All images, except where noted: The Everett Collection
As we reach the midway point of the year, we want to take a moment to reflect upon the beloved television talent that passed away in 2020.
Over the past six months, we have had to say goodbye to sitcom creators, theme-song singers, soap scene-stealers, sci-fi standouts, cowboy character actors, and more. Thankfully, their wonderful work lives on.
Here are some of the losses that hit the TV industry in 2020.
Visit our remembrances page to read more obituaries.
1
Ja'Net Dubois, singer of The Jeffersons theme song and star of Good Times
She worked with a young Janet Jackson and created a timeless theme song.
2
Honor Blackman, Sixties spy stunner of Goldfinger and The Avengers
The actress known as Dr. Cathy Gale and Pussy Galore was 94.
3
Carl Reiner, legendary creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show
The mind behind some of Hollywood's funniest moments was 98.
4
Linda Cristal, the Golden Globe-winning star of The High Chaparral
The Argentinian actress was 89.
5
Kellye Nakahara, who played Nurse Kellye on 10 seasons of M*A*S*H
She appeared in more than 150 episodes of the classic Korean War sitcom.
6
Marge Redmond, the friendly Sister Jacqueline on The Flying Nun'
She was also the narrator in the Sally Field sitcom and a Cool Whip spokesperson. She was 95.
7
Lyle Waggoner of The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman
He also nearly played Batman.
8
Jerry Stiller, who took his comedy from The Ed Sullivan Show to Seinfeld
The sitcom icon and half of the legendary Stiller and Meara comedy duo was 92.
9
Bill Withers, R&B legend and ''Ain't No Sunshine'' singer
The "Lovely Day" and "Lean on Me" hitmaker was 81.
10
Paula Kelly, dancer and Night Court star
She earned Night Court its first Emmy nomination.
11
Peggy Pope, TV character actress and Margaret from 9 to 5
She started on Broadway then transitioned to movies and television in a career that spanned more than five decades.
12
Julie Bennett, Yogi Bear voice actress and Dragnet regular
The voice actress, also heard on Spider-Man: The Animated Series and The Banana Splits, was 88 years old.
13
Ken Osmond, who played best buddy Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver
Osmond later became a police officer. He was 76.
14
James Lipton, who went from soap operas to host of Inside the Actors Studio
The Detroit native also played the Lone Ranger's nephew and produced Bob Hope specials.
15
Robert Conrad, star of The Wild Wild West and Black Sheep Squadron
The tough television action hero was 84.
16
Mary Pat Gleason, comedic talent in everything from Mama’s Family to Mom
The prolific TV and film actress also won an Emmy for writing.
17
Edd Byrnes, the hip Kookie of 77 Sunset Strip
The comb-loving actor was 87.
18
Tom Lester, friendly farmhand Eb Dawson of Green Acres
The humble Mississippi native and farmer was 81.
19
James Drury, star of The Virginian and TV Western icon
The prolific Western actor also appeared in movies alongside Elvis and Frank Sinatra.
20
Jack Burns, the man who replaced Barney on The Andy Griffith Show
The comedian began as George Carlin's partner and later voiced a famous crash test dummy.
21
Terry Jones, founding member of Monty Python
The actor, director, and screenwriter was 77 years old.
22
Buck Henry of Get Smart and Saturday Night Live fame
The Oscar-nominated writer came up with "the cone of silence." He was 89.
23
Gene Dynarski, who went from Star Trek and Batman henchman to Seinfeld
The actor also appeared in two Spielberg films. He was 86.
24
John Ericson, costar of Ann Francis on Honey West
The actor played Sam Bolt on the hip Sixties detective show. He was 93.
25
Richard Herd of T.J. Hooker, Star Trek: Voyager and Seinfeld
The actor also played a memorable captain on M*A*S*H. He was 87.
26
Anthony James, actor in Gunsmoke and Return to Witch Mountain
The frequent onscreen villain became an artist later in life.
27
Danny Goldman, who went from M*A*S*H to voicing Brainy Smurf
He played a Beatnik on Happy Days, too.
28
Timothy Brown, the NFL star who became a M*A*S*H surgeon
After ten years as a football pro, he joined Hawkeye and Trapper. He was 82.
29
Forrest Compton, who played Col. Edward Gray on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
He also starred on The Edge of Night, a soap opera inspired by Perry Mason.
30
David Schramm, airline owner Roy Biggins on Wings
The Julliard graduate and prolific stage actor was 73.
Image: CBS Television Distribution
31
Fred ''Curly'' Neal of the Harlem Globetrotters
The basketball legend and Gilligan's Island visitor was 77.
32
Stuart Whitman, star of Cimarron Strip and Highway Patrol
The TV Western and war movie actor was 92.
33
Marj Dusay, soap actress and the alien who stole Spock's brain
The actress gave us the iconic line "Brain and brain—what is brain?!"
34
Claudette Nevins, sitcom wife to Andy Griffith, M*A*S*H guest star and JAG regular
She (briefly) played the wife of Major Winchester on M*A*S*H.
Center image: CBS
35
Ben Cooper, a familiar face from dozens of TV westerns and the Twilight Zone
He played a foil to both Lucas McCain and Matt Dillon. He was 86.
36
Orson Bean, voice of The Hobbit and Twilight Zone star
The Dr. Quinn and Being John Malkovich star was 91 years old.
37
Gene Reynolds, who went from The Little Rascals to co-creator of M*A*S*H
Reynolds was also the man who moved into the Ricardos apartment and directed the Andy Griffith Show episode "Mayberry on Record."
38
Monique van Vooren, Batman and Tarzan villainess
The actress also gave Christopher Walken his stage name.
39
John Karlen, star of Cagney & Lacey
The actor, frequently seen on police shows, was 86 years old.
40
Natalie Trundy, who went from Perry Mason client to Planet of the Apes regular
The actress was married to the Planet of the Apes franchise in more than one way. She was 79.
41
Martin West, who went from Perry Mason client to Assault on Precinct 13
The soap star had recurring roles on General Hospital and As the World Turns. He was 82.
42
Carol Serling, the wife of Rod Serling who made a cameo in Twilight Zone: The Movie
The caretaker of the Twilight Zone legacy was 91.