'The Good Place' Star William Jackson Harper Explains Why Chidi Wrote Himself That Note

(Warning: This post contains spoilers for Thursday’s episode of “The Good Place.”)

Depending on how you look at it, Thursday’s midseason finale of “The Good Place” spans either 300 years or however long it takes a glass of Duval ditch water to hit the floor. In either case, Chidi has been through enough that the version of himself who wakes up from his afterlife-induced coma at the end of the episode is unlike any version of the character we’ve seen before.

Having regained all of his memories from every one of the show’s many timelines, Chidi comes out of his deep sleep having relived each and every time his trademark neuroses and indecisiveness have failed him — from losing his seat in class to derailing his romantic relationships — in, essentially, the blink of an eye. But the new Chidi isn’t going to make those same mistakes. He’s not going to let an obsessive need to find the best, most perfect solution to every problem derail his (after)life anymore.

“Sometimes you have to get a birds eye view of things in order to really see them clearly,” William Jackson Harper said in an interview with TheWrap.

Also Read: 'The Good Place' Star William Jackson Harper Portraits (Exclusive Photos)

“Getting that huge download does sort of throw everything into relief. And there’s the benefit of having seen all these different lives and the running themes,” Harper said. “That gives him a lot of clarity, having this magical thing happen where suddenly you get to see where your habits are, what your paradigm is and ways it needs to shift in order to move forward.”

For Chidi, the takeaway is simple and comes in the form of a note, written to himself before his memory was wiped and stashed with Janet: “There is no ‘answer’… but Eleanor is the answer.”

Colleen Hayes/NBC

“Whether it’s romantic or friendly or, sometimes antagonistic, there’s something about the energies of these two people that they’re drawn together,” Harper said. “They need each other so, so deeply.”

“I think that for Chidi, Eleanor is the reason, she’s the point, she’s the person that he exists for. It’s a sort of clarity. It’s just this clear moment: Here’s this other person who encapsulates everything I need or want, whether I know it or not.”

That newfound clarity is a long way from the Chidi who was so paralyzed by the trolley problem that he ended up with a faceful of guts.

Also Read: Mike Schur Explains How the 'Objective' of 'The Good Place' Changed Midway Through Its Run

And it comes not a moment too soon given that the events of last week’s episode left the Soul Squad with less than an hour to prevent the entirety of life on Earth from being wiped out.

“Chidi is still Chidi, but he has the benefit of seeing all of his afterlives and all of his terrestrial lives, and remembering them for the first time. There’s no way you come away from that unchanged,” Harper said. “But the stakes are really high right now. We have a task in front of us, and that’s really what’s driving the action. That’s what Chidi’s focused on going forward.”

Read TheWrap’s full interview with William Jackson Harper below.

William Jackson Harper, The Good Place

TheWrap: What was your first reaction when you found out that you were going go from being unconscious the whole episode to being in just about every scene this week?

It’s part of the job, you know? I’ve been playing the character for so long that you kind of just go scene by scene. It’s never daunting in a way of, Oh my god how am I going to do it? At this point it’s more, how am I going to stay truthful day-to-day and not mail it in.

It seemed like a lot of those individual flashbacks came from different timelines or resets. How did you approach keeping everything straight?

Well, the way TV works, we shoot a lot of it out of order. Like, one of the last scenes we shot early in the week. So really it’s just keeping a loose timeline in your head, but keeping the focus on the moment — and the moment just before, what just happened that triggers this conversation or this moment — and living in that. It’s easy to get bogged down, but there’s only so much you can play in a couple minutes. And the most important thing is my scene partner, and trying to stay connected with them. Knowing what came before, it’s useful, but I don’t want to do anything that takes me out of the scene and takes me out of the moment with the people that I’m working with.

Also Read: 'The Good Place' Final Season: Here's What You Need to Know

When Chidi does wake up at the end, his outlook or his reaction to everything is pretty different than what we probably would’ve expected. What is it about getting this download of everything’s that’s happened that helps bring him to this new point of view?

Sometimes you have to get a birds eye view of things in order to really see them clearly. It’s like when you ask advice from people who aren’t in the situation that you’re in. You usually can rely on that person for something in whatever they say that’s worth considering. When you look at the whole thing, when you look at all these various lives that he’s been through, there is this sort of running thread of not being able to make a decision, looking for the answer. He’s looking for the concrete thing that is always right, which I think is one of Chidi’s biggest flaws. His rigidity, the idea that there’s this one thing that is always right in every situation. I, personally, don’t think the world works that way. So, you know, getting that huge download does sort of throw everything into relief. And there’s the benefit of having seen all these different lives and the running themes. That gives him a lot of clarity, having this magical thing happen where suddenly you get to see where your habits are, what your paradigm is and ways it needs to shift in order to move forward.

