There were several memorable and popular '90s sitcoms that are still loved to this day and the actors who starred in them were household names. While many of these stars have gone on to work in other television shows and movies, we've tragically also lost a few actors who will forever be known for their '90s sitcom roles.
The most recent sitcom star death is actor Dustin Diamond, who was known for his role as "Screech" in the beloved show Saved By the Bell. His death in early 2021 was untimely and shocking to fans, but he'll forever be known as one of the most recognized stars of the '90s. Diamond, along with these nine other stars below tragically lost their lives, but they will always have a special place in our hearts, especially for those who grew up watching these cherished sitcoms.
10 John Ritter - 'Hearts Afire'
Actor John Ritter's claim to fame may have come when he appeared in the 70s sitcom Three's Company, but Ritter would go on to find success yet again in the 90s show Hearts Afire, a series about two people in politics that fall in love.
The show only lasted three seasons, but it would not be his final role. In the early 2000s, Ritter starred in the ABC comedy 8 Simple Rules, but the actor's sudden death had the show ultimately killing off his character. Ritter sadly died from an undetected flaw in his heart called aortic dissection and passed away in September 2003.
9 James Avery - 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'
James Avery is best known as starring as Uncle Phil in the beloved 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sadly, the actor passed away at the age of 68 in 2014 after complications from open-heart surgery, according to CNN.
Besides working as the hard-headed but loving Phillip Banks on the show, Avery also lent his acting skills to other shows, including, CSI, That 70's Show, and L.A. Law, where he portrayed a lawyer.
8 Yvette Wilson - 'Moesha'
Actress Yvette Wilson was most famous for her role in the 1996 sitcom Moesha and its 2000 spin-off The Parkers. Wilson portrayed Andell Wilkerson in Moesha, as the shopkeeper of the local hangout, alongside singer Brandy Norwood. In The Parkers, Wilson played actress Mo'Nique's best friend.
Sadly, Wilson died in 2012, at the age of 48, from cervical cancer as well as suffering from kidney failure, according to ABC News.
7 Lee Thompson Young - 'The Famous Jett Jackson'
Fans were in shock to learn about actor Lee Thompson Young's passing in 2013, at the age of 29, after he had committed suicide, according to USA Today. Young famously starred in The Famous Jett Jackson from 1998 to 2001 but had also appeared on several other television shows including, The Guardian, Scrubs, Smallville, and most recently, had portrayed Detective Barry Frost on Rizzoli & Isles.
His manager Jonathan Baruch shared at the time, "Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed."
6 Earl Hindman - 'Home Improvement'
Actor Earl Hindman famously starred as the kind unseen neighbor named Wilson W. Wilson, Jr., who offered insightful advice in Tim Allen's sitcom Home Improvement from 1991 to 1999. But before that, Hindman starred in many movies in the 70s and 80s, including 1974's The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Hindman passed away in 2003, at the age of 61, after his battle with lung cancer. Allen recreated Hindman's character in his show Last Man Standing in the episode titled "Dual Time."
5 Sarah Danielle Madison - '7th Heaven'
Fans might remember actress Sarah Danielle Madison from the popular drama sitcom 7th Heaven, where she portrayed the daughter of a rabbi who falls in love with Christian Matt Camden, played by Barry Watson.
The show began in 1996, but Madison joined the cast from 2002 to 2006. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 40, in her sleep in 2014, according to Today. While the autopsy was unable to determine her cause of death, her mother shared that she suspected a heart ailment was the cause of her untimely passing.
4 Lamont Bentley - 'Moesha'
Actor Lamont Bentley who starred as Hakeem Campbell on the comedy Moesha and its spin-off The Parkers, also passed away after he was involved in a single-car accident in California that tragically took his life in 2005, according to the Los Angeles Times.
His manager, Susan Ferris shared, "He was a bright candle that just got snuffed out. He was in a great place emotionally, physically. Everything was going right for him."
3 Michelle Thomas - 'Family Matters'
90s sitcom fans will remember actress Michelle Thomas from Family Matters where she played Myra, the girlfriend of nerdy character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White. Thomas sadly died at the age of 30 from stomach cancer in 1998.
White had the chance to reconnect with his former co-star spiritually when he was brought on celebrity medium Tyler Henry's show, Hollywood Medium in 2017.
2 Lisa Robin Kelly - 'That '70s Show'
Any That 70's Show fan will remember actress Lisa Robin Kelly, who played Laurie, the older sister of Eric Forman, who was kicked off the show after five years because of her involvement with drugs.
Kelly had a troubling life that included multiple arrests, including drunk driving, and struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, which ultimately claimed her life at the age of 43, when she passed away at a Los Angeles addiction treatment facility in 2013, according to BBC.
1 Dustin Diamond - 'Saved By The Bell'
The most recent sitcom death to shock fans was the untimely passing of actor Dustin Diamond, who tragically passed away on February 1st, 2021, after a battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. According to TMZ, the actor was initially hospitalized in January after feeling pain all over his body and found out he had cancer.
Fans all know Diamond from his portrayal of Samuel "Screech" Powers from Saved By the Bell, and he would continue to reprise his role in the sitcom's short-lived spin-offs.