avery’s Uncle Phil turned him into a television great dad. Stern, wise, and yet kind, he transformed The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air into a pop-culture phenomenon. Avery passed away from complications arising from open-heart surgery at age 68. Co-stars and fans were sad to see him go, but his TV legacy as Uncle Phil lives on.
5. Michelle Thomas (Family Matters, The Cosby Show)
Michelle Thomas stole hearts, playing Myra on Family Matters and Justine on The Cosby Show. Her bright career was tragically short-lived as she died from cancer at the tender age of 30. Her light, gift, and beautiful personality are forever in the hearts of everyone who ever watched her.
4. Lamont Bentley (Moesha)
As Moesha’s loyal best friend and later love interest, Hakeem, Lamont Bentley was a ’90s TV staple. In 2005, tragedy struck when he died in a car accident at the young age of only 31. Moesha fans were heartbroken, grieving not only the loss of the actor but of the character that he played.
3. Kirstie Alley (Cheers, Veronica’s Closet)
Kirstie Alley’s comedic fire burned brightest as Rebecca Howe on Cheers, for which she was an Emmy and TV legend. Her children said in 2022 that Alley passed away from colon cancer at 71, diagnosed only days before. Alley’s withering wit and indelible on-screen presence made him a sitcom legend.
2. Phil Hartman (NewsRadio, The Simpsons)
No comedian was more talented in terms of range than Phil Hartman, whose life carried him from SNL to NewsRadio and hundreds of voices for The Simpsons. His violent death in 1998, when his wife shot him as part of a murder-suicide, outraged audiences and co-stars. Hartman died prematurely at the age of 49, but his comedic abilities continue to be heard decades later.
1. Dustin Diamond (Saved by the Bell)
Dustin Diamond popped up in the spotlight as Screech on Saved by the Bell. His career was uneven, but his status in pop culture never faltered. He died in 2021 after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer just weeks before, at the age of 44. To fans, it seemed like they had lost a childhood friend.
Matthew Perry (Friends)
Although not included in the initial list, Matthew Perry’s death is worth a mention. His Chandler Bing character on Friends makes him one of the greatest sitcom actors of all time. Perry passed away in 2023 at the age of 54, in his home in Los Angeles. He was open about his addiction, and a good part of his life was spent assisting others to fight it. His memory is not just laughter but courage and compassion as well.
These actors were not only faces in a box—a part of our family rooms, our laughter, and our history. Even though they are gone, their legacy lives on, a testament to us all of the sitcom’s power to bring light even in the darkest of times.