# 1974 in television

The year 1974 involved some significant events in television. Below is a list of television-related events of that year.

## Events

* January 6 – CKGN-TV begins broadcasting in Brantford, Ontario.
* January 31 – CBS airs a multi-Emmy-winning adaptation of Ernest J. Gaines' novel The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, which follows the 110-year life of a former slave from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement. Cicely Tyson portrays the title role.
* February 1 – KITC (now KIVI-TV) begins broadcasting in Boise, Idaho.
* February 2 – The Filipino government television station GTV 4 (now known as the People's Television Network) begins operations, under the National Media Production Center.
* February 8 – After 20 years, The Secret Storm airs its 5195th and final episode on CBS Daytime. The show is replaced ten days later by Tattletales, a game show hosted by Bert Convy.
* March 11 – The children's special Free to Be... You and Me, produced by comedic actress Marlo Thomas, airs on ABC.
* March 13 – The Execution of Private Slovik airs on NBC. A made-for-television film, it told the story of Pvt. Eddie Slovik, the only American soldier to be executed for desertion since the American Civil War.
* March 18 – Lucille Ball ends her 23-year consecutive television reign when Here's Lucy is cancelled.
* April 5 – After 264 hour-long episodes, The Dean Martin Show ends its run on NBC, then spins off to 10 years of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast.
* April 6 – "Waterloo" wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden and launches ABBA on their stellar global career.
* May 4 – Steve Frame (George Reinholt) marries Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney) for the second time on a special hour-long broadcast of Another World, coinciding with the show's tenth anniversary.
* June 8 – Jon Pertwee makes his final regular appearance as the Third Doctor in the concluding moments of Part Six of the Doctor Who serial Planet of the Spiders. Tom Baker briefly appears as the Fourth Doctor at the conclusion of this serial.
* August 5 – For the first time on a pre-school children's programme, the UK show Inigo Pipkin covers the death of the main character, Inigo, as the actor who played him (George Woodbridge) had died. The show is renamed Pipkins.
* August 8 – US President Richard Nixon announces pending resignation (effective August 9) live on television.
* September 10 – The controversial TV movie Born Innocent, starring Linda Blair, airs on NBC. The film, which involved a fourteen-year-old being sent to what the television preview deemed a women's prison (when in reality it was a reform school), drew heavy criticism due to an all-female rape scene, the first ever seen on American television. The scene was deleted in subsequent re-airings after a group of girls assaulted an eight-year-old with a pop bottle, influenced by the scene in the film.
* October 6 – Monty Python's Flying Circus, the popular British sketch comedy which aired its final episode this year, is first shown in the U.S. on KERA-TV in Dallas, Texas, at 10pm.
* December 28 – Tom Baker makes his first full appearance as the Fourth Doctor in the Doctor Who serial Robot.
* On the American soap opera Love of Life, Meg Dale (Tudi Wiggins) calls her son Ben (Christopher Reeve) a "bastard", the first time a profanity was spoken on American daytime television.

