Monique King, reportedly Gatess girlfriend at the time, falsely claimed that Merlin made some sort of physical advance on her, according to Deputy District Attorney Greg Dohi. In the show, Smith played a fictionalized version of himself who's sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air after a confrontation with a violent gang. Beginning his career in the early 1990s, Santana was best known for his roles as Rudy Huxtable's boyfriend Stanley on The Cosby Show, Marcus Dixon on Getting By, Marcus Henry in Under One Roof and Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1996 - 2002).. Scroll Down and find everything about the Merlin Santana you need to know . Santana, 26, who recently appeared in the Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro movie Showtime, was shot to death early Saturday while sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked in south Los Angeles. After the car plowed through a fence and rolled down an embankment, Bentley was thrown from the car and into traffic, where he was hit by five other vehicles. Paramedics were called but Santana was pronounced dead at the scene. The girl told Merlin that her name was Mercedes. Behind the scenes, Strickland suffered from mental health and substance abuse issues. For those actors who remain in our memories and in the shows that brought us so much laughter, here are some sitcom actors you may not know have sadly passed away. Merlin Santana, Who Played Stanley on 'The Cosby Show', Was 26 When False Claims against Him Led to His Death By Oyin Balogun Nov 04, 2019 01:00 P.M. Merlin Santana's life held a lot of promise, but it got cut-off at the age of 26 in the most tragic way possible. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. It took Brandon years to learn to cope with the death of his best friend, Merlin Santana, after watching him die right there in front of him. BeforeHome Improvement, he was best known as Detective Lieutenant Bob Reid on the soap operaRyan's Hope. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. An LAPD officer involved in the case testified that Monique King, reportedly shooter Gates's girlfriend, only aged 15 at the time, falsely claimed that Santana made sexual advances towards her which prompted the Gates' and Bynes' attack. Santana also had guest appearances on a number of television shows, including JAG, The Cosby Show, Major Dad, Moesha and Sister, Sister. . What many may not know is that Merlin was murdered in cold blood at the age of 26, in 2002 and the reason he was murdered will make you even more heartbroken and angry at the same time. He appeared in the 1981 military school dramaTapsand the 1985 westernSilverado, and he enjoyed recurring roles on popular TV shows like Spenser: For HireandThe Equalizer. LOS ANGELES (AP) A woman was arrested early Monday in the weekend shooting death of television and film actor Merlin Santana, but Los Angeles police provided no other details. Nearly two decades after the "Steve Harvey Show" icon's death, the survivor is now forty years old, and no longer the teen heartthrob many remember. With his face always obscured usually by their shared fence Earl Hindman's Wilson W. Wilson Jr. acted as confidant to Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) and doled out Yoda-like wisdom to the tool-obsessed Tim. Published by at February 16, 2022. Kelly was replaced in the role by Christina Moore. After they were shot, Adams managed to speed off and park in a safe place, thats when he noticed Santana was slumped over in his seat, so he called 911 and they were rushed to the hospital where Santana unfortunately succumbed to his fatal gunshot wounds at 26 years old. A teenage girl was found guilty Tuesday of helping two men kill popular young actor Merlin Santana, making a clean sweep for prosecutors, who earlier won convictions against her two codefendants. Santana was pronounced dead at the scene, Lt. Clay Farrell said Sunday. I lost everything, and I was abusing alcohol.". (Merlin) was my best friend, and (the murder) was a senseless thing. His last television acting role was on the UPN series, Half & Half, while his last film role was in the 2003 comedy film, The Blues with Deon Richmond. Merlin Santana Wikipedia Fidler, trying the case without a jury, found King guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder. In the early '90s, he led the political satireHearts Afireas senatorial aide John Hartman, and he played memorable film roles like the concerned friend and store owner Vaughan in 1996's Oscar-winningSling Blade. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Best coffee city in the world? On November 9, 2002, Santana was murdered while sitting in a car in Los Angeles. In 1991, Santana landed a recurring . The friend drove off and flagged down a police car. A few years before his death, McKeon moved to Wimberly, Texas, to be closer to his family and host his own talk radio show. