The death of actor and comedian Robin Williams affected many people who loved his work in such movies as Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, and Patch Adams. Williams ended his one season run on the critically praised comedy The Crazy Ones alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar in April. Robins would take his own life three months after the show was cancelled by hanging himself. Here is a look at fifteen other television actors who all passed away, some while their television shows were still in production. All actors were under 40 at the time of their deaths.
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1. Cory Monteith, 31
The future was looking bright for actor Corey Monteith. Prior to making a name for himself on Glee in 2009 as Finn Hudson, Monteith was virtually unknown. Monteith entered rehab in 2013 to deal with an ongoing substance abuse problem prior to filming ended on the the drama’s fourth season. He would pass away in July 2013 from a deadly drug overdose. He was working on two movies that were both released this year.
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2. Anna Nicole Smith, 39
Anna Nicole Smith began her career as a model in 1992, after Hugh Hefner insisted that she appear on the March ’92 cover of his magazine. Smith’s career on television and movies was not as successful as her modeling work which included Guess Jeans. In 2002, she came out with her own reality show that ran for three seasons on E!. Smith would pass away on February 8, 2007 from a deadly combination of drugs and sleeping pills.
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3. Dana Plato, 34
Dana Plato spent six seasons playing Kimberly Drummond on the wholesome sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. She would be written out of the show for the seventh season after she became pregnant, but would appear periodically until the show concluded after eight seasons. Plato’s career never really took off due to a drug problem that developed in the 80’s. Plato would pass away on May 8, 1999 from a drug overdose.
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4. Lee Thompson Young, 29
Lee Thompson Young began his career on the Disney Channel show The Famous Jett Jackson from 1998-2001. Young would go on to appear in such TV shows as Scrubs and Smallville. He would also appear in the film Friday Night Lights. Young was filming the fifth season of the drama Rizzoli & Isles, when his body was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot on August 19, 2013. Thompson had been taking medication for bi-polar disorder.
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5. Josh Ryan Evans, 20
Fans of the crazy soap opera Passions, will remember Josh Ryan Evans for his portrayal of Timmy the doll that would come to life and cause trouble with town witch Tabitha. Evans also appeared as a young Grinch in the Jim Carrey movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Evans would have to vacate his role on Passions in 2002 after his health began to take a bad turn. He would pass away on August 5, 2002 from complications related to a heart condition.
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6. Ryan Dunn, 34
Ryan Dunn made a name for himself doing stupid stuff on the popular MTV show Jackass for three seasons. Dunn would also appear in the movies that were based on the series. Dunn even appeared in a 2008 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Dunn would pass away on June 20, 2011 in a car accident. Dunn was the driver and had a blood alcohol level of .196, which is twice the legal limit. A crew member for Jackass Number 2 was also killed.
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7. Jonathan Brandis, 27
Jonathan Brandis had a very successful career in the early 90’s. He starred for three seasons on the family adventure SeaQuest 2032 from 1993-1996. Once the show concluded, Brandis would star in several made for television movies. On November 11, 2003, Brandis attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in his apartment. His friend found him and called police. They took him to the hospital where he would pass away the next day.
8. Johnny Lewis, 28
Johnny Lewis starred on many popular shows like Boston Public, Drake & Josh, American Dreams, and The OC before appearing on two seasons of Sons of Anarchy. Lewis even briefly dated singer Katy Perry back in 2005. On September 26, 2012 Lewis’ body was found in the driveway of his 81-year-old landlady’s home. Lewis had murdered her and her cat and then jumped off the roof killing himself, though he did have strangulation marks on his neck.
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9. Andy Whitfield, 39
Andy Whitfield played Spartacus on the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand in 2010. That same year, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Production on the second season was delayed to allow Whitfield to seek treatment. A six-episode prequel was produced during the hiatus. Whitfield provided a brief voiceover. Whitfield would pass away from the cancer on September 11, 2011. His role on the series was recast.
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10. Andy Hallett, 33
Andy Hallett had a short but promising career. He appeared for four seasons on the popular WB drama Angel with David Boreanaz. He obtained the role by working as a personal assistant to Joss Whedon’s wife Kai. A month after filming was complete on Angel, Hallett developed a dental infection that caused cardiomyopathy and weakened his heart. This made him unable to continue working. He would pass away five years later of congestive heart failure.
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11.Glenn Quinn, 32
Glenn Quinn is another star of the drama Angel that would die before the age of 40. Quinn is most remembered for portraying Mark Healy on the 90’s sitcom Roseanne. He would appear in 74 episodes between 1990 and 1997, when the show would end. Two years later, Quinn got the role of Doyle on Angel. He appeared in the first half of season one. Quinn passed away on December 3, 2002 from a heroin overdose.
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12. Chris Farley, 33
Before he starred in such comedies as Black Sheep and Tommy Boy, Chris Farley was part of the ensemble on Saturday Night Live. Farley would spend five seasons on the show and depart in 1996. Some of his more popular characters included Matt Foley the motivational speaker and one of the “Gap Girls.” Farley was the original voice for the movie Shrek. The part was recast after Farley died on December 18, 1997 from a cocaine and morphine overdose.
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13. Michelle Thomas, 30
If you are a Family Matters fan, then you may remember Michelle Thomas. She played Steve Urkel’s girlfriend Myra Monkhouse on the TGIF sitcom from 1993 to 1998. Prior to appearing on Family Matters, Thomas played Theo’s girlfriend Justine for two seasons on The Cosby Show. Shortly before getting a role on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, Thomas was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer. She would pass away from the disease on December 22, 1998.
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14. David Strickland, 29
Before starring on three seasons of Suddenly Susan as Todd Stities, David Strickland appeared on Mad About You as Hollis and Sister, Sister as Dave. Strickland was dating Tiffani-Amber Thiesssen when he committed suicide on March 22, 1999. He hung himself with a bed sheet while staying in Las Vegas, NV. On the season three finale of Suddenly Susan, Todd did not show up for work and the episode concluded with the police visiting Susan at her workplace.
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15. Justin Mentell, 27
Justin Mentell appeared in the second season of Boston Legal from 2005 to 2006. He played Associate Garrett Wells. Mentell would appear in three films after his stint on the law drama. Mentell would pass away on February 1, 2010 in an auto accident. It is believed he fell asleep at the wheel around 3:30 AM. His body would not be discovered until 9 AM, when he was pronounced dead. No drugs were in his system and he was not wearing his seat belt.
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