Lee Thompson Young gets ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ tribute | CNN

Lee Thompson Young gets ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ tribute

Breeanna Hare, CNN
2 minute read
Published 11:58 AM EDT, Wed June 25, 2014
Chris Farley, at center with filmmakers Tyron Montgomery, left, and Thomas Stellmach after they won the Oscar for best animated short film for "Quest" in 1997. Farley was working on the animated film "Shrek" when he died of an overdose in 1997. His "SNL" colleague Mike Myers took over the role. Here's a look at other celebrities who have died during the production of movies and TV shows.
Stars who died during production —
Chris Farley, at center with filmmakers Tyron Montgomery, left, and Thomas Stellmach after they won the Oscar for best animated short film for "Quest" in 1997. Farley was working on the animated film "Shrek" when he died of an overdose in 1997. His "SNL" colleague Mike Myers took over the role. Here's a look at other celebrities who have died during the production of movies and TV shows.
Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images
Lee Thompson Young was appearing on TNT's "Rizzoli & Isles" when he committed suicide in August.
Stars who died during production —
Lee Thompson Young was appearing on TNT's "Rizzoli & Isles" when he committed suicide in August.
D. Billy Ingram/Getty Contributor
The <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/02/showbiz/philip-seymour-hoffman-obit/index.html">death of Philip Seymour Hoffman </a>won't affect the release of the last "Hunger Games" movie, as he had <a href="http://variety.com/2014/film/news/philip-seymour-hoffmans-death-will-not-delay-hunger-games-finale-1201083110/#" target="_blank" target="_blank">completed filming of most of his scenes as game master Plutarch Heavensbee.</a>
Stars who died during production —
The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman won't affect the release of the last "Hunger Games" movie, as he had completed filming of most of his scenes as game master Plutarch Heavensbee.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
After Paul Walker's death in a car crash in November 2013, producers decided to retire his character, Brian O'Conner, in "Fast & Furious 7."
Stars who died during production —
After Paul Walker's death in a car crash in November 2013, producers decided to retire his character, Brian O'Conner, in "Fast & Furious 7."
YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images/file
Heath Ledger was filming "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" in 2008 when he died of accidental drug intoxication. The film was completed using other actors as fantasy versions of Ledger's character.
Stars who died during production —
Heath Ledger was filming "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" in 2008 when he died of accidental drug intoxication. The film was completed using other actors as fantasy versions of Ledger's character.
Carlo Allegri/Getty Images
Phil Hartman rose to fame for his impersonations including President Bill Clinton on "Saturday Night Live," but he was starring on the sitcom "NewsRadio" when he was shot to death by his wife in 1998. Actor Jon Lovitz replaced him.
Stars who died during production —
Phil Hartman rose to fame for his impersonations including President Bill Clinton on "Saturday Night Live," but he was starring on the sitcom "NewsRadio" when he was shot to death by his wife in 1998. Actor Jon Lovitz replaced him.
Gerry Goodstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Jon-Erik Hexum was a 26-year-old rising star in 1984 when he shot himself with a prop gun on the set of his new TV series, "Cover Up." The blank drove a piece of his skull into his brain, and he was taken off of life support a week later. His character was killed off
Stars who died during production —
Jon-Erik Hexum was a 26-year-old rising star in 1984 when he shot himself with a prop gun on the set of his new TV series, "Cover Up." The blank drove a piece of his skull into his brain, and he was taken off of life support a week later. His character was killed off
David Mcgough/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
Brandon Lee was filming the movie "The Crow" in 1993 when he was accidentally shot and killed during a scene. Lee was the son of ...
Stars who died during production —
Brandon Lee was filming the movie "The Crow" in 1993 when he was accidentally shot and killed during a scene. Lee was the son of ...
Barry King/WireImage/Getty Images
Actor and martial arts expert Bruce Lee, who was working on dubbing the film "Enter the Dragon" when he died in 1973 of a brain edema, caused by a prescription painkiller.
Stars who died during production —
Actor and martial arts expert Bruce Lee, who was working on dubbing the film "Enter the Dragon" when he died in 1973 of a brain edema, caused by a prescription painkiller.
Getty Images
Vic Morrow, here in "The Streets of San Francisco" in 1973, died along with two child actors in 1982 when a stunt helicopter crashed on top of them during the filming of "Twilight Zone: The Movie." The accident resulted in an involuntary manslaughter case against director John Landis and four others. The group was ultimately acquitted.
Stars who died during production —
Vic Morrow, here in "The Streets of San Francisco" in 1973, died along with two child actors in 1982 when a stunt helicopter crashed on top of them during the filming of "Twilight Zone: The Movie." The accident resulted in an involuntary manslaughter case against director John Landis and four others. The group was ultimately acquitted.
ABC Photo Archives
Cory Monteith's death in 2013 at the age of 31 from an overdose of drugs and alcohol meant his hit show, "Glee," had to figure out how best to deal with his character. Monteith's character, Finn Hudson, center, also died on the series, though the cause of death was not revealed.
Stars who died during production —
Cory Monteith's death in 2013 at the age of 31 from an overdose of drugs and alcohol meant his hit show, "Glee," had to figure out how best to deal with his character. Monteith's character, Finn Hudson, center, also died on the series, though the cause of death was not revealed.
Adam Rose/FOX
John Ritter died of an aortic dissection at the height of his show "8 Simple Rules" in 2003. David Spade and James Garner were later cast.
Stars who died during production —
John Ritter died of an aortic dissection at the height of his show "8 Simple Rules" in 2003. David Spade and James Garner were later cast.
Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images
River Phoenix was almost finished filming "Dark Blood" when he died of drug-induced heart failure in 1993. It would take 19 years for the film to be completed.
Stars who died during production —
River Phoenix was almost finished filming "Dark Blood" when he died of drug-induced heart failure in 1993. It would take 19 years for the film to be completed.
Getty Images
"The Royal Family" was in rehearsals when Redd Foxx died of a heart attack in 1991. The TV comedy had been intended as a comeback vehicle for Foxx and did not survive long after his death.
Stars who died during production —
"The Royal Family" was in rehearsals when Redd Foxx died of a heart attack in 1991. The TV comedy had been intended as a comeback vehicle for Foxx and did not survive long after his death.
ap
Freddie Prinze, left, was starring on "Chico and the Man" when he fatally shot himself in 1977. Child actor Gabriel Melgar was brought in to play a new character, Raul, after Prinze's death.
Stars who died during production —
Freddie Prinze, left, was starring on "Chico and the Man" when he fatally shot himself in 1977. Child actor Gabriel Melgar was brought in to play a new character, Raul, after Prinze's death.
NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
When John Spencer died of a heart attack in 2005, his character on "The West Wing," Leo McGarry, suffered the same fate.
Stars who died during production —
When John Spencer died of a heart attack in 2005, his character on "The West Wing," Leo McGarry, suffered the same fate.
NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned in 1981 near Santa Catalina Island, California, during production of the science fiction film "Brainstorm." Her co-star, Christopher Walken, was sailing with the actress and her husband, Robert Wagner, at the time.
Stars who died during production —
Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned in 1981 near Santa Catalina Island, California, during production of the science fiction film "Brainstorm." Her co-star, Christopher Walken, was sailing with the actress and her husband, Robert Wagner, at the time.
Getty Images
Stars who died during production