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. TV creates a kind of immortality for its actors that can seem surreal, especially when the screen goes black, and we remember how much time has passed since the program aired. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Merlin Santana, a US television and film actor who appeared in this year's Eddie Murphy movie, Showtime, was shot to death while sitting in a parked car, authorities said Sunday. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. Morrison was asked to reprise the role of "Ro-Ro" for the 2017 revival ofWill & Grace, but by that point, Morrison had retired from acting for good. In January 2004, King was found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder,[3] but was acquitted on two murder charges, receiving ten years in juvenile custody as a result of Santana's death. I'm an actor. He was with his friend and former child actor Brandon Quintin Adams. Santana, 26, best known for his role as Romeo Santana on "The Steve Harvey Show," was shot as he sat in a parked car in the 3800 block of Victoria Avenue, a quiet residential street in South Los Angeles. The producers said the final Merlin scene was exactly that to show Merlin in the present was waiting for Arthur'ss comeback. Romeo Santana is a fictional character played by actor Merlin Santana on the television series The Steve Harvey Show. The show aired from 1996 to 2002 and was set in a high school in Chicago, where Steve Harvey played a music teacher named Steve Hightower. Santana and his friend were about to leave when one of the men shot him in the head as he sat in the passenger seat of a car. This happened shortly after the actor left another mans home in the Los Angeles, California. Fame came in '91 when he portrayed "Stanley" the boyfriend of "Rudy Huxtable" on "The Cosby Show. Trial and Allegations against Santana In 2003, Gates was convicted of the first-degree murder of Santana and the attempted murder of Adams and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison. An aspiring rapper as well as an actor, Bentley took on the role of Tupac Shakur for the 2001 TV movieToo Legit: The MC Hammer Story, and that same year, he appeared with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg inThe Wash. Plus, some of his earliest work was on the short-lived but critically acclaimed Fox seriesSouth Central. He is best known for his role as Keshia Knight Pulliam's admirer, Stanley on The Cosby Show and the high school student, Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show. Along with some other acting work including voice work on the G.I. It's been almost 20 years. He was the voice of the villain Shredder in the originalTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesanimated series and of James Rhodes, aka War Machine, in the '90sIron Mancartoon. Not long after, Santana's character Marcus proved to be one of the most popular parts ofGetting By, a short-lived sitcomabout two single mothers and their children. The actress went on to reprise the role of Andell on the spin-offThe Parkers. The crime took place around 2:30 a.m. when at least one person approached the car and fired at Santana, who was in the passenger seat. Harvey said during a KCBS-TV interview Monday. From 1986 to 1990, NBC brought its viewersALF, a series about a family sheltering Gordon Shumway, aka the titular ALF a fuzzy, smart-mouthed alien from the planet Melmac who occasionally tried to eat the family cat. Vizaca.com participates in many affiliate marketing programs & sponsored content which means we get paid commissions on products purchased through our links to retail websites. "The investigation is ongoing, and no further comment will be given at this time," Lt. Horace Frank said. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. Sam Cooke Soundtrack | Innerspace But in 1996, he was tapped for the part he'll forever be known for as young, eager rock reporter Todd Stities on the Brooke Shields-led Suddenly Susan. Koenig's acting work after Growing Pains wasn't extensive, though he had some other memorable claims to fame. Gates was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison for the murder of Santana and attempted murder of Brandon Quintin Adams, who was in the car with Santana. In 2002 I recall the day I heard Merlin Santana had been shot in the head while sitting in a car in California. Santana was in Los Angeles at the time of his death and was sitting in a car with a friend, Damien Andre Gates, when they were approached by three men. This tragedy struck Adams and his friendin 2002 and it over something so senseless and stupid. Then, in December 2019, news broke that Morrison had passed away "from heart failure after a brief illness" at the age of 83. