Chico And The Man Actors You May Not Know Passed Away

Before "Chico and the Man," a young Freddie Prinze was making a name for himself in the comedy world at clubs such as New York City's The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. In 1973, the comedian made his debut on national television on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" — the big break that led to him being discovered by Komack. His observational humor and charismatic performance impressed Johnny Carson and his audience enough for him to be invited to sit down with the host, which was a rare opportunity for a young up-and-coming comedian such as himself. One year later, he became one of television's biggest stars.

The overwhelming pressures of his rapidly growing fame and his worsening depression grew to be too much for Prinze, and on Jan. 28, 1977, he shot himself in front of his business manager, Marvin Snyder. Prinze was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center, where he died the next day. He was 22 years old. Despite this tremendous loss, Komack and NBC chose to continue "Chico and the Man" without Prinze and replaced him with the 12-year-old character Raul, played by Gabriel Melgar. Prinze's absence went unaddressed on the show until Season 4, Episodes 13 and 14, "Raul Runs Away," but audiences felt this closure was just a little too late. Unable to replicate the same magic Prinze brought to "Chico and the Man," the show suffered as ratings plummeted, and the series was canceled after Season 4.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

The talented singer and actor Della Reese began her career singing gospel alongside the influential Mahalia Jackson. She signed her first record deal in 1954 with Jubilee Records but found even greater success when she signed with RCA Records in 1959. Her song "Don't You Know?" remains one of her most well-known hits. Reese later broke out into television with her talk show "Della," which ran for nearly 200 episodes. Just a few years later, she became a series regular on "Chico and the Man" as Ed's neighbor and landlady, Della Rogers. Following the cancellation of "Chico and the Man," Reese's career continued to flourish with notable roles in projects such as "Harlem Nights" and "Touched by an Angel" before her retirement in 2014.

Reese's health first came into question in 1979 when she suffered a brain aneurysm during a taping of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." She made a full recovery, but nearly 40 years later, her health became a public concern once again. The star's type 2 diabetes had taken a major toll on her. "My life is at stake," she told Radar Online. "I don't have type 2 diabetes — type 2 diabetes has me." On Nov. 19, 2017, Reese died in her California home at the age of 86. She's remembered for her contributions to music, television, and film over the decades and her overall lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

The prolific entertainer and singer Scatman Crothers began his career at age 14 when he'd perform in speakeasies in his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. His singing took him all over the Midwest before he planted his roots in California in the 1940s. He attracted just enough eyes to break out in the film "Meet Me at the Fair." Some of his most well-known movie roles include Dick Hallorann in "The Shining" and Scat Cat in Disney's animated film "The Aristocats." He ventured into television as the first Black person to appear regularly on a Los Angeles television program called "Dixie Showboat." He then went on to play Louie the garbage man for four years in "Chico and the Man." His character is fondly remembered for being a supportive friend to Ed, whose humorous banter and heartfelt advice contributed to the overall dynamic of the show.

In the 1980s, Crothers was diagnosed with lung cancer, which spread to the esophagus and throat. On Nov. 22, 1986, he died in his home in California at the age of 76. His immense talent and remarkable body of work continue to be celebrated and cherished by the masses.

The curly-haired, bushy-mustached comedian Avery Schreiber wasn't just well-known for his eccentric looks but also for his exaggerated physicality and slapstick humor. He rose to fame with fellow comedian Jack Burns as the comedy duo of Burns and Schreiber. "It was a marriage of opposites," Burns described to The Los Angeles Times. "He was Jewish, I was Irish. He was mellow and sweet and optimistic and I was angry and cynical and pessimistic." The two made numerous appearances on television and, in 1973, were given their own series, "The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour." Two years later, Schreiber made two unforgettable guest appearances on "Chico and the Man" in the episodes "The Misfortune Teller" and "Play Gypsy" as a fortune teller.

Schreiber continued working as a comedian and actor until his death on Jan. 7, 2002, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the age of 66. Schreiber died of a heart attack. He was well-remembered by his colleagues, such as comedian Joan Rivers.

Ralph Manza spent decades hard at work carving out a space for himself within the entertainment industry after serving in the United States Army during World War II. Throughout his career, Manza showcased a talent for both comedic and dramatic roles. In film, Manza delivered memorable performances in notable movies such as "The Enemy Below," "The Hunters," and "Get Shorty." In the realm of television, you could find his appearances on popular shows such as "General Hospital," "The Twilight Zone," and "Newhart." He also left a lasting impression on "Chico and the Man" viewers as Hector Gomez in the episodes "Ed the Hero" and "Chico and the Van." With his impeccable comedic talent and authentic charm, Manza was able to achieve nearly 200 screen credits. Among those credits are appearances on some of the biggest sitcoms of the 1990s: "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Seinfeld," "Home Improvement," and "Friends."

On Jan. 31, 2000, the character actor died at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas, California, in the aftermath of a heart attack that came on during the filming of a Budweiser commercial. He was 78 years old.

Before Tim Herbert was Tim Herbert, he went by his father's name, famous vaudeville actor Herman Timberg, to build off his father's success and eventually make a name of his own. By the 1940s, Herbert started going by the stage name he's now best known for today. During the rapid popularity of television in the 1960s, Herbert began working as a character actor in many of the era's hit TV shows such as "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Addams Family," "The Lucy Show," and "Get Smart." He also appeared in two "Batman" projects — first as a henchman named Whiskers in the Adam West series, then as Killer Moth in a "Batgirl" short. He also had small roles in big films like "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?," "Soylent Green," and Steven Spielberg's directorial debut, "Duel."

His talent and versatility especially shined during his multiple appearances on "Chico and the Man" as various characters in the episodes "The Giveaway," "Too Many Crooks," "Charo and the Matador," and "Ed Brown's Car Wash." The show came toward the end of his career. Less than a decade after his final appearance on "Chico and the Man," Herbert died from a heart attack on June 20, 1986, in Los Angeles.

Born in Imuris, Sonora, Mexico, in 1904, actor Tina Menard made two memorable appearances on "Chico and the Man" in 1975 as the character Mrs. Rosada in the episodes "The Misfortune Teller" and "The Strike." Menard had been acting for decades before she first appeared in "Chico and the Man." Though never in a starring role, Menard appeared in popular films like Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious," the James Dean film "Giant," and John Frankenheimer's "Seven Days in May." She played larger roles in 1930s Westerns, playing Lolita in "Loser's End," Rosita in "The Nevada Buckaroo," and Rita in "The Cheyenne Tornado."

Many of Menard's other roles were uncredited or bit parts, though she also occasionally worked as an interpreter on film sets. Although Menard was known to take smaller character roles in film and television, she worked constantly, through her 70s, as she continued appearing in TV series and TV movies. On June 10, 1993, Menard died in Los Angeles at the age of 88.