Story highlights

"Rizzoli & Isles" eulogized Lee Thompson Young's character on Tuesday

The episode showed the cast grieving

Angie Harmon's Jane Rizzoli gave a moving tribute

The executive producer wanted to honor Young's memory

CNN  — 

Lee Thompson Young’s “Rizzoli & Isles” character, Detective Barry Frost, was given an emotional farewell in Tuesday’s episode.

The 29-year-old actor committed suicide last August, and his absence from the show has been treated with sensitivity. Young’s Barry Frost has been written out of the show as a victim of a tragic car accident, and Tuesday’s episode, appropriately titled “Goodbye,” showed the rest of the cast coming to terms with their loss.

Angie Harmon’s character, Detective Jane Rizzoli, particularly struggled with her grief and gave a moving eulogy at Frost’s memorial.

“We shouldn’t be here today,” Harmon’s Rizzoli began. “Barry Frost was too young and too good for us to be here today. But yet, here we are. I’ve been given the incredible honor of talking about how much we all loved Barry, and I could say a lot and then go sit down, but it wouldn’t do him justice.”

As photos of Young flashed across the screen, Harmon’s character pointed out that “Barry was so many things to so many people. A son. A cop. A friend. I met Barry when he joined homicide. He was so nervous because parts of the job didn’t quite agree with him, but he didn’t let that stand in his way. … He always wanted to try new things and push himself. I admired the passion he brought to his work. I will miss him as my partner. I will miss him as my friend.”

It wasn’t a stretch to imagine that Harmon wasn’t just reciting dialogue as part of the episode’s story, but was speaking about her former co-star as well.

“Angie was absolutely amazing in that scene,” “Rizzoli & Isles’” executive producer Jane Nash told TVGuide.com. “She was focused on the eulogy being exactly right, that it be reflective of Barry Frost’s character and also be reflective of Lee.”

Young grew to fame as the star of Disney’s “The Famous Jett Jackson” and moved on to star in the 2004 movie “Friday Night Lights,” along with roles in TV shows like “FlashForward” and “Smallville.” He’d starred as Frost on TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles” since 2010, and was in production for the final episodes of season four when he died in August.

“Our benchmark was, if his family chose to watch it, would they feel like we honored his memory?” Nash told TVGuide.com. “His family gets to decide if we did or not, but we feel we honored him and did what we set out to do.”