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? In 2003, Gates was convicted of the first-degree murder of Santana and the attempted murder of Adams and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison. Yvette Wilson began her career as a stand-up comic, and she also made audiences laugh on the big screen in 1994's House Party 3 and 1995's Friday,among others. Pending. He was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison. In 2003, Gates was convicted. She died shortly after checking in to rehab in August 2013. Illicit Deeds is your source for real-life murder cases and riveting mysteries. But the role she became best known for wouldn't come until 1999, with the season one finale ofWill & Grace. King left, then later returned outside the residence with Bynes and Gates. Merlin Santana attends the WB Winter TCA Press Tour All-Star Party on January 6, 2001 at Il Fornaio Restaurant in Pasadena | Photo: Getty Images. Merlin Santana died 15 years ago today at the age of 26. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The 26-year-old Showtime star was shot to death while sitting in a parked car on a quiet street in south Los Angeles on Saturday. Categories . merlin santana death scene. Born in Upper Manhattan, New York City to parents from the Dominican Republic, Santana's career in show business began with a push from his parents, who wanted to keep him off the tough streets of New York. Damien Andre Gates, 21, was convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying and sentenced in February to 70 years to life in prison. Under Review. They got into a car, but before driving off, gunshots targeted at the actor erupted, with a bullet hitting him. Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler sentenced Monique King, who was 15 when Santana was killed in November 2002, to a California Youth Authority prison until she turns 25. David Strickland's acting career was tragically short. Strickland was reportedly off his prescribed medication and upset about much of his role in the 1999 rom-comForces of Naturebeing left on the cutting room floor when he and Andy Dick flew to Las Vegas in March 1999. When the teenage characters ofMoeshaneeded a place to hang out, they went to The Den owned by Andell Wilkerson, played by Wilson. Merlin Santana (March 14, 1976 November 9, 2002) was an American actor and rapper. On the Give Forward page (via The Washington Post), Wilson's friend Jeffrey Pittle created to help cover her medical costs, Pittle wrote that Wilson was being told by doctors that her cervical cancer, which had been in "extended retreat," was coming back more aggressive than ever. Burial. It's a different experience seeing a sitcom star delivering their famous catch phrase when you know they'll never say it, or anything else, again. Merlin Santana was an actor and rapper who was shot dead in a parked car on November 9th, 2002. He was sitting in the passenger seat shortly after 2:30 a.m. when at least one person approached the car and . Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler sentenced Monique King . Advertisement He was gone but never forgotten. He was 31 years old. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Los Angeles police arrested a female suspect yesterday morning, in connection to actor Merlin Santana's murder. Audiences didn't get to see the character's entire face until the series finale's curtain call, though in the meantime,Home Improvementoccasionally had fun with the audience by showing the bottom half of his face but not the top. This weekend, a lot of Merlin Santanas fans have paid their respects on social media, who would have been 45 years this year. Many of you probably recognize former kid actor, Brandon Quintin Adams. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Tuesday that Rivera's cause of death was drowning, following the completion of an autopsy report. Brandon doesn't speak publicly too much about that horrific night, but he revealed this to Jet Magazine: "It was devastating. Santana, 26, was . Sitcom Actors You Didn't Know Passed Away. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! ", He equally had prominence for the six years he spent on "The Steve Harvey Show" as "Romeo Santana. ", Merlin Santana during WB Network All Star Party at Il Fornaio Restaurant in Pasadena, California | Photo: Getty Images. Salary in 2022. Santana, 26, who recently appeared in the Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro movie Showtime, was shot to death early Saturday while sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked in south Los Angeles. At the time, his family claimed that he was killed for wearing a Lil JoJo hoodie . She was charged with driving under the influence in North Carolina in 2010, and in 2013,she was arrested for DUI again when she reportedly parked her car on California's I-5 freeway, blocking a lane of traffic. Merlin Santana was a very gifted actor and his murder was utterly senseless. [But] I've done pretty good.". [] Brandon said he was the one friend of his who