Roseanne’s Dan Conner joins a long list of sitcom characters mistakenly declared dead
When the decision to revive the comedy Roseanne It was done, one of the problems had to do with the character of Dan Connor. The husband of the main character, played by actor John Goodman, had been pronounced dead after a heart attack in the finale of the last season two decades ago.
The writers, like the Hollywood versions of Victor Frankenstein, found a creative way to bring Dan back to life. It was probably not a difficult procedure, as Roseanne’s panel had a plethora of precedents to sift through for ideas.
Here are nine other popular TV sitcom characters who have been declared dead by mistake, either from bureaucratic mistakes or through shenanigans.
Hawkeye Pierce in MIX
“The Late Captain Pierce” is the title of an episode in which Alan Alda’s character has to prove that he still exists, even though the army has declared him dead.
Archie Bunker in Everyone in the family
America’s most lovable fan found himself in a fight with the government, trudging through the bureaucracy to prove that his heart was still beating.
Abe simpson on The Simpsons
In an episode called “The Old Man and the Key” after Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel, Grandpa has been wrongly declared dead by his nursing home.
Peter Griffin in Family man
The Grim Reaper comes for Peter believing he is dead, but Old Scratch ends up injuring his ankle instead of claiming the head of the Griffin family.
Tom silby in The Andy Griffith Show
In a side story to the classic episode called “Opie’s Charity”, a Mayberry citizen believed to have died two years ago returns to tell the Sheriff that he had simply left his wife after another fight. Rather than suffer the humility of a runaway husband, his wife had chosen to declare him dead and even performed an elaborate funeral for him.
George Costanza in Seinfeld
George Steinbrenner and the rest of the New York Yankees main office believe their employee passed away, as the main character’s best friend (played by Jason Alexander) had left his car unmoved in the parking lot for a week. This classic episode is called “The Caddy”.
Thurston Howell the third in Gilligan’s island
After hearing that he has lost his entire fortune, the millionaire (played by Jim Backus) is believed to have committed suicide when the castaways find his hat floating in the lagoon.
Fish in Barney miller
The unforgettable character of Abe Vigoda at the police station runs into a big problem when he finds his name in the obituary column of “Discovery.”
Drew Carey in The Drew Carey Show
He was in a coma on a broadcast called “Drew’s Life After Death”, but when a doctor sends out a death certificate, Drew’s loved ones assume that he is deceased.