## Programmes

* 60 Minutes (1968–present)
* All in the Family (1971–1979)
* All My Children (1970–2011)
* American Bandstand (1952–1989)
* Another World (1964–1999)
* Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972–1985)
* As the World Turns (1956–2010)
* Barnaby Jones (1973–1980)
* Blue Peter (UK) (1958–present)
* Bozo the Clown (1949–present)
* Candid Camera (1948–2014)
* Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984)
* Clyde Frog Show (1974–1976)
* Columbo (1971–1978)
* Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995)
* Coronation Street (UK) (1960–present)
* Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
* Cutey Honey (Japan) (1973–1974)
* Dad's Army (UK) (1968–1977)
* Days of Our Lives (1965–present)
* Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955–1976)
* Doctor Who (UK) (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
* Emergency! (1972–1977)
* Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972–present)
* Face the Nation (1954–present)
* Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1984)
* Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present)
* General Hospital (1963–present)
* Grandstand (UK) (1958–2007)
* Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
* Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
* Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
* Hee Haw (1969–1993)
* Ironside (1967–1975)
* It's Academic (1961–present)
* It Ain't Half Hot Mum (UK) (1974–1981)
* Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present)
* John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972–present)
* Kaynanalar (Turkey) (1974–2004)
* Kojak (1973–1978)
* Kung Fu (1972–1975)
* Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973–present)
* Love of Life (1951–1980)
* Magpie (UK) (1968–1980)
* Majokko Megu-chan (Japan) (1974–1975)
* Mannix (1967–1975)
* Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976)
* Mary Tyler Moore (1970–1977)
* M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
* Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
* Match Game '74 (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999)
* Maude (1972–1978)
* McCloud (1970–1977)
* McMillan & Wife (1971–1977)
* Meet the Press (1947–present)
* Monday Night Football (1970–present)
* Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971–1987)
* One Life to Live (1968–2012)
* Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956–1978).
* Panorama (UK) (1953–present)
* Play for Today (UK) (1970–1984)
* Play School (Australia) (1966–present)
* Sanford and Son (1972–1977)
* Schoolhouse Rock! (1973–2009)
* Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
* Sesame Street (1969–present)
* Soul Train (1971–2006)
* Space Battleship Yamato (Japan) (1974–1975)
* Superstars (UK) (1973–1985)
* The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969–1989)
* The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978)
* The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
* The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974)
* The Doctors (1963–1982)
* The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
* The Good Old Days (UK) (1953–1983)
* The Guiding Light (1952–2009)
* The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962–present)
* The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1982)
* The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981)
* The Money Programme (UK) (1966–present)
* The Odd Couple (1970–1975)
* The Price Is Right (1972–present)
* The Six Million Dollar Man (1973–1978)
* The Sky at Night (UK) (1957–present)
* The Today Show (1952–present)
* The Tomorrow Show (1973–1982)
* The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
* The Waltons (1972–1981)
* The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–1979)
* The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
* This Is Your Life (UK) (1955–2003)
* Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006)
* Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
* What the Papers Say (UK) (1956–present)
* World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985)
* Z-Cars (UK) (1962–1978)

## Debuts

* January 5 – Tiswas, a local programme in the Midlands (ATV) in the UK, though not fully automatically networked through ITV until 1979 (1974–82)
* January 7
** How to Survive a Marriage in a 90-minute special on NBC daytime
** Jackpot! (1974–75), a game show hosted by Geoff Edwards on daytime NBC
** Wish You Were Here...? premieres on ITV (1974–2003, 2007–)
* January 15 – Happy Days on ABC (1974–84)
* February 1 – Good Times (a spinoff of Maude) on CBS (1974–79)
* February 10 – Apple's Way on CBS (1974–1975)
* February 12 – Bagpuss (12 February – 7 May 1974)
* February 18 – Tattletales, hosted by Bert Convy, on CBS daytime (1974–78, 1982–84)
* March 3 – Nova on PBS (1974–present)
* March 13 – Clyde Frog Show on PBS (1974–1976)
* April 12 – Ultraman Leo on TBS in Japan (1974–75)
* May 6 – The $10,000 Pyramid moves to ABC, with Dick Clark as host
* July 1
** High Rollers on NBC (1974–76; 1978–80)
** Winning Streak on NBC daytime
* July 4 – CBS airs its first Bicentennial Minute (They will continue until the end of 1976)
* July 29 – Name That Tune on NBC daytime with Dennis James hosting, and in nighttime syndication with Tom Kennedy hosting
* September 4 – That's My Mama on CBS (1974–1975)
* September 7 (Saturday)
** Land of the Lost on NBC (1974–77)
** Valley of the Dinosaurs on CBS (1974–76)
** Shazam! on CBS (1974–77)
** Hong Kong Phooey on ABC (1974)
* September 9 (Monday)
** Rhoda on CBS (1974–78)
** The $25,000 Pyramid in syndication with host Bill Cullen; basically The $10,000 Pyramid with larger prizes
** Definition on CTV daytime (1974–89)
** Dinah! in syndication (1974–80)
* September 11 – Little House on the Prairie on NBC (1974–83)
* September 12
** Harry O on ABC (1974–76)
** Paper Moon on ABC (1974)
* September 13 (Friday)
** Chico and the Man (1974–78) on NBC
** The Rockford Files (1974–80) on NBC
** Police Woman (1974–78) on NBC
** The Texas Wheelers (1974) on ABC
** Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974–75) on ABC
** Planet of the Apes (1974) on CBS
* September 14 (Saturday)
** The New Land (1974) on ABC
** Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (1974–75) on CBS
* September 23 – Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins on CBC (1974–75)
* October 20 – Derrick, German Krimi written by Herbert Reinecker, starring Horst Tappert, on ZDF (1974–1988)
* November 8 – Countdown on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1974–87)
* December 20 – Chéri-Bibi on ORTF (1974–75)
* December 23 – The Big Showdown and The Money Maze on ABC daytime
* Unknown date – House of Pride on CBC (1974–76)

