John Ritter's character's death was mentioned in "8 Simple Rules" after he passed away.

Another one I recall. Dolph Sweet, the Dad on Gimme a Break. Died of cancer after filming the 4th season. His death was written in off camera in the 5th season premiere.

Richard Gilmore in a few months

Kutner on House. Kal Penn left the show.

Yeah I remember that. His character was supposedly suffering from depression and blew his brains out. They used a double in his place.

When Battlestar Galactica came back in 1980; Apollo was said to have been killed during their journey to earth.

Rizzoli and Isles: Lee Thompson Young commited suicide, he failed to show up for work and a well being check was done. This really left the writers and producers in a bind, so they hastily made up the vacation storyline for him and eventually he dies while returning from that vacation.

Yeah, forgot about that one.

James, Good Times

i know he had a heart attack on the show, but didn't Leo (John Spencer) die off-screen in The West Wing when Spencer died in real life?

Max Greevey (George Dzundza) on Law and Order. His death was on screen in the first episode of the second season, but it wasn't Dzundza; he'd already left after season 1.

Edith died in between seasons of Archie Bunker's Place when Jean Stapleton left for good.

Of the 'died in real life' group is Freddie Prinze of "Chico and the Man."

I don't think they explained his death, but initially said he was away.

I found that one particularly sad, as well as Phil Hartman's death.

Shannon Doherty's character was killed off on Charmed between seasons.

I believe so.

Heroes and the Cheerleader

Didn't the secretary also die off screen? They just mention that she had gotten in a car crash.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Landingham

yep. her too. i remember Dule Hill being really emotional in that scene...

I think you are talking about Elisabeth Rohm's character.

nope. she was canned from the show and had the infamous Arthur Branch scene at the end of the episode where she came out as gay. was totally out of left field. but she was never killed off.

Surprised this one took so long to mention. It was the first one I thought of.

She should have been....one of the worst actresses ever.

The first two female bailiffs on Night Court: played by Selma Diamond and Florence Halop. Both died of cancer in real life.

On Hill Street Blues Belker's father AND mother. I don't remember much about his father, but his mother seemed to be a constant (unseen) presence with him talking to her on the phone, while at the station.

On NYPD Blue, almost everyone Andy Sipowicz cared about died.

On Make Room for Daddy, Jean Hagen, who played Danny Thomas's wife, Margaret, was killed off.

Those were all on screen IIRC. Maybe not Caruso.