That note he writes for himself — “There is no answer, but Eleanor is the answer” — what does that mean?

I think it points to something larger, something I can really get behind, this idea that the point of life is other people. There are people who are extremely important to you, who do things for you that no one else does — and who you do things for that you wouldn’t do for anyone else. This recurring theme that no matter what reality we’re in, we’re always drawn to each other. Whether it’s romantic or friendly or, sometimes antagonistic, there’s something about the energies of these two people that they’re drawn together. They need each other so, so deeply. I think that for Chidi, Eleanor is the reason, she’s the point, she’s the person that he exists fo, and it’s a sort of clarity. It’s just this clear moment: Here’s this other person who encapsulates everything I need or want, whether I know it or not.

Colleen Hayes/NBC

It’s interesting that to hear you describe it that way, because he writes that note for himself after he and Michael have that conversation about how soulmates don’t really exist. How do those two ideas square together in your mind?

Personally, this idea that there’s a person out there who just magically, without any work, fulfills all your needs, and you without doing any work fulfill all of theirs, I don’t know if I buy that. There are people out there who make you want to be a better person, who you want to put the work in for, but there’s something in the term soulmates that makes it feel really passive. There’s no effort, there’s no work to be done, it’s just magic and perfect all the time. I don’t think that’s really how it works. I think you meet someone who you want to be better for. Someone who makes you want to act on their behalf, to be the person that they need you to be, because they give you something intangible and ineffable too. There’s something about them not being soulmates that makes it an active choice. At some point Chidi, whether he knows it or not, did make a choice. Every time he chose to connect with Eleanor, no matter what. Because there’s just something between them. So I guess in a way there is a natural sort of component, and a soulmate kind of mystical element to it, but in the end, it’s really more about the work that you’re willing to put in for a person who does something for you that you can’t name.

Also Read: How Mike Schur Avoids 'Trump Bulls-' in 'The Good Place' Writers Room

And this comes after that moment with Simone a couple of episodes ago where they come to that sort of impasse and literally go their separate ways. What is it about their relationship that makes it different from the relationship he has with Eleanor?

I think that’s honestly one of those things. It’s just like this pearly mist. Sometimes it’s not necessarily a linear or an expressible thing. It’s just a feeling, it’s a reaction. It’s almost like it’s chemical or something. I don’t think there’s fault in Simone’s argument when they break up … but it doesn’t really mesh with Chidi’s paradigm. No matter what, he has to help people. that is why he’s here. I think that sometimes we can discount our outlook on life being something that can make or break a relationship, but it really can. The way people were raised sometimes can rear its head deep into a relationship, and then you realize that there’s this odd impasse in the way that you view the world. And that can make it tough to feel like you’ll ever really connect at the depth that maybe you once thought you had or that you had hoped to reach. So that’s sort of the central difference, but it in the end it’s sort of a fine mist. Like, had it not been such a pressure cooker, maybe it wouldn’t have been the break that it was.

Colleen Hayes/NBC

The episode ends on Chidi realizing that his indecisiveness may have been super annoying to other people without him ever realizing it. Moving forward, how does his behavior change?

Well that’s something that you’re going to have to wait and see. Chidi is still Chidi, but he has the benefit of seeing all of his afterlives and all of his terrestrial lives, and remembering them for the first time. There’s no way you come away from that unchanged. So going forward, yeah, Chidi is different in a few ways, but at the same time, old habits die hard. He’s still a neurotic guy. His brain doesn’t turn off. If anything, there’s moments where knowing this much just adds the possibility for him to be even more paralyzed. But the stakes are really high right now. We have a task in front of us, and that’s really what’s driving the action. That’s what Chidi’s focused on going forward.

I’m not going to ask you to spoil anything, but what was your reaction to finding out how the show wraps up?

I think that this show is never overtly simple. And I feel like our conclusion continues in that sort of aesthetic, things being not quite what they seem and the rug being pulled out from under you. So, yeah, I feel good about it. I feel that this is the right way to end it. I’m more curious than anything to see how people will feel when they see it.

