Television is no stranger to shocking deaths that best demonstrate the power of this medium's imagination and surprises: a death on a private plane that ignited the fans (but also the actors) of the series Heirs, for example, or when Ned Stark is in Game of Thrones lost his head in the square.
But the actor's real-life, unexpected death is a sobering reminder of the fragile reality behind even the most compelling fiction.
The death of an actor during the filming of a television series is not an uncommon occurrence, yet it has recently befallen several popular television series.
- What is credible and what is false in medical TV series
- Five episodes of the "Written" series inspired by historical events
- The Americans demanded that "Cassandra" return to the small screen in fear of a new war in Bosnia
- All of Sean Bean's movie deaths
Fans are wondering how Max's Euphoria will cope with the loss Angus Cloud, who died last July of accidental drug overdoses in 25. year.
With any luck, the approach the network will take will be revealed in 2025, when the show's third season is scheduled to premiere, despite news that filming has resumed suspended, potentially indefinitely.
Max declined to comment on the direction of the story, but the last time viewers saw Cloud's character Fez, he had just been shot by the police.
Meanwhile, one of Cloud's last screen appearances, in the horror film Abigail, which wrapped before his death, hits US theaters on April 19 this year.
During this time, Cloud's co-star from the movie Abigail Giancarlo Esposito recently joined Shonda Rhimes' White House residency in a role originally set to be played by the late Andre Brauer, who died of lung cancer last December.
Lance Reddick, who appears as Zeus in the first season Persia Jackson and the Olympians, died of heart disease last March, forcing Disney to rethink how to approach this important character in season two.
And Channel 4 royal satire The Windsors faces the question of how to move on after being a lady Haydin Gwynn, who played Queen Camilla, died of cancer in October.
How and whether the show will choose to continue after the actor's death involves a complex and sensitive set of questions, including the nature of the show, the character's place in the story, and the circumstances of the actor's death.
Perhaps above all, the desire of television authors to respect the legacy of the late actor and the affection that this person aroused among colleagues, loved ones and fans.
"You have to deal with the tragic loss of someone you loved very much," says Dante Di Loreto, executive producer of the teen musical drama Glee (Glee), aired on Fox from 2009 to 2015 and is currently streaming on Hulu.
Cory Montitt, who played Finn on the popular series, died of an overdose in 2013.
"At the same time, you have to take into account the feelings and needs of the hundreds of people who depend on the series and work on it," says Di Loreto.
Moving on without the late actor presents a variety of creative challenges, depending on the show's emotional tone and its relationship with the audience.
How an actor's death is handled within the world of the show "depends on the story's pace and genre setting," says Tim Tiemen, senior culture editor and reporter for The Daily Beast.
"It might be easier for a crime or action series to be grandiose and dramatic when it comes to the death of a character, but if you're working on a softer genre canvas, you might choose a gentler outcome," Tiemen says.
Riverdale, a teenage soap opera based on the characters of the Archie comics, for example, is full of twists and surprises; following Luke Perry's death from a stroke in 2019, his character Fred Andrews was killed in an off-screen car accident.
A romantic comedy like Just Like That , on the other hand, dealt with the sudden death of Willie Garson during the filming of the first season by sending his character, Carrie's best friend Stanford, to a Tokyo monastery and off the show forever - a confusing twist, but he fit into the quirks of the rebooted Sex and the City.
In a tribute to Garson on social media, Sarah Jessica Parker referred to their friendship in light of a deeply personal tragedy and a "shared professional family," hinting at how close the relationship can be behind the scenes.
For creative decision-makers and fans alike, the emotional stakes become high when an actor dies and the show moves on without him.
- Why the police series "Homicide" was revolutionary
- Sex and the City: "The series that opened up a lot of topics that weren't talked about before"
- How a Star Trek episode predicted America's homelessness crisis
Taking care of the television family
"It's a huge business operation," Di Loreto says of running a television production.
"But because it's an art form, and you're dealing with artists, there's a lot of emotional commitment to what you're doing."
In addition to having to deal with the personal shock of Montito's death, which occurred while Di Loreto was filming HBO's The Normal Heart, the producer was also tasked with helping the entire Glee team get over this traumatic loss.
"My first thought was, how can I take into account the existing division of actors," says Di Loreto.
"About Lea Michele, especially. How do we make sure she's okay?"
Michelle's relationship with Montito at the time of his death added a new layer of complexity to the loss and attracted special media attention.
"When you have two characters and two actors who are in a relationship at the same time, it just heightens the grief and our need to take a more parental approach, to take care of our family members while trying to meet our own emotional needs," says Di Loreto.