## Ending this year

| Date | Show | Debut |
| January 2 | Love Story | 1973 |
| January 11 | Love, American Style | 1969 |
| January 11 | Room 222 | 1969 |
| March 5 | Hawkins | 1973 |
| March 8 | The Brady Bunch | 1969 |
| March 11 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | 1971 |
| March 15 | Lotsa Luck | 1973 |
| March 18 | Here's Lucy | 1968 |
| March 23 | The Partridge Family | 1970 |
| March 24 | The Dean Martin Show | 1965 |
| April 1 | Colditz (UK) | 1972 |
| April 5 | Ultraman Taro (Japan) | 1973 |
| May 7 | Bagpuss | 1974 |
| May 29 | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | 1971 |
| June 27 | Audubon Wildlife Theatre | 1968 |
| June 27 | The Flip Wilson Show | 1970 |
| September 8 | The F.B.I. | 1965 |
| October 4 | The Texas Wheelers | 1974 |
| October 12 | Star Trek: The Animated Series | 1973 |
| October 19 | The New Land | 1974 |
| December 5 | Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) | 1969 |
| December 19 | Paper Moon | 1974 |
| December 20 | The Newlywed Game | 1966 |

## Births

| Date | Name | Notability |
| January 14 | Kevin Durand | Canadian actor (Dark Angel, Lost, The Strain) |
| January 18 | Devon Odessa | Actress (My So-Called Life) |
| January 18 | Maulik Pancholy | Actor (30 Rock, Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) |
| January 19 | Frank Caliendo | Comedian and impressionist (Mad TV, Fox NFL Sunday) |
| January 22 | Erica Messer | Writer |
| January 23 | Tiffani Thiessen | Actress (Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills, 90210, White Collar) |
| January 23 | Rebekah Elmaloglou | Actress |
| January 23 | Norah O'Donnell | American television journalist |
| January 24 | Ed Helms | Actor and comedian (The Daily Show, The Office) |
| January 28 | Ty Olsson | Actor |
| January 31 | Anna Silk | Canadian actress (Lost Girl) |
| February 5 | Rod Roddenberry | Television producer |
| February 5 | Omarosa | Reality TV personality |
| February 7 | Steve Nash | NBA basketball player |
| February 8 | Seth Green | Actor, comedian and director (Family Guy, Robot Chicken) |
| February 8 | Joshua Morrow | Actor (The Young and the Restless) |
| February 9 | Amber Valletta | Actress (Legends, Blood & Oil) |
| February 10 | Elizabeth Banks | Actress (Scrubs, 30 Rock, Moonbeam City) |
| February 11 | Alex Jones | Radio show host |
| February 12 | Lisa Brenner | Actress (All My Children) |
| February 16 | Mahershala Ali | Actor (The 4400, House of Cards, Luke Cage) |
| February 17 | David Lipper | Actor (Full House) |
| February 17 | Jerry O'Connell | Actor (Sliders, Crossing Jordan) |
| February 18 | Nicole St. John | Actress (Futurama) |
| February 18 | Jillian Michaels | American personal trainer |
| February 24 | Bonnie Somerville | Actress (Grosse Pointe, In-Laws, Code Black) |
| February 24 | Jenna Wolfe | Journalist |
| March 1 | Mark-Paul Gosselaar | Actor (Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell) |
| March 1 | Cara Buono | Actress (The Sopranos, Mad Men) |
| March 3 | David Faustino | Actor (Married... with Children) |
| March 5 | Kevin Connolly | Actor (Unhappily Ever After, Entourage) |
| March 5 | Eva Mendes | Actress |
| March 7 | Jenna Fischer | Actress (The Office You, Me and the Apocalypse) |
| March 10 | Cristián de la Fuente | Actor |
| March 12 | Jama Williamson | Actress (Parks and Recreation, Hollywood Heights, School of Rock, Just Add Magic) |
| March 14 | Grace Park | American-Canadian actress (Battlestar Galactica, Hawaii Five-0) |
| March 17 | Marisa Coughlan | Actress (Wasteland, Side Order of Life) |
| March 20 | Paula Garcés | Actress |
| March 21 | Rhys Darby | Actor |
| March 22 | Bassem Youssef | Comedian and TV host |
| March 23 | Randall Park | Actor (Fresh Off the Boat) |
| March 24 | Alyson Hannigan | Actress (Free Spirit, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, How I Met Your Mother) and singer |
| March 25 | Lark Voorhies | Actress (Saved by the Bell) |
| March 31 | Angela Dotchin | Actress (Shortland Street) |