Also Read: How 'Breaking Bad' Made Mike Schur Realize He Wanted a Smaller Episode Order for 'The Good Place'

Is it anywhere close to anything you could’ve predicted when you first joined the show?

No, absolutely not. There’s never been– No finale on this show has ever been anything that I’ve expected. We go on the same journey that the audience goes on when we’re doing the table reads. We really can’t predict anything. We have things we hope to get to do, and things we hope our characters will get to do, but we never know anything, honestly.

Colleen Hayes/NBC

Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)

Here's a list of some of the notable celebrities and industry professionals in film, TV, music and sports who have passed away in 2019.
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Joe Stapleton

The New England broadcaster who appeared in several Oscar-winning films like "Spotlight" and "Mystic River," died Jan. 1. Stapleton was 55.
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Daryl Dragon

One half of pop duo Captain and Tennille died Jan. 2 of renal failure, according to Reuters. He was 76.
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Gene Okurland

The famed WWE announcer, who frequently interviewed the likes of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant at their peak, died Jan. 2. Okurland was 76.
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Bob Einstein

The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Arrested Development" actor (and brother of actor-filmmaker Albert Brooks) died Jan. 2. Einstein was 76.
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Verna Bloom

The "Animal House" and “The Last Temptation of Christ" actress died Jan. 9. A family spokesperson told USA Today that Bloom died from complications from dementia. Bloom was 80.
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Mark Urman

The veteran indie film distributer, who was most recently president and CEO of New York-based Paladin Films, died Jan. 12 following a bout with cancer. He was 66.
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Carol Channing

The legendary Broadway and musical actress ("Hello Dolly," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes") died Jan. 15. Channing was 97.
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Lorna Doom

The German bassist and founding member of the seminal Los Angeles-based punk band The Germs, died Jan. 17. She was 61.
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John Coughlin

The former champion figure skater died by suicide on Jan. 18. The news came days after Coughlin was suspended from the sport over a pending grievance. He was 33.
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Andy Vajna

The Hungarian producer who worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone on some of their most popular films, including "Rambo" and "Total Recall," died at his home in Budapest on Jan. 20. He was 74.
Rambo: Yoni S.Hamenahem; Vajna: Getty Images
Russell Baker

A two-time Pulitzer-winning writer and longtime host of PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre,” Baker died Jan. 21 in his Lessburg, Virginia, home. Baker was 93.
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James Frawley

The director of “The Muppet Movie” and the show “The Monkees,” died on Jan. 22 at his home in Indian Wells, California. He was 82.
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Kevin Barnett

The comic and co-creator of "Rel," the Lil' Rel Howery-led sitcom on Fox, died Jan. 22 due to a hemorrhage. Barnett was 32.
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Michel Legrand

The French composer who won three Oscars for his songs ("The Windmills of Your Mind") and film scores ("Summer of '42," "Yentl") died Jan. 26. Legrand was 86.
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James Ingram

The singer and songwriter whose hits included “I Don’t Have the Heart,” died Jan. 29. According to TMZ, Ingram died following a battle with brain cancer. He was 66.
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Louisa Moritz

The “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” actress who was one of the numerous women who accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual misconduct, died of natural causes on Jan. 30. Moritz was 72.
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Neal James

"The Banjo Man" on Animal Planet’s “Call of the Wildman,” died on Feb. 1 in Kentucky. He was 55.
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Julie Adams

The actress known for playing the damsel in distress in the 1954 monster movie “Creature From the Black Lagoon,” died Feb. 3. She was 92.
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Kristoff St. John

The actor who played the character Neil Winters on the CBS daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless” since 1991, died on Feb. 3. He was 52.
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Albert Finney

The British Oscar-nominated actor who starred in “Tom Jones,” “Erin Brockovich” and the “Bourne” movies, died on Feb. 8. He was 82.
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Ron Miller

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Jan-Michael Vincent

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Pedro Morales

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Bruno Ganz

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Karl Lagerfeld

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Stanley Donen

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Katherine Helmond

The character actress who rose to fame in the 1970s and ’80s with roles on the sitcoms “Soap” and “Who’s the Boss?” and appeared in such films as Terry Gilliam's "Brazil," died on Feb. 23 at age 89.
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Beverley Owen