couldve had anything that I had.. speaks out against the above mentioned and. From 1976 to 1985, audiences enjoyed the antics happening in Mel's Diner onAlice, a sitcom based on the 1974 Martin Scorsese filmAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Merlin Santana was an American actor and rapper. Why didnt she get as much time as her killer counterparts combined? Shortly afterward, he died from his injuries. He was 68. He is well-known for his role; he played the role of Stanley, Rudy Huztables boyfriend, on The Cosby Show., He also played the role of Marcus Dixon in Getting By and Marcus Henry in Under One Roof, and he gave his last performance by playing the character of Romeo Santana on The Steve Harvey Show.. In 1995, Santana was cast as Marcus Henry in the short-lived CBS family drama Under One Roof, co-starring with James Earl Jones, Joe Morton and Vanessa Bell Calloway. What happened to Merlin Santana? Wishing a Happy Heavenly 45th Birthday to Merlin Santana! pic.twitter.com/mLUmzdsX3k. The bullet penetrated the right-front passenger headrest and entered Santana's head, killing him. What happened to Monique King Merlin Santana? If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Merlin Santana, who was nominated for NAACP Image and ALMA Awards for his recurring role as Romeo Santana on "The Steve Harvey Show" was killed Saturday (Nov. 9) in Los Angeles while sitting in a parked car. _taboola.push({ Merlin Santana on set of the Steve Harvey show. Latest and most popular Youtube videos for Merlin Santana, including interviews, music videos, advertisements, trailers and film clips. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. TO GOOGLE AND IT'S AFFILIATES: Using copyright material for commentary and criticism is NOT copyright infringement. Merlin Santana was born on March 14, 1976 in New York City, New York, United States, United States, is Actor. For better or worse, that can change the way we watch those programs. Simply because Monique was offended that Merlin treated her like a Ms.-hit-it-and-quit-it after she willingly had sex with him on the first night, she thought the man deserved to die over it?!! Happy 45th Birthday Merlin Santana., Another one said: Merlin Santana wouldve been 45 years old today Happy Eternal Earthday., Someone else added: Happy heavenly birthday Merlin Santana.. If Monique has served her full sentence, she is probably out of prison now and living out the rest of her life, something that Merlin will never have the opportunity to do. Initially, he was treated for a heart attack, but it was later discovered he had a tear in his aorta. The pill-popping Karen (Megan Mullally) mentions the character of Rosario as early as the series premiere, but we don't actually meet her until "Object of My Rejection" when Karen gets Jack (Sean Hayes) to marry Rosario so she won't be deported. First Name Merlin #1. Most of his live-action roles were of the smaller variety, and in a 2007 interview with the New York Film Academy (via CNN), he was candid about missing the spotlight, saying, "You can either be a movie star or an actor. On the season three finale, "A Day in the Life," Stitie's co-workers panic when he goes missing. After the sentencing, the Deputy District Attorney, Greg Dohi said: "This case was tragic all around Merlin Santana was a very gifted actor, and his murder was utterly senseless." Brandon immediately called 911 in which Merlin was taken to the hospital but later died. Our condolences go out to Merlin Santanas family. March 14 Actor #10. What I didn't know was the details surrounding his case. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Among other things, he scored a regular appearance on the Norm McDonald sitcomNorm and received a Tony nomination for his work on the Anton Chekhov playIvanov. DEATH DATE Nov 9, 2002 (age 26) Popularity . Teenager convicted in actor's death Wikipedia: Merlin Santana It's Been 15 Years Since The Death Of 'Steve Harvey Show' Star Merlin Santana Movies/Documentaries Final Cut: Cost of Fame Defendants Damien Andre Gates - convicted, sentenced to 3 consecutive life sentences plus 70 years Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder charge against King in connection with the November 9, 2002 shooting. Merlin Santana was a famous actor and model and performed his best in numerous films. In 1995, Wright was diagnosed with lymphoma, which went into remission after radiation and chemotherapy treatments. It returned, and Wright succumbed to the disease in 2019 at the age of 75. His fans and friends gave tributes, and they paid respect to him. This is the one of the sickest attempts of revenge Ive ever heard. Depending on which era you came up in, you either remember actor, Merlin Santana, as Stanley, Rudy Huxtables boyfriend on The Cosby Show, or you remember him as Romeo, thestudent on The Steve Harvey Show who was always trying to mack on the females at the school.