| April 8 | Chris Kyle | United States Navy SEAL sniper who appeared on the reality television show Stars Earn Stripes (died 2013) |
| April 10 | Omar Metwally | Actor |
| April 11 | Tricia Helfer | Canadian actress and model (Battlestar Galactica) |
| April 12 | Marley Shelton | Actress (Eleventh Hour, The Lottery) |
| April 15 | Danny Pino | Actor (Cold Case, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) |
| April 16 | Grizz Chapman | Actor (30 Rock) |
| April 16 | Valarie Rae Miller | Actress |
| April 18 | Edgar Wright | Screenwriter |
| April 21 | Kevin Hageman | Screenwriter |
| April 23 | Barry Watson | Actor (7th Heaven) |
| April 26 | Ivana Miličević | Bosnian-American actress (Banshee) |
| April 27 | Joseph Millson | Actor |
| April 28 | Penélope Cruz | Spanish-American actress and model |
| April 28 | Vernon Kay | English television and radio presenter |
| May 7 | Breckin Meyer | Actor (Franklin & Bash) |
| May 15 | Russell Hornsby | Actor (Lincoln Heights, In Treatment, Grimm) |
| May 17 | Sendhil Ramamurthy | Actor (Heroes, Covert Affairs) |
| May 20 | The White Buffalo | Musician |
| May 21 | Fairuza Balk | Actress (Ray Donovan) |
| May 22 | Sean Gunn | Actor (Gilmore Girls) |
| May 22 | A.J. Langer | Actress (Drexell's Class, My So-Called Life, It's Like, You Know..., Three Sisters, Private Practice) |
| May 23 | Ken Jennings | Host |
| May 29 | Aaron McGruder | Writer |
| June 1 | Melissa Sagemiller | Actress (Sleeper Cell, Raising the Bar) |
| June 2 | Leah Cairns | Actress |
| June 3 | Arianne Zucker | Actress and model (Days of Our Lives) |
| June 5 | Chad Allen | Actor (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) |
| June 6 | Danny Strong | Actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls) |
| June 6 | Sonya Walger | English actress (The Mind of the Married Man, Lost, FlashForward, The Catch) |
| June 7 | Bear Grylls | English adventurer and TV host |
| June 12 | Jason Mewes | American actor |
| June 13 | Steve-O | American stunt performer and entertainer (Jackass) |
| June 13 | Valeri Bure | American former ice hockey right winger |
| June 17 | Matthew Senreich | American voice actor |
| June 19 | Bumper Robinson | Actor (Transformers: Animated, Avengers Assemble, Ben 10: Omniverse) |
| June 21 | Maggie Siff | Actress (Sons of Anarchy) |
| June 22 | Donald Faison | Actor (Scrubs) |
| June 22 | Lecy Goranson | Actress (Roseanne) |
| June 26 | Derek Jeter | MLB baseball player |
| June 28 | Rob Dyrdek | Actor |
| June 30 | Tony Rock | Actor and comedian (All of Us, Mann & Wife) |
| July 3 | Corey Reynolds | American actor |
| July 16 | Chris Pontius | American stunt performer (Jackass) |
| July 18 | Michael Dante DiMartino | American writer |
| July 19 | Eric Price | Actor and comedian (Mad TV) |
| July 19 | Ramin Djawadi | Composer |
| July 22 | Franka Potente | Actress (American Horror Story) |
| July 23 | Stephanie March | Actress (Conviction, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) |
| July 24 | Eugene Mirman | Russian-born American actor (Delocated, Bob's Burgers) |
| July 24 | Jay R. Ferguson | American actor (Mad Men) |
| July 25 | Lauren Faust | Animator (The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Wander Over Yonder) |
| July 25 | Adrienne Janic | Host |
| July 26 | Genevieve Gorder | HGTV host |
| July 26 | Gary Owen | Comedian |
| July 27 | Takehiro Hira | Japanese actor (Giri/Haji) |
| July 28 | Elizabeth Berkley | Actress (Saved by the Bell) |
| July 29 | Josh Radnor | Actor (How I Met Your Mother) |
| July 30 | Hilary Swank | Actress (Camp Wilder, Beverly Hills, 90210, The One Percent) and singer |
| August 1 | Matt Braunger | Actor (Mad TV) |
| August 1 | Ming Chen | Actor |
| August 3 | Mollie Hemingway | American conservative author |
| August 6 | Ever Carradine | Actress (Once and Again, Commander in Chief, Goliath) |
| August 7 | Chico Benymon | Actor (Half & Half) |
| August 13 | Karine Jean-Pierre | White House Press Secretary and political analyst (NBC News, MSNBC) |
| August 14 | Christopher Gorham | Actor |