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Lisa Sheridan

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Mark Hollis

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Jeraldine Saunders

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André Previn

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Andrew Berends

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Keith Flint

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Luke Perry

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King Kong Bundy

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Sidney Sheinberg

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Jed Allan

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Richard Erdman

Known by millennials for his work on “Community” as Greendale’s smart-alecky Leonard Rodriguez died Saturday, March 13. He was 93.
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Jim Raman

Dr. James “Jim” Raman, an orthodontist who competed on Season 25 contestant of CBS’ “The Amazing Race,” died Monday, March 15. He was 42.
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Michael Lynne

The Hollywood producer who helped transform New Line Cinema into a powerhouse and served as an executive producer on Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, died Sunday, March 21. He was 77.
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Agnes Varda

The pioneering French film director who emerged in the New Wave movement of the 1960s and continued to direct influential work including 2017’s Oscar-nominated documentary “Faces Places,” died Thursday, March 28. She was 90.
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Shane Rimmer

The Canadian actor known for his leading voice role as a pilot on the series “Thunderbirds” and appeared in multiple James Bond movies, died Friday, March 29. He was 89.
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Nipsey Hussle

The Grammy-nominated rapper who appeared in Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s semi-autobiographical film “I Tried," died Sunday, March 31. He was 33.
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Tania Mallet

The actress who played Tilly Masterson in the 1964 James Bond movie “Goldfinger,” died in late March. She was 77.
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Nadja Regin

The actress who starred in two James Bond films opposite Sean Connery, died at age 87.
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Seymour Cassel

The Academy Award-nominated actor who regularly collaborated with Wes Anderson and John Cassavetes died Sunday, April 7. He was 84.
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Charles Van Doren

The disgraced ’50s-era quiz show contestant who was found to have received the answers in advance, died Tuesday, April 9. He was 93.
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Soni Methu

The Kenyan journalist and the former host of CNN’s show “Inside Africa,” died on Thursday, April 11. She was 34.
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Bibi Andersson

The Swedish actress, known for her roles in “The Seventh Seal” and “Persona,” died on Sunday, April 14. She was 83.
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Georgia Engel

The actress who starred as Georgette Franklin on the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” between 1972 and 1977, died Friday, April 12 at the age of 70,
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Bradley Welsh

The former boxer who made his acting debut in 2017 in Danny Boyle’s “T2 Trainspotting,” died Wednesday, April 17. He was 42.
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Chet Coppock

The Chicago-based sports broadcaster known locally as “The Godfather of Sports” in the 1980s, died Wednesday, April 17. He was 70.
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Lorraine Warren

The famed investigator of paranormal activity who researched the “Amityville Horror” hauntings and was the subject of James Wan’s film “The Conjuring,” died Thursday, April 18. She was 92.
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Steve Golin

The Oscar-winning film and TV producer of “Spotlight” and founder-CEO of Anonymous Content, died after a battle with cancer Sunday, April 21.
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Terry Rawlings

The British film and sound editor who was an Oscar nominee for his work on Best Picture winner “Chariots of Fire” died Tuesday, April 23.
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Stefanie Sherk

The Canadian model and actress known for work on “CSI: Cyber” and in the rom-com “Valentine’s Day,” died Saturday, April 20. She was 43.
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John Singleton

The Oscar-nominated director of “Boyz N the Hood,” the 2000 remake of “Shaft” and “2 Fast 2 Furious,” died Monday, April 29. He was 51.
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Peter Mayhew

The 7-foot-2-inch tall actor who portrayed Chewbacca in five “Star Wars” films, died Tuesday, April 30. He was 74.
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Alvin Sargent

The storied screenwriter best known for his Academy Award-winning script for “Ordinary People” and his Oscar-nominated “Paper Moon,” died Thursday, May 9. He was 92.
Courtesy of Pam Williams
Peggy Lipton

The star of the iconic TV series “The Mod Squad” and part of the ensemble cast of “Twin Peaks” has died at age 72, her daughters Rashida and Kidada Jones told the Los Angeles Times on May 11.
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Doris Day

The actress in popular 1950s and ’60s movies such as “Pillow Talk,” Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and “Move Over, Darling" died Monday, May 13. She was 97.
20th Century Fox
Tim Conway

The Emmy-winning comedian and actor who memorably starred in “McHale’s Navy” in the 1960s and “The Carol Burnett Show” in the ’70s, died Tuesday, May 14. He was 85.
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Tom Jennings

