# 1973 in television

The year 1973 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in that year.

## Events

* January 4 – Last of the Summer Wine, starts as a 30-minute pilot on BBC1's Comedy Playhouse show. The first series starts on November 12; the 295th and last episode is broadcast on 29 August 2010.
* January 12 – Family Affair airs for the final time, in daytime reruns on CBS in the United States. Reruns will later eventually move to syndication.
* January 13 – The Lawrence Welk Show airs its Salute to Mexico episode where Anacani makes her debut with the Champagne Music Makers. That episode also marks the final time Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn appear together as the act of Sandi & Sally
* January 14 – Elvis Presley's Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite television special is seen around the world by over 1 billion viewers, setting a record as the most-watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history. It is broadcast live to Asia and Oceania, with a delay to Europe, and in April to the United States and Brazil. In the UK, it wasn't shown until March 5, 1978 on BBC1. However, it is not shown in Eastern Bloc countries because of communist censorship, with the sole exception of Der schwarze Kanal on Deutscher Fernsehfunk in East Germany.
* January 15 – For a brief attempt to stop rerunning primetime shows from 1973 to 1975, Vin Scully's eponymous talk show debuts on the air on CBS.
* March 8 – The TV movie The Marcus-Nelson Murders airs on CBS. This serves as the pilot for the iconic crime drama series Kojak, which returns as a weekly series in October.
* March 13 – The TV movie Hawkins: Death and the Maiden airs on CBS. This serves as the pilot for the James Stewart legal drama and murder mystery series Hawkins, which returns as a weekly series in October.
* March 21 – Sitcom Are You Being Served? begins its first regular series on BBC1 in the U.K. (pilot aired September 8, 1972).
* March 23 – The longest running daytime game show to date — NBC's Concentration — airs its 3,796th and final show, after a run of fourteen years and seven months. The record will be eclipsed in 1987 by The Price Is Right; Concentration ranks fourth in continual longevity among all daytime/syndicated game shows. Also on the same day, CBS aired the final episodes of the soaps that started in the late 1960s, Where the Heart Is and Love is a Many Splendored Thing on the daytime lineup.
* March 25 – The pilot episode of Open All Hours airs as part of Ronnie Barker's series Seven of One on BBC1 in the U.K.
* March 26 – NBC debuts Baffle, one of the first projects Lin Bolen greenlit for the daytime schedule. Also on the same day, CBS debuts The $10,000 Pyramid and The Young and the Restless on the lineup, and The Price is Right moved to afternoons (it will eventually come back to the mornings permanently in August 1975). As for The Young and the Restless, it will kick out Jeopardy! in the ratings, moving it from the noon to the mornings by January 1974.
* April 1 – "Prisoner and Escort", the pilot episode of Porridge, airs as part of Seven of One.
* April 16 – James Paul McCartney airs on ABC (and on ITV in the U.K. on May 10).
* May 10 – ABC concludes its first run at broadcasting the National Basketball Association with the New York Knicks' Finals clinching victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5. With CBS taking over as the NBA's network television partner, this would mark the last time that ABC would broadcast an NBA Finals for 30 years.
* May 17 – U.S. daytime television is interrupted by the Watergate hearings, which would continue until August 7. Each network airs coverage in rotation every third day (ABC is first, then CBS and NBC).
* July 2 – U.S. game show Match Game debuts its 1970s version; it soon becomes the #1-rated daytime television program for 1973, 1974, and 1975, as well as #1 game show from 1973 to 1977.
* August 6 – James Beck, who stars as Private Walker in the popular U.K. sitcom Dad's Army, dies of a burst pancreas at the age of just 44. Although the series continues until 1977, the part of Walker is not recast and the show carries on without him.
* August 11 – Programme One airs the first part of the Soviet television miniseries Seventeen Moments of Spring, which would run until the 24th. With an audience of between fifty and eighty million viewers per episode, it becomes the most successful television show of its time in the Soviet Union.
* August 17 – CBS presents an adaptation of David Rabe's play Sticks and Bones...but only to about half of its affiliates.
* September 15 – Betty White makes her first appearance as Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show's fourth season opener, "The Lars Affair".
* September 20 – The Battle of the Sexes: Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a televised tennis match at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The global television audience in 36 countries is estimated at 90 million.
* October 8
** Pat Phoenix leaves the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after thirteen years, when she felt that specific length of time was enough to play one character continuously.
** Telefe Mar del Plata is taken over by the Peronist government of Argentina.
* October 20 – George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) makes his first appearance on All in the Family, at his brother Henry's goodbye party, though he has lived next door to Archie Bunker for the past two years.
* November 4 – Filipino television network Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation officially signs on the air using Channel 2 frequency (owned by ABS-CBN Corporation), which was shut down by President Ferdinand Marcos more than one year ago.
* November 12 – Last of the Summer Wine starts as a series on BBC1 (the pilot had aired on January 4). The 295th and last episode is broadcast on 29 August 2010.
* November 20 – A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving airs on CBS for the first time. It will go onto win an Emmy Award the following year.
* November 23 – Julie on Sesame Street, starring Julie Andrews, airs on ABC.
* November – Color television is launched in New Zealand. (It will go full-time in November 1975).
* December 12 – Kojak's trademark lollipop makes its debut in the episode "Hot Sunday".
* December 19 – After reading a news item that said the federal government had fallen behind in getting bids to supply toilet tissue, Johnny Carson inadvertently triggers an unprecedented three-week panic when he announces, on The Tonight Show, that there is an acute shortage of toilet paper in the U.S.