"We shot the series as a family, however dysfunctional it was," recalls Di Loreto.
"Among the team, there was a need to look out for each other. We had to make room for that and for people to grieve and express their shock and anger."
The circumstances of Montit's death, overdose of alcohol and heroin after her addiction problems, she was a source of conflicted feelings for Di Loretto and others who worked on the show, he recalls.
"He didn't die in a tragic accident: he died because of his own actions," Di Loreto says of Montito.
"And he was probably having a good time, so there are very mixed feelings."
Creating a space for grieving on the set was especially important, considering how much public attention the actors' division and their private lives have found themselves in.
It was held private commemoration on the set of Glija, which Di Loreto helped organize, and the Season 5 episode tearfully paid tribute to Montito's character Finn, including performances of songs such as “Seasons of Love" from Rent and "I'll Stand By You" Pretenders.
"Everyone wanted to pay tribute and remember the best things about Cory instead of focusing on the mistakes he made in life," says Di Loreto, referring to the decision not to mention the circumstances of his death in the episode.
U podcast from 2022 about the making of the series, its creator Ryan Murphy seemed to regret how quickly Glee moved on.
"If I could do it again, we'd probably stop for a very long time and maybe never come back," Murphy says.
But in addition to helping everyone behind the scenes come to terms with Montitto's death, Di Loreto says the producers also felt a responsibility to Glio's young and dedicated global audience, which became emotionally attached to the characters.
"The idea of not continuing the story would seem incredibly abrupt and painful," says Di Loreto.
After Montit's death, Glee filmed the fifth and sixth seasons of the series.
Appreciation of grief in fans
Keeping the audience in mind in the case of an actor's death is important to maintain his connection to the story, especially in the case of long-running series.
When the star is a story from the suburbs (EastEnders) June Brown died aged 95 in 2022, played Dot Cotton in the BBC soap for more than three decades.
Although Dot did not appear off-screen in the last years of June's life, a special episode gave Post Brown and her beloved character a grand funeral.
"We felt the characters react to Dottie's death the way we did as viewers, while also saying goodbye to June," Tiemen says.
"That funeral was as much for us as it was for the people of Albert Square," and one of the best farewells to a popular character in recent history, Tiemen says.
The death of the elderly matriarch may be easier to weave into the fabric of the story, but the other roles would need to be cast in order for the series to continue.
"If the character is integral to the story or loved by the audience, then the producers may decide to replace the deceased actor," says Timen.
In the classic sitcom Married to a Witch (Bewitched), for example, several major roles were given completely new actors when old ones fell ill or died, among them Sandra Gould, who played the nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz, after the death of actress Alice Pierce from ovarian cancer.
How the actor died and his level of fame greatly influence how the producers decide to move forward, knowing that their audience is privy to what happened off-camera.
Fans are more informed and connected than ever, and in the distributed television landscape, their commitment can help make or break a show.
"I think the producers are also aware of how people react on the Internet and are probably more into it," says Tiemen.
- Why "The Wire" is the best TV series of the 21st century
- The Sopranos: The groundbreaking series we'll talk about forever
- How "Better Call Sol" Became a Better Series Than "Pure Chemistry"
At a time when television programming was consolidated on several major networks, hit series such as I married a witch she was able to cash in on the power of the title despite the cast change.
But it's hard to imagine a show that depends so much on the fame of its own young stars, like Glee or Euphoria, changing an actor in a major role instead of suggesting that star is irreplaceable.
In an age of close identification with celebrity, fans might take the change of actor in that role as a personal affront.
Writing a script where a character exits the story can be a creative challenge, even in a group-based series like Euphoria.
Although Cloud stated that at one point it was planned that his the character Fez is killed off in the first season, instead the sweet-talking dealer became a more prominent part of the series, just like a fan favorite.
In a February interview with Veniti fair co-star Coleman Domingo stated that Cloud's death "probably affected the work on the third season, because Angus was supposed to have a key role in it".
While the line-up paid homage to Cloud after his death, some fans were even calling for the show to be canceled, which is just proof of how much love his role has garnered.
"When a show becomes successful, it belongs to the audience," says Di Loreto.
Young actors become idols with their own booming careers and personal relationships with fans.
The producers have their own changing view of the series and may already have their eyes on some other projects.
If there's any good to come out of a cast member being lost, "it's maybe an opportunity to rethink the motivation behind why you're telling that story in the first place," says Di Loreto.
"Evaluate what it is that you care about as artists, the fact that you're doing something together and that you need each other."
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