The former Hollywood talent agent and casting director, died on Thursday, April 18, his family announced. He was 81.
Courtesy Jennings family
Ashley Massaro

The former WWE Superstar died on Thursday, May 16 at the age of 39.
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Grumpy Cat

The cat whose perpetually sad expression launched a thousand memes, died on May 17 at the age of 7.
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Sammy Shore

Sammy Shore, the legendary stand-up comedian and co-founder of the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, died on May 18. He was 92.
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Gabriel Diniz

Gabriel Diniz, a Brazilian pop star, died in a plane crash on May 27. He was 28.
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Carmine Caridi

Carmine Caridi, the actor who appeared in a key role in “The Godfather: Part II” as well as “The Godfather: Part III,” died on May 29. He was 85.
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Johnnie Planco

Johnnie Planco, the former WME agent and co-founder of management/production company Parseghian Planco, died on June 2.
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Todd Tongen

Todd Tongen, a longtime anchor and reporter at Florida's WPLG, died on June 3. He was 56.
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Dr. John

The legendary New Orleans-based musician who collaborated with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Christina Aguilera and The Black Keys died on Thursday, June 6. He was 77.
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Max Saines

On Saturday, June 8 it was announced that the Endeavor Content TV exec died from a pre-existing heart condition. He was 28.
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Sylvia Miles

The two-time Oscar nominee for supporting roles in the Best Picture winner “Midnight Cowboy” and “Farewell, My Lovely” died on Wednesday, June 12. She was 94.
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Edith Gonzalez

The Mexican telenovela star died early Thursday, June 13, according to reports. She was 54.
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Franco Zeffirelli

The two-time Oscar nominee best known for his 1968 big-screen version of “Romeo and Juliet,” died on Saturday, June 15. He was 96.
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Katherine Textor

The longtime “60 Minutes” producer who worked closely with Morley Safer during his final years, died Friday, June 14 following a battle with cancer. She was 45.
CBS News
Gloria Vanderbilt

The fashion designer, actress, heiress, artist and socialite died on Monday, June 17 from "very advanced" cancer in her stomach. She was 95.
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Milton Quon

One of the last surviving members of the animation team during the Walt Disney Studios golden age, died on Tuesday, June 18. He was 105.
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Elliot Roberts

The music manager who shepherded the careers of iconic artists including Joni Mitchell and Neil Young died on Friday, June 21. He was 76.
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Beth Chapman

Beth Chapman, the wife of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” died on Wednesday, June 26 after suffering from throat and lung cancer. She was 51.
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Billy Drago

The actor who played Frank Nitti in Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables” died in Los Angeles on Monday, June 24 from complications of a stroke. He was 73
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Ben Barenholtz

The producer-distributor who helped launch the careers of David Lynch and the Coen Brothers, died on Wednesday, June 26 in Prague. He was 83.
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Martin Charnin

The Emmy-, Tony- and Peabody Award winner best known as the creator, lyricist and director of the musical “Annie,” died on Wednesday, July 3. He was 84.
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Arte Johnson

The writer who won an Emmy for his work on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” died Wednesday, July 3. He was 90.
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Cameron Boyce

The actor best known for his roles in the Disney Channel series “Jessie” and the “Descendants” TV movie franchise died Saturday, July 6. He was 20.
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Eddie Jones

The veteran actor of film, TV and theater best known for his long-running role as Jonathan Kent in the series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” died on Saturday, July 7. He was 84.
NBC Universal
Denise Nickerson

The child actress best known for playing Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 classic “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” died late Wednesday, July 10. She was 62.
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Stewart the Dog

The corgi who played Captain Raymond Holt’s dog Cheddar on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” died Monday, July 8. He was 13.
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Emily Hartridge

The YouTube personality died Friday, July 12. She was 35.
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Stephen Verona

The producer, co-writer and co-director of “The Lords of Flatbush,” died Saturday, July 13. He was 78.
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David Hedison

The actor who was best known for his work in two James Bond films and on the series “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” died Thursday, July 18. He was 92.
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Rutger Hauer

The Dutch actor best known for portraying the tragic villain Roy Batty in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic “Blade Runner,” died Wednesday, July 24. He was 75.
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Russi Taylor

The voice actor behind the Disney icon Minnie Mouse in hundreds of projects over the last three decades, died on Saturday, July 27. Taylor was 75.
Walt Disney Co.
Richard A. Fox

