The original post: /r/television by /u/BaltimoreBadger23 on 2025-07-05 15:54:43.
In discussing the Big Bang Theory episode in which Mrs. Wolowitz dies (following the death of the voice actor Carol Ann Susi) and comparing it favorably to how Sesame Street handled the death of Mr. Hooper (Will Lee) back in the early 1980’s. Two very different shows of course, and they handled it differently but I believe quite well in both cases. Similarly I felt that Mid Century Modern, the new show with Nathan Lane handled the death of Linda Lavin very well.
Removing shows where death is a semi common occurrence (like most action and sci fi dramas), what shows have handled the death of an actor well both in terms of the immediate aftermath and in terms of the show still continuing to hold its audience (as a counter example, I’m thinking of the Goldbergs who lost George Segal and handled it well, but the show lost its heart after that). To be clear this isn’t about shows who kill off a character but where the actor dies and the character does as well.