## Programs/programmes

* 60 Minutes (1968–)
* About Safety (1972–1973)
* All in the Family (1971–79)
* All My Children (1970–2011)
* American Bandstand (1952–89)
* Another World (1964–99)
* Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972–85)
* As the World Turns (1956–2010)
* Blue Peter (UK) (1958–)
* Bonanza (1959–73)
* Bozo the Clown (1949–)
* Candid Camera (1948–)
* Captain Kangaroo (1955–84)
* Colditz (UK) (1972–74)
* Columbo (1971–78)
* Come Dancing (UK) (1949–95)
* Concentration (1958–78)
* Coronation Street (UK) (1960–)
* Crossroads (UK) (1964–88, 2001–03)
* Dad's Army (UK) (1968–77)
* Days of Our Lives (1965–)
* Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955–76)
* Doctor Who (UK) (1963–89, 1996, 2005–)
* Emergency! (1972–77)
* Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972–)
* Face the Nation (1954–)
* Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–84)
* Four Corners (Australia) (1961–)
* General Hospital (1963–)
* Grandstand (UK) (1958–2007)
* Gunsmoke (1955–75)
* Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–)
* Hawaii Five-O (1968–80)
* Hee Haw (1969–93)
* Here's Lucy (1968–74)
* I've Got a Secret (1972–73)
* Ironside (1967–75)
* It's Academic (1961–)
* Jeopardy! (1964–75, 1984–)
* John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972–)
* Kimba the White Lion (1966–67), re-runs
* Kung Fu (1972–75)
* Love of Life (1951–80)
* Love, American Style (1969–74)
* Magpie (UK) (1968–80)
* Mannix (1967–75)
* Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–76)
* Mary Tyler Moore (1970–77)
* M*A*S*H (1972–83)
* Masterpiece Theatre (1971–)
* Maude (1972–78)
* McCloud (1970–77)
* McMillan & Wife (1971–77)
* Meet the Press (1947–)
* Monday Night Football (1970–)
* Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–74)
* Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971–87)
* One Life to Live (1968–2012)
* Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956–78)
* Panorama (UK) (1953–)
* Play for Today (UK) (1970–84)
* Play School (1966–)
* Police Story (1973–78)
* Rainbow (1972–92)
* Room 222 (1969–74)
* Sanford and Son (1972–77)
* Search for Tomorrow (1951–86)
* Sesame Street (1969–)
* Soul Train (1971–2006)
* The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969–89)
* The Bob Newhart Show (1972–78)
* The Brady Bunch (1969–74)
* The Carol Burnett Show (1967–78)
* The Dean Martin Show (1965–19)
* The Doctors (1963–82)
* The Edge of Night (1956–84)
* The Flip Wilson Show (1970–74)
* The Good Old Days (UK) (1953–83)
* The Guiding Light (1952–2009)
* The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962–)
* The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–82)
* The Mike Douglas Show (1961–81)
* The Money Programme (UK) (1966–)
* The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–74)
* The Newlywed Game (1966–74)
* The Odd Couple (1970–75)
* The Partridge Family (1970–74)
* The Price Is Right (1972–)
* The Secret Storm (1954–74)
* The Sky at Night (UK) (1957–)
* The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971–74)
* The Today Show (1952–)
* The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–92)
* The Waltons (1972–81)
* The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–79)
* This Is Your Life (UK) (1955–2003)
* To Tell the Truth (1956–68; 1969–78)
* Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006)
* Truth or Consequences (1950–88)
* What the Papers Say (UK) (1956–)
* What's My Line (1950–75)
* World of Sport (UK) (1965–85)
* Z-Cars (UK) (1962–78)