| August 14 | Tomer Sisley | Actor |
| August 15 | Natasha Henstridge | Canadian actress (She Spies) |
| August 16 | Edwin E. Aguilar | Animator (The Simpsons, The Oblongs) |
| August 20 | Amy Adams | Actress |
| August 20 | Misha Collins | Actor (Supernatural, Gotham Knights) |
| August 22 | Jenna Leigh Green | Actress and singer (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) |
| August 22 | Kay Cannon | Actress |
| August 24 | Jennifer Lien | Actress (Star Trek: Voyager) |
| August 25 | Eric Millegan | Actor (Bones) |
| August 26 | Meredith Eaton | Actress |
| August 28 | Kristin Booth | Canadian actress (Signed, Sealed, Delivered) |
| August 29 | Jay Onrait | Canadian television personality |
| September 1 | Jhonen Vasquez | Animator (Invader Zim) |
| September 1 | Betty Nguyen | News anchor |
| September 6 | Chad Coleman | Actor (The Wire, The Walking Dead, The Expanse) |
| September 10 | Ben Wallace | NBA basketball player |
| September 17 | Rasheed Wallace | NBA basketball player |
| September 18 | Travis Schuldt | Actor (Scrubs, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Community) |
| September 18 | Xzibit | Rapper and actor (Pimp My Ride, Empire) |
| September 18 | Emily Rutherfurd | Actress |
| September 19 | Jimmy Fallon | Comedian and talk show host (Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show) |
| September 19 | Edi Patterson | Actress |
| September 24 | Jackie Sandler | Actress and wife of Adam Sandler |
| September 24 | Michelle Ray Smith | Actress (Guiding Light) |
| September 27 | Carrie Brownstein | Actress |
| September 29 | Brian Ash | Screenwriter |
| October 2 | Courtney Hansen | Actress |
| October 4 | Douglas Emerson | Actor (Beverly Hills, 90210) |
| October 6 | Jeremy Sisto | Actor (Law & Order, Six Feet Under) |
| October 7 | Allison Munn | Actress (What I Like About You, One Tree Hill, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn) |
| October 7 | Alexander Polinsky | Actor (Charles in Charge, Legion of Super Heroes, Teen Titans) |
| October 8 | Martin Henderson | New Zealand actor (Grey's Anatomy) |
| October 10 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Analyst for NASCAR on NBC |
| October 11 | Greg Poehler | Actor |
| October 16 | Björn Yttling | Songwriter |
| October 18 | Joy Bryant | Actress (Parenthood) |
| October 21 | Jeff Richards | Actor and comedian (Saturday Night Live, Mad TV) |
| November 4 | Melissa Lee | News anchor |
| November 6 | Zoe McLellan | Actress (JAG, Dirty Sexy Money, NCIS: New Orleans) |
| November 8 | Matthew Rhys | Welsh actor (Brothers & Sisters, The Americans, The Owl House) |
| November 11 | Leonardo DiCaprio | Actor (Growing Pains) |
| November 12 | Tamala Jones | Actress (For Your Love, Castle) |
| November 17 | Leslie Bibb | Actress (Popular, Crossing Jordan) |
| November 18 | Chloë Sevigny | Actress (Big Love, American Horror Story) and singer |
| November 20 | Marisa Ryan | Actress (Major Dad) |
| November 24 | Stephen Merchant | Actor |
| November 28 | apl.de.ap | Rapper |
| December 1 | Prentice Penny | Writer |
| December 11 | Lisa Ortiz | Voice actress (Sonic X, Slayers, Pokémon) |
| December 11 | Ben Shephard | Television presenter |
| December 13 | Debbie Matenopoulos | TV host |
| December 15 | P. J. Byrne | Actor (The Legend of Korra, Justice League Action, The Game) |
| December 17 | Sarah Paulson | Actress (American Horror Story) |
| December 17 | Giovanni Ribisi | Actor (Dads) |
| December 17 | Marissa Ribisi | Actress (Grown Ups) |
| December 18 | Kari Byron | Actress and TV host (Head Rush, MythBusters) |
| December 20 | Rachel Ramras | Actress |
| December 24 | Ryan Seacrest | TV host |
| December 25 | Patrick Brennan | Actor |
| December 26 | Tiffany Brissette | Actress (Small Wonder) |
| December 27 | Kylee Cochran | Actress |
| December 27 | Masi Oka | Japanese-American actor (Heroes, Hawaii Five-0) |
| December 29 | Maria Dizzia | Actress (Orange is the New Black) |
| December 29 | Mekhi Phifer | Actor (ER) |
| December 29 | Asheru | Hip hop artist |

