2017 deaths in American television
Date Name Age Notability
April 5 Chelsea Brown 69 American comedic actress/singer/dancer , who was a regular on Rowan & Martin 's Laugh-In and later a successful television actress and personality in Australia ( TV credits include Love , American Style , Marcus Welby , M.D . , Ironside , Matt Lincoln , and Mission : Impossible )
April 6 Don Rickles 90 Comedian and actor who made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson , Late Show with David Letterman , and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast . Won a Primetime Emmy Award for his autobiographical documentary , Mr . Warmth : The Don Rickles Project . Also lead roles in the sitcom C.P.O . Sharkey , two series named The Don Rickles Show , and the short-lived sitcom Daddy Dearest
April 6 Tom Johnston 46 Meteorologist at WCSH / Portland , Maine . Found dead April 6 ; likely died several days prior
April 7 Frank Bramhall 83 Radio and Television personality in the Omaha market , notably as a meteorologist at WOWT
April 9 Peter Hansen 95 Actor , best known as Lee Baldwin on General Hospital and its spinoff Port Charles . Also guest spots on The Public Defender , Ben Jerrod , The Goldbergs , Cheers , The Golden Girls , Broken Arrow , Richard Diamond , Private Detective , Maverick , Petticoat Junction , Gomer Pyle , U.S.M.C . , How The West Was Won , Magnum , P.I . , L.A. Law , Night Court , and Growing Pains
April 11 Dorothy Mengering 95 Mother of David Letterman , made numerous appearances on his programs Late Night and Late Show
April 12 Charlie Murphy 57 Actor and comedian ( writer and cast member on Chappelle 's Show , recurring roles on Are We There Yet ? and The Boondocks ) . Brother of actor/comedian Eddie Murphy
April 15 Clifton James 96 Actor ( recurring roles on Captains and the Kings , Lewis & Clark , and All My Children ; guest spots on The Dukes of Hazzard , City of Angels , The A-Team , and Gunsmoke )
April 17 Trish Vradenburg 70 Screenwriter ( Designing Women , Kate & Allie , Family Ties , and Everything 's Relative )
April 20 Doug Smith 81 On-air personality at WIVB-TV in Buffalo , New York
April 21 Sandy Gallin 76 American film , stage , and television producer , manager , and promoter ( co-creator and co-producer of Live ... and In Person , Babes , and Buffy the Vampire Slayer )
April 22 Erin Moran 56 American actress best known for her role of Joanie Cunningham in Happy Days and its spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi
April 23 Chris Bearde 80 Australian writer and producer ( Rowan & Martin 's Laugh-In , The Ray Stevens Show , The Andy Williams Show , The Ken Berry 'Wow ' Show , The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour , The Sonny Comedy Revue , The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show , That 's My Mama , Cos , The Gong Show , The Bobby Vinton Show , Sherman Oaks and The Gong Show with Dave Attell )
April 23 Kathleen Crowley 87 American actress ( Chevron Theatre , Waterfront , Fireside Theatre , Schlitz Playhouse , Climax ! , Matinee Theatre , Bat Masterson , 77 Sunset Strip , Surfside 6 , Hawaiian Eye , Bronco , Maverick , Tales of Wells Fargo , Perry Mason , Batman , Bonanza and Family Affair )
April 26 Jonathan Demme 73 American Oscar-winning film , television , and music video director and producer ( TV credits include Columbo , Saturday Night Live , American Playhouse , Subway Stories , Enlightened , A Gifted Man , The Killing , The New Yorker Presents and Shots Fired )
April
The following deaths of notable individuals related to American television occurred in 2017.