### Debuts

* January 4 – Last of the Summer Wine pilot episode, first series begins on November 12 (1973–2010)
* January 6 – Schoolhouse Rock! on ABC (1973–09)
* January 28 – Barnaby Jones on CBS (1973–80)
* March 20 – Police Story on NBC (1973–78)
* March 26
** The Young and the Restless on CBS (1973–)
** The $10,000 Pyramid on CBS with Dick Clark as host
* April 6 – Ultraman Taro on TBS in Japan (1973–74)
* July 2 – CBS revives Match Game with more ribald questions (1962–69, 1973–84, 1990–91, 1998–99)
* July 17
** The Wizard of Odds, first United States game show hosted by Alex Trebek, premieres on NBC
** The New Treasure Hunt (syndicated 1973–76)
* September 8
** An animated revival of Star Trek premieres on NBC (1973–74)
** Super Friends (1973–74) premieres on ABC
* September 10 – Lotsa Luck on NBC (1973–74)
* September 14 – Adam's Rib on ABC (1973)
* September 21 - Needles and Pins on NBC (1973)
* September 22 – The Starlost (1973–74)
* October 2 – Hawkins on CBS (1973–74)
* October 3 – Love Story on NBC (1973–74)
* October 15 – The Tomorrow Show on NBC (1973–82)
* October 24 – Kojak on CBS (1973–78, 2005)
* Superstars on BBC1 in the UK (1973–85, 2003–05)
* Greatest Sports Legends (syndicated 1973–93)

### Ending this year

| Date | Show | Debut |
| January 16 | Bonanza | 1959 |
| February 23 | About Safety | 1972 |
| March 3 | Bridget Loves Bernie | 1972 |
| March 12 | The Doris Day Show | 1968 |
| March 23 | Love is a Many Splendored Thing | 1967 |
| March 23 | Where the Heart Is | 1969 |
| March 30 | Ghost Story | 1972 |
| March 30 | Ultraman Ace (Japan) | 1972 |
| March 30 | Mission: Impossible | 1966 |
| May 20 | Laugh-In | 1968 |
| August 24 | The Mod Squad | 1968 |
| September 1 | Runaround | 1972 |
| October 27 | The New Scooby-Doo Movies | 1972 |
| December 28 | Needles and Pins | 1973 |