The owner of Fox Theaters and the last volunteer president of the National Association of Theatre Owners, died Wednesday, July 28. He was 90.
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Harold Prince

The producer and director associated with many of the 20th century's most successful Broadway musical productions died at age 91. As a frequent collaborator with both Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Prince garnered 21 Tony Awards, more than any other individual, over the course of his career. In a traditional gesture, marquee lights on Broadway were dimmed on the night of his death on July 31.
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Harley Race

The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee and eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion died of lung cancer Aug. 1 at the age of 76.
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D. A. Pennebaker

The prolific documentary filmmaker and chronicler of 1960s counterculture died on Aug. 1 at the age of 94.
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Toni Morrison

The novelist, essayist and teacher died from complications of pneumonia at age 88 on Aug. 5. Morrison's 11 novels earned her a Pulitzer Prize in 1988, a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 and a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.
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Peter Fonda

The two-time, Oscar-nominated star of “Easy Rider” and more recently films such as “Ulee’s Gold” died on Friday, Aug. 16. He was 79.
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Richard Williams

The Oscar-winning animator best known for creating Roger Rabbit died on Friday, Aug. 16. He was 86.
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Kip Addotta

The comedian who frequently appeared on “The Tonight Show” died the week of Aug. 12. He was 75.
Dick Clark Productions
David Koch

The billionaire industrialist and philanthropist whose family empire has wielded significant political influence in conservative circles died Friday, Aug. 23. He was 79.
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Isabel Toledo

The fashion designer who outfitted former first lady Michelle Obama for President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration died Monday, Aug. 26 at the age of 59 from breast cancer.
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Jessi Combs

The former “Mythbusters” star and professional race car driver died on Tuesday, Aug. 27 while attempting to break her own land-speed record. She was 36.
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Valerie Harper

The actress and feminist activist best known for playing groundbreaking sitcom character Rhoda Morgenstern from 1970 to 1978 on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoff "Rhoda," died Friday, Aug. 30 at 80.
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Gordon Bressack

The Emmy-winning writer best known for his work on ’90s animated classics “Tiny Toon Adventures,” “Pinky and the Brain” and “Animaniacs,” died on Aug. 30. He was 68.
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Franco Columbu

The man Arnold Schwarzenegger called “my best friend,” died on Aug. 30 in Sardinia, Italy. He was 78.
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Peter Lindbergh

The German-born fashion photographer famed for his black-and-white shots of ’90s supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Linda Evangelista, died on Sept. 4. He was 74.
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Chris March

The popular fashion designer who appeared on the Bravo series “Project Runway” and crafted costumes for artists including Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce died Thursday, Sept. 5. He was 56.
Chris March/GoFundMe
Robert Axelrod

The veteran character actor best known for voicing Lord Zedd and Finster in the long-running kids TV show “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” died Saturday, Sept. 7. He was 70.
SAG-AFTRA
John Wesley

The actor who had guest roles on shows like “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Frasier” and “The Jamie Foxx Show” died on Sept. 7. He was 72.
JohnWesley.com
Mardik Martin

Mardik Martin, the longtime friend and collaborator of Martin Scorsese whose writing credits included “Mean Streets,” “New York, New York,” and “Raging Bull,” died on Sept. 11. He was 84.
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Eddie Money

The "Take Me Home Tonight" singer-songwriter who burst on the music stage in the late ’70s when he charted with singles “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise," died on Sept. 13. He was 70.
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Ric Ocasek

The lead vocalist of The Cars, which had numerous hits from 1978 to 1988, including “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Just What I Needed,” “You Might Think,” “Magic” and “Tonight She Comes," died on Sept. 15. He was 75.
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Brian Turk

The actor who appeared in HBO’s “Carnivale," “Saved by the Bell: The New Class" and “Beverly Hills, 90210" among others died on Sept. 13. He was 49.
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Suzanne Whang

The host of HGTV's “House Hunters” from 1999 to 2011 and spinoff “House Hunters International” from 2009 to 2012, died on Sept. 17. She was 56.
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Cokie Roberts

Longtime NPR and ABC News journalist died on Sept. 17 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 75.
ABC News
Robert Hunter

The Grateful Dead lyricist, who also penned songs for Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and more, died on Sept. 17. He was 78.
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Jack Gilardi

The longtime ICM Partners agent who represented Hollywood legends such as Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Lewis, Shirley MacLaine and Charlton Heston, died on Sept. 19. He was 88.
Chelsea Lauren
Jessye Norman

