On With the Show?

Phil Hartman, shot dead in his bed. Shari Lewis, felled by pneumonia that resulted from cancer treatments.

What happens when the stars of TV series die while their shows are still on the air? Over the decades, producers have dealt with the problem in many ways. Sometimes the character is played by a different actor. Sometimes the character is killed off and a similar sort of character is created to fill the hole in the cast. Occasionally, the show cannot go on.

That was the case with “The Charlie Horse Music Pizza,” Lewis’ children’s series that premiered on PBS in January. Her death in August forced the show to fold.

But NBC’s “NewsRadio” will continue despite the death of Hartman, who was fatally shot in late May. His character of anchor Bill McNeal will be mourned in tonight’s episode, then will be replaced Oct. 7 by a new character, played by Jon Lovitz.

Here’s a look at some of the other performers who have died while their shows were in production and the ways producers handled their deaths.

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“Wagon Train”

(NBC, ABC, 1957-65)

Star: Ward Bond, 55, who played wagonmaster Seth Adams, died of a heart attack in November 1960.

Aftermath: New wagonmaster Chris Hale (John McIntire) joined the train in March 1961.

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“Dennis the Menace”

(CBS, 1959-63)

Star: Joseph Kerns, who played George Wilson, was 55 when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage in February 1962.

Aftermath: Gale Gordon joined the series in May 1962 as Mr. Wilson’s brother, John, a house guest of Mrs. Wilson. That fall, John was given a wife of his own and there was no more mention of George Wilson or his wife.

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“Bewitched”

(ABC, 1964-72)

Star: Alice Pearce, 46, who played Samantha and Darrin’s nosy neighbor, Gladys Kravitz, died of cancer in March 1966.

Aftermath: Sandra Gould joined the cast in the fall as Gladys.

Star: Marion Lorne, 82, who played Samantha’s befuddled Aunt Clara, died of heart failure in May 1968.

Aftermath: Ten days later, she was awarded posthumously the Emmy for outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting comedy role. Alice Ghostly subsequently joined the cast as the Stevens’ housekeeper, a timid witch.

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“Petticoat Junction”

(CBS, 1963-70)

Star: Bea Benadaret, 62, who played Kate Bradley, a widowed mother who owned the Shady Rest Hotel, died of cancer in October 1968.

Aftermath: June Lockhart came on board before the end of the year as the town’s new doctor.

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“Alias Smith and Jones”

(ABC, 1971-73).

Star: Peter Duel, 31, who played Joshua Smith, died, apparently a suicide, in December 1971.

Aftermath: Roger Smith, who had been doing the series’ opening and closing narrations, joined the western as Smith in February 1972.

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“Bonanza”

(NBC, 1959-73)

Star: Dan Blocker, 43, who played Hoss Cartwright, died of pulmonary embolus in May 1972.

Aftermath: He was not replaced, but the series never recovered from his death and a move from Sundays to Tuesdays. It was canceled in January 1973.

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“Chico and the Man”

(NBC, 1974-78)

Star: Freddie Prize, who played Chico, committed suicide at 22 in January 1977.

Aftermath: That fall, it was established that Chico had left the garage to go into business with his father. Gabriel Melgar was added to the cast as a 12-year-old runaway whom Ed (Jack Albertson) adopted.

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“Eight is Enough”

(ABC, 1977-81)

Star: Diana Hyland, 41, who played Joan Bradford, wife of Tom (Dick Van Patten) and mother of eight, died of cancer in March 1977 after five shows had been filmed.

Aftermath: That fall, Joan had died and Tom was a widower. Betty Buckley joined the cast as a widow and she and Tom married in November.

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“The Waltons”

(CBS, 1972-81)

Star: Will Geer, who played Grandpa Walton, died in April 1978 of respiratory arrest at age 76.

Aftermath: Geer was not replaced; the opening of the seventh season focused on how the Waltons were dealing with Grandpa’s demise.

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“Dallas”

(CBS, 1978-91)

Star: Jim Davis, 72, who played patriarch Jock Ewing, died in his sleep shortly after surgery for a perforated ulcer in April 1981.

Aftermath: Jock was killed off during a trip to South America. Howard Keel was brought in later that year as another rancher who wooed and wed Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes).

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“Hill Street Blues”

(NBC, 1981-87)

Star: Michael Conrad, 58, who played Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, the precinct’s paternal head sergeant, died of cancer in November 1983.

Aftermath: His character was said to have died of a heart attack while making love to Grace (Barbara Babcock). Lucy Bates (Betty Thomas) took over the morning roll call.

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“Cheers”

(NBC, 1982-93)

Star: Nicholas Colasanto, who played bartender Ernie “Coach” Pantusso, died at 61 of a heart ailment in February 1985.

Aftermath: The “Coach” character died on the series and was replaced by a new bartender (Woody Harrelson).

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“Night Court”

(NBC, 1984-92)

Star: Selma Diamond, 64, who played court matron Selma Hacker, died of cancer in May 1985.

Aftermath: Florence Halop was hired to play matron Florence Kleiner.

Star: Halop, 63, also died of cancer in July 1986.

Aftermath: Marsha Warfield came on board in the fall of 1986 as matron Roz Russell.

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“The Ted Knight Show,” A.K.A.

“Too Close For Comfort”

(ABC and syndication, 1980-86)

Star: Ted Knight, 62 who played cartoonist Henry Rush, died in August 1986 after surgery for a urinary tract growth.

Aftermath: The series ceased production.

Sources: “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows,” “Total Television,” “Final Curtain,” Times files.