## Births

| Date | Name | Notability |
| January 4 | Damon Gupton | American actor (Criminal Minds) |
| January 11 | Rockmond Dunbar | American actor (Soul Food, Prison Break) |
| January 16 | Josie Davis | American actress (Charles in Charge, The Young and the Restless) |
| January 23 | Lanei Chapman | American actress |
| January 25 | Geoff Johns | Comic book writer |
| January 27 | Terri Seymour | English entertainment reporter and actress |
| January 29 | Miranda Krestovnikoff | English archaeologist and television host |
| January 31 | Portia de Rossi | Australian actress (Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, Scandal) |
| February 7 | Kate Thornton | British television presenter |
| February 12 | Tara Strong | Canadian voice actress (Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater, Rugrats, The Powerpuff Girls, The Fairly OddParents, Kim Possible, Fillmore!, Teen Titans, Danny Phantom, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Drawn Together, Ben 10, Chowder, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Unikitty!) |
| February 14 | Alec Sulkin | Actor |
| February 14 | Jason Douglas | Actor |
| February 15 | Sarah Wynter | Australian actress (24) |
| February 17 | Lucy Davis | Actress |
| February 18 | Tom Wisdom | Actor |
| February 19 | Eric Lange | American actor (The Bridge, Narcos) |
| February 20 | Andrea Savage | American actress |
| February 21 | Tyrus | Political commentator and pro wrestler (Fox News, NWA, Impact Wrestling, WWE) |
| March 1 | Jack Davenport | British actor |
| March 1 | Chris Webber | NBA basketball player |
| March 4 | Len Wiseman | Producer |
| March 6 | Paul Farrer | British composer |
| March 7 | Jay Duplass | Actor |
| March 8 | Boris Kodjoe | Austrian-German actor (Soul Food, The Last Man on Earth) |
| March 14 | Betsy Brandt | American actress |
| March 16 | Tim Kang | American actor |
| March 17 | Amelia Heinle | American soap opera actress |
| March 17 | Michelle Nolden | Canadian actress (Numb3rs, Saving Hope) |
| March 20 | Cedric Yarbrough | American actor, comedian (Reno 911!, The Boondocks, Speechless) |
| March 21 | Jerry Supiran | American actor (Small Wonder) |
| March 23 | Jason Kidd | NBA basketball player |
| March 24 | Jim Parsons | American actor (Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory) |
| March 24 | Lauren Bowles | American actress |
| March 26 | T. R. Knight | American actor (Grey's Anatomy) |
| April 1 | Rachel Maddow | American television news program host |
| April 2 | Roselyn Sánchez | Puerto Rican singer, model and actress (Without a Trace, Devious Maids) |
| April 3 | Adam Scott | American actor (Parks and Recreation) |
| April 3 | Jamie Bamber | British actor |
| April 5 | Élodie Bouchez | Actress |
| April 5 | Pharrell Williams | Musician (The Voice) |
| April 8 | Emma Caulfield | American actress (Beverly Hills, 90210, General Hospital, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) |
| April 11 | Jennifer Esposito | American actress (Spin City, Related, Samantha Who?, Blue Bloods, Taxi Brooklyn, Mistresses, NCIS) |
| April 12 | Christina Moore | American actress (Hyperion Bay, Mad TV, That '70s Show, Hawthorne) |
| April 23 | John Lutz | American actor, comedian (30 Rock) |
| April 24 | Damon Lindelof | American screenwriter |
| April 24 | Dean Armstrong | Actor |
| April 27 | Jillian Bach | American actress (Two Guys and a Girl) |
| April 28 | Elisabeth Röhm | German-American actress (Bull, Angel, Law & Order, The Client List, Stalker) |
| April 28 | Melissa Fahn | American voice actress (Cowboy Bepop, Digimon, FLCL, Invader Zim, Eureka Seven) and singer |
| April 28 | Jorge Garcia | American actor (Becker, Lost) |
| April 30 | Robyn Griggs | American actress (died 2022) |
| May 3 | Max Handelman | American screenwriter |
| May 5 | Tina Yothers | American actress (Family Ties) |
| May 10 | Lesli Margherita | Actress |
| May 11 | James Haven | Actor |
| May 16 | Tori Spelling | American actress (Beverly Hills, 90210) and daughter of Aaron Spelling |
| May 17 | Sasha Alexander | American-Serbian actress (Dawson's Creek, NCIS, Rizzoli & Isles) |
| May 21 | Noel Fielding | English actor |
| May 25 | Molly Sims | American model, actress (Las Vegas) |
| May 25 | Jossara Jinaro | Brazilian-American actress (Judging Amy, East Los High)(died 2022) |
| May 25 | Demetri Martin | American actor, comedian (The Daily Show, Important Things with Demetri Martin, We Bare Bears) |
| May 27 | Jack McBrayer | American actor, comedian (30 Rock, Wander Over Yonder) |
| May 28 | Raza Jaffrey | Actor |
| June 9 | Keesha Sharp | American actress (Girlfriends) |
| June 9 | Grant Marshall | Canadian former ice hockey right winger |
| June 12 | Mel Rodriguez | American actor (Getting On, The Last Man on Earth) |
| June 15 | Neil Patrick Harris | American actor (Doogie Howser, M.D., How I Met Your Mother, It's A Sin) |
| June 16 | Eddie Cibrian | American actor (Sunset Beach, CSI: Miami) |
| June 17 | Nahnatchka Khan | American writer |
| June 21 | Juliette Lewis | American actress (The Firm) |
| June 21 | Frank Vogel | American professional basketball coach |
| June 21 | Carter Covington | American writer |
| June 22 | Carson Daly | American television host |
| June 26 | Rebecca Budig | American actress (Guiding Light, All My Children, General Hospital) |
| June 26 | Gretchen Wilson | American country artist |
| June 26 | Kyle Jacobs | American country songwriter (died 2023) |
| June 29 | Lance Barber | American actor |
| July 3 | Patrick Wilson | American actor (A Gifted Man, Fargo) |
| July 6 | William Lee Scott | American actor (The Steve Harvey Show) |
| July 8 | Kathleen Robertson | Canadian actress (Maniac Mansion, Beverly Hills, 90210) |
| July 9 | Enrique Murciano | American actor (Without a Trace) |
| July 15 | Brian Austin Green | American actor (Beverly Hills, 90210) |
| July 20 | Omar Epps | American actor (House, Shooter) and rapper |