Opera legend Jessye Norman, one of the great sopranos of the last five decades, died Sept. 30 from complications from a spinal injury. She was 74.
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Wayne Fitzgerald

The prolific Hollywood title designer, whose notable works included “The Godfather” sequels, “Total Recall” and “Dick Tracy," died on Sept. 30. He had over 460 listed credits to his name. He was 89.
Wikicommons
Kim Shattuck

The lead singer and songwriter for seminal 90s pop punk band The Muffs died Oct. 2 after a long battle with ALS. Her music was featured on film soundtracks like "Clueless" and "Angus," and she inspired a character on the HBO sketch comedy series "Mr. Show."
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Paul LeBlanc

Oscar-winning hair stylist Paul LeBlanc, who styled Carrie Fisher's braids in "Return of the Jedi" and Javier Bardem's bowl cut in "No Country for Old Men" died Oct. 2. He was 73.
Kevin Winter
Diahann Caroll

The first African American woman to star in a non-servant role on a network TV series died Oct. 4 from cancer. She was 84.
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Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker, the celebrated drummer and co-founder of the British powerhouse rock band Cream, died Oct. 6. He was 80.
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Rip Taylor

Rip Taylor, the flamboyant confetti-throwing comedian who was the host of "The $1.98 Beauty Show," died Oct. 6. He was 84.
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Robert Forster

Robert Forster, the character actor best known for “Twin Peaks” and his Oscar-nominated performance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown, died Oct. 11. He was 78.
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Sam Bobrick

Sam Bobrick, creator of NBC comedy series “Saved By the Bell” and writer for “The Andy Griffith Show,” died Oct. 11. He was 87.
Television Academy
Scotty Bowers

Scotty Bowers, who was the subject of the documentary "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" and was famous for secretly procuring gay sex workers for Tinseltown's biggest stars in the 1940s, died on Oct. 13. He was 96.
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John Clarke

John Clarke, who starred on the NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives" for 39 years and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from the Daytime Emmys in 2005, died of pneumonia on Oct. 16. He was 88.
Courtesy of John Clarke's family
Bill Macy

Bill Macy, who starred as Bea Arthur’s husband Walter Findlay on the 1970s sitcom “Maude” and appeared alongside Steve Martin in "The Jerk," died on Oct. 17. He was 97.
CBS
Elijah Cummings

Rep. Elijah Cummings, a sitting democratic congressman from Baltimore for 23 years and a civil rights advocate early in his life and career, died on Oct. 17. He was 68.
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Robert Evans

Robert Evans, the legendary producer of "Chinatown" and "The Godfather" and the former head of production at Paramount, died on Oct. 26 at the age of 89.
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John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon, a prolific character actor best known for a run of comedic turns in acclaimed films and cult classics like "Hollywood Shuffle" and the "Friday" franchise, died on Oct. 29 at the age of 77.
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Bernard Slade

Bernard Slade, an Oscar-nominated writer and playwright and the creator of "The Partridge Family," died on Oct. 30 from complications from body dementia. He was 89.
JAG PR
Rudy Boesch

Rudy Boesch, one of the finalists on the original season of "Survivor," died on Nov. 2 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 91. He was a former Navy SEAL, and at 72, was one of the show's oldest contestants.
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Brian Tarantina

Brian Tarantina, who appeared as a character actor on "Gilmore Girls," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Heroes," "Law & Order" and "The Good Wife," was found dead by New York City police on Nov. 2. He was 60.
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Virginia Leith

Virginia Leith, an actress who appeared in Stanley Kubrick's first film, "Fear and Desire," and was the lead in Joseph Green's "The Brain That Wouldn't Die," died on Nov. 4 following a brief illness. She was 94.
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Laurel Griggs

Laurel Griggs, a 13-year-old actress who starred in the Broadway musical "Once" and also appeared in several "Saturday Night Live" sketches, died on Nov. 5 after suffering a severe asthma attack.
NBC/SNL
William Wintersole

William Wintersole, an actor who starred on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" as attorney Mitchell Sherman for 25 years until 2011, died on Nov. 5. He was 88.
Kathy Hutchins/Hutchins Photo
Rick Ludwin

Rick Ludwin, a former NBC executive and the head of the company's late-night division, died on Nov. 10 following a brief illness. Ludwin was best known for championing "Seinfeld" and helping it become one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. He was 71.
NBC