## Deaths

| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
| March 19 | Edward Platt | 58 | Actor (Get Smart) |
| March 20 | Chet Huntley | 62 | Co-anchor of the NBC evening newscast |
| April 7 | Bobby Buntrock | 21 | Actor (Harold "Sport" Baxter on Hazel) |
| April 17 | Frank McGee | 52 | Journalist, NBC news |
| April 24 | Bud Abbott | 76 | Actor and comedian (The Abbott and Costello Show) |
| April 30 | Agnes Moorehead | 73 | Actress (Endora on Bewitched) |
| June 28 | Frank Sutton | 50 | Actor (Sergeant Vince Carter on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.) |
| July 15 | Christine Chubbuck | 29 | News reporter on WXLT in Sarasota, Florida (on-air suicide) |
| July 19 | Joe Flynn | 49 | Actor (Capt. Binghamton on McHale's Navy) |
| October 13 | Ed Sullivan | 73 | Host (The Ed Sullivan Show) |
| November 5 | Stafford Repp | 56 | Actor (Chief O'Hara on Batman) |
| December 11 | Reed Hadley | 63 | Actor (Rocket Squad, The Public Defender) |
| December 21 | Richard Long | 47 | Actor (The Big Valley, Nanny and the Professor) |
| December 26 | Jack Benny | 80 | American comedian (The Jack Benny Program) |

## Television debuts

* Daniel Auteuil – Les Fargeot
* Dan Aykroyd – The Gift of Winter
* Tom Bower – Kojak
* James Cromwell – The Rockford Files
* George Dzundza – Kung Fu
* Georgia Engel – Rhoda
* Victor Garber – ABC Afterschool Special
* Joe Grifasi – Police Surgeon
* Richard Griffiths – Crown Court
* Judd Hirsch – The Law
* Michael Ironside – The Ottawa Valley
* Carol Kane – The American Parade
* Michael Keaton – Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
* Delroy Lindo – Police Surgeon
* John Lithgow – The Country Girl
* Edie McClurg – Tony Orlando and Dawn
* Richard Masur – All in the Family
* Edward James Olmos – Cannon
* Sean Penn – Little House on the Prairie
* Christopher Reeve – Great Performances
* Brooke Shields – After the Fall
* Frank Sivero – Happy Days
* Dee Wallace – Lucas Tanner
* JoBeth Williams – Great Performances