| July 20 | Roberto Orci | Television screenwriter |
| July 21 | Ali Landry | American actress (Eve) |
| July 23 | Kathryn Hahn | American actress (Crossing Jordan) |
| July 24 | Jamie Denbo | American actress |
| July 25 | David Denman | American actor (The Office) |
| July 26 | Kate Beckinsale | British actress |
| July 27 | Tracy Shaw | British actress and singer |
| August 1 | Tempestt Bledsoe | American actress (The Cosby Show) |
| August 2 | Kia Goodwin | American actress (227) |
| August 6 | Vera Farmiga | American actress (Touching Evil, Bates Motel) |
| August 6 | Max Kellerman | American sports television personality |
| August 9 | Kevin McKidd | Actor |
| August 11 | Frank Caeti | American actor, comedian (Mad TV) |
| August 12 | Jonathan Coachman | American sports personality (ESPN, NBC Sports, WWE, XFL) |
| August 16 | Mauricio Islas | Actor |
| August 18 | Carmen Serano | American actress |
| August 22 | Kristen Wiig | American actress, comedian (Saturday Night Live) |
| August 24 | Dave Chappelle | American actor, comedian (Chappelle's Show) |
| August 24 | Carmine Giovinazzo | American actor (CSI: NY) |
| August 24 | Mike Kasem | American actor |
| August 24 | Grey DeLisle | American voice actress (The Fairly OddParents, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Danny Phantom, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Avatar: The Last Airbender, My Gym Partner's a Monkey, The Replacements, The Loud House, Unikitty!, The Cuphead Show!, current voice of Daphne Blake in the Scooby-Doo franchise, and Martin Prince and Sherri and Terri in The Simpsons) and singer-songwriter |
| August 25 | Ben Falcone | Actor |
| August 28 | Kirby Morrow | Canadian actor (Inuyasha, Ninjago, X-Men: Evolution) (died 2020) |
| August 29 | Jason Spisak | Actor (Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Young Justice, DC Super Hero Girls) |
| August 30 | Kimberley Joseph | Australian-Canadian actress (Paradise Beach, Gladiators, Tales of the South Seas) |
| August 30 | Lisa Ling | American journalist |
| September 3 | Jennifer Paige | American singer and actress |
| September 4 | Jason David Frank | American actor (Power Rangers) (died 2022) |
| September 5 | Rose McGowan | Italian-American actress (Charmed, Chosen) |
| September 7 | Shannon Elizabeth | American actress (Cuts) |
| September 7 | Alex Kurtzman | American writer |
| September 12 | Paul Walker | American actor (died 2013) |
| September 12 | Maximiliano Hernández | American actor |
| September 14 | Andrew Lincoln | English actor (The Walking Dead) |
| September 16 | Richard Engel | American journalist |
| September 18 | James Marsden | American actor (Westworld) |
| September 19 | Nicholas Bishop | Actor |
| September 20 | Tom Root | American voice actor |
| September 25 | Julie Banderas | American journalist |
| September 25 | Bridgette Wilson | American actress (Santa Barbara) |
| September 30 | David Ury | American actor |
| October 2 | Susana González | Actress |
| October 2 | Melissa Harris-Perry | American writer |
| October 3 | Neve Campbell | Canadian actress (Party of Five, House of Cards) |
| October 3 | Keiko Agena | American actress (Gilmore Girls) |
| October 7 | Jeff Davis | American actor and comedian |
| October 7 | Ioan Gruffudd | Actor |
| October 9 | Jennifer Aspen | American actress (Party of Five, Rodney, GCB) |
| October 9 | Steve Burns | American actor and entertainer (Blue's Clues) |
| October 10 | Mario Lopez | American actor and host (Saved by the Bell, Extra) |
| October 21 | Sasha Roiz | Canadian-Israel actor (Grimm) |
| October 22 | Eric Guggenheim | American writer |
| October 24 | Korie Robertson | American television star |
| October 25 | Michael Weston | American actor |
| October 26 | Seth MacFarlane | American actor, comedian and director (Family Guy, American Dad!) |
| October 30 | Edge | Canadian actor and WWE wrestler |
| November 1 | David Berman | American actor (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) |
| November 2 | Marisol Nichols | American actress (24, Riverdale) |
| November 4 | Steven Ogg | Actor |
| November 5 | Danniella Westbrook | British actress (EastEnders) |
| November 7 | Yunjin Kim | American-South Korean actress (Lost, Mistresses) |
| November 8 | David Muir | American journalist (20/20, World News Tonight) |
| November 9 | Alyson Court | Canadian actress |
| November 11 | Chris McKay | American film and television director |
| November 14 | Dana Snyder | American actor (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies) |
| November 15 | Sydney Tamiia Poitier | American actress |
| November 25 | Eddie Steeples | American actor (My Name is Earl) |
| November 26 | Peter Facinelli | American actor |
| November 27 | Samantha Harris | American actress |
| November 28 | Gina Tognoni | American actress (Guiding Light, Venice: The Series, One Life to Live, The Young and the Restless) |
| December 1 | Lombardo Boyar | Actor (Rocket Power, The Bernie Mac Show, Murder in the First) |
| December 3 | Holly Marie Combs | American actress (Picket Fences, Charmed, Pretty Little Liars) |
| December 4 | Tyra Banks | American actress, model and host (The Tyra Banks Show, America's Next Top Model) |
| December 9 | Nicole Randall Johnson | American comic actress (Mad TV) |
| December 10 | Arden Myrin | American actress, comedian (Mad TV, Shameless) |
| December 14 | Thuy Trang | Vietnamese-born American actress, (Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers) (died 2001) |
| December 17 | Rian Johnson | American film director |
| December 27 | Wilson Cruz | American actor (My So-Called Life, Noah's Arc) |
| December 28 | Seth Meyers | American comedian, host (Saturday Night Live, Late Night) |
| December 28 | Shawn Harrison | American actor (Family Matters, Legion of Super Heroes) |
| December 30 | Jason Behr | American actor (Roswell) |
| December 30 | Maureen Flannigan | American actress (Out of This World) |

