Great TV moments somebody died for
By Neal Justin
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
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So they killed Meredith's mom. Big deal.
The loss on last week's "Grey's Anatomy" pales in comparison to the deaths of truly major characters on other classic TV shows. We've tracked a few of the most dramatic sendoffs — with a few rules. It doesn't count if: a) the actor portraying the character died in real life and b) if the character miraculously returns to life later in the series (sorry, Bobby Ewing).
Rest in peace, old friends:
Time of death: March 18, 1975.
Cause: Helicopter shot down over the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
Shock level: Traumatic. Everyone knew star McLean Stevenson was leaving for greener pastures — "Hello, Larry," anyone? — but nobody, including the stunned cast, expected Radar to step into the O.R. and blubber the devastating news.
Time of death: Sept. 22, 1979.
Cause: Car accident.
Shock level: Explosive. Not only did John Amos' departure mark the end of one of TV's most realistic characters, it also proved to be the only time in history that a shark jumped inside a high-rise apartment.
Time of death: Feb. 12, 1991.
Cause: Car accident.
Shock level: Something else. Fans were braced for the death of cancer-stricken Nancy when they were thrown this curveball. It's probably no coincidence that actor Peter Horton went on to be a "Grey's" producer.
Time of death: March 21, 1991.
Cause: Plunge down an elevator shaft.
Shock level: Heart-dropping. The cold-blooded lawyer's (Diane Muldaur) fall from grace had fans using the stairs for months.