## Deaths

| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
| January 22 | Lyndon B. Johnson | 64 | U.S. president |
| January 24 | J. Carrol Naish | 77 | Character actor (Life With Luigi) |
| January 28 | John Banner | 63 | Actor (Sgt. Schultz on Hogan's Heroes) |
| March 13 | Stacy Harris | 54 | U.S. actor (Dragnet, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) |
| April 26 | Irene Ryan | 70 | Actress (Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies) |
| September 21 | Diana Sands | 39 | Actress (The Fugitive) |
| October 2 | Paul Hartman | 69 | Actor (Emmett Clark on The Andy Griffith Show) |
| December 23 | Irna Phillips | 72 | Soap opera writer and creator (The Guiding Light, As the World Turns) |

## Television debuts

* F. Murray Abraham – Nightside
* Graham Beckel – Class of '63
* Reb Brown – The Girl Most Likely To...
* Colleen Camp – Marcus Welby, M.D.
* Stockard Channing – Love, American Style
* Tovah Feldshuh – Scream, Pretty Peggy
* Charles Fleischer – Hawkins
* Mark Harmon – Ozzie's Girls
* Helen Hunt – Pioneer Woman
* Madeline Kahn – Adam's Rib
* Frank McRae – Snatched
* Colm Meaney – Thursday Play Date
* Mary Kay Place – All in the Family
* David Proval – Kojak
* Kathleen Quinlan – Emergency!
* Josef Sommer – The Doctors
* Bruce Spence – Certain Women
* Don Stark – Outrage