About. The injury eventually led to a brain hemorrhage from which he didn't recover. 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. The L.A. County Coroner deemed her death was due to accidental "multiple drug intoxication." Merlin Santana was a very gifted actor and his murder was utterly senseless. Al Adamson was a master of kitschy, low-budget horror movies, only to find himself a victim in a story that could have come straight from one of his own films. heidi swedberg talks about seinfeld; voxx masi wheels review; paleoconservatism polcompball; did steve and cassie gaines have siblings; trevor williams family; max level strength tarkov; zeny washing machine manual; merlin santana death scene. They got into a car, but before driving off, gunshots targeted at the actor erupted, with a bullet hitting him. In the early '90s, he played the recurring role of Stanley boyfriend of the Huxtables' youngest daughter, Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) onThe Cosby Show. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Why didnt she get as much time as her killer counterparts combined? Years before Will Smith was punching out aliens, he was better known as half of the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, who became household names with their 1988 single "Parents Just Don't Understand." TO GOOGLE AND IT'S AFFILIATES: Using copyright material for commentary and criticism is NOT copyright infringement. His death was caused by a gunshot wound to the head. David Strickland's acting career was tragically short. ", Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Phylicia Rashad, Tempestt Bledsoe, Bill Cosby, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Lisa Bonet on "The Cosby Show" | Photo: Getty Images, Born on March 10th, 1976, in New York City, Santana began his acting career at the age of ten. 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. 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? Merlin Santana (March 14, 1976 - November 9, 2002) was an American actor and rapper. On his birthday, March 14. Merlin Santanas death was a tragic loss to the entertainment industry, and he is remembered fondly by his fans and colleagues. Advertisement THE AFTERMATH However, the shooters were not as lucky. . The friend drove off and flagged down a police car. He acquitted King on two lesser charges. A 17-year-old girl whose lies prompted two men to kill actor Merlin Santana was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in juvenile prison. . Los Angeles: On Saturday, November 9, 2002 at approximately 2:39 A.M., two Los Angeles Police Officers were flagged down by a male motorist at Crenshaw Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard. Merlin Santana was an actor and rapper who was shot dead in a parked car on November 9th, 2002. Santana died at the scene. 0. merlin santana death scene. [But] I've done pretty good.". Merlin Santana was an actor and rapper who was shot dead in a parked car on November 9th, 2002. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Her story was covered on TV Ones Celebrity Crime Files. She only received a sentencing of 10 YEARS in juvenile hall for her participation in the crime! 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. It took me a long time to recover from that. The officers observed that a male passenger was seated in the passenger Continue reading "Robbery Homicide Detectives Solve Actors Murder" 9 Nov 2002 (aged 26) Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Merlin Santana was born on March 14, 1976 in New York City, New York, United States, United States, is Actor. Combien gagne t il d argent ? 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. He was 54 years old, a week shy of his 55th birthday. Actor Merlin Santana Was Murdered In California Because Of A Lie, New York Woman Charged In War Vets Murder Gets Time Served After Plea Deal. This case was tragic all around, said Deputy Dist. Merlin Santana of "The Cosby Show" fame led a life that held a lot of promise, but it got cut short at the age of 26, when a bullet from a 12 gauge shotgun hit him in the head, killing him on the spot. He opened his eyes on March 14, 1976, and began his acting and modeling career in the 1990s. In January 2005, Bentley was on his way home from the screening of the short filmShards when he got into a single-car accident. Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder charge against King in connection with the November 9, 2002 shooting. When Merlin and his friend left the party, they sat in Brandons car for a second or so. Coleman played the youngest of two Harlem-born brothers taken in by successful businessman Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain). Merlin Santana Wikipedia The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The episode ends with the police calling to report Stitie's fate, which is left ambiguous. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. [1] He began his career at the age of three as an advertising model for a fast food chain. Nothing good came of Arthur's death, and Merlin was allowed no possible way out of his grief and regret - not even death, as the final scene strongly hinted that he'd indeed been waiting. 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The friend drove off and flagged down a police car. Therefore the owner of this account does not promote or condone any person/entity to use or distribute this material for commercial purposes without permission from the owner of this material. But for each of its subsequent episodes, Philip McKeon played the young Tommy. Merlin Santana at the Il Fornaio Restaurant in Pasadena | Photo: Getty Images. Several fans gave tributes to him which were circulated on social media who would have been 45 this year. Merlin Santana, was killed by a gunshot wound while sitting in the passenger seat of a car in 2002. Merlin died at the age of 26 back in 2002. Later on that evening, Merlin and Mercedes had sex and then went their separate ways afterwards. The same year that series ended, Santana was murdered in his car in Los Angeles. 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. Monique only got 10 years in juvenile hall for her participation in the crime. McKeon started his career as a child model and scored the spot onAlicewhen the show'slead, Linda Lavin, saw him in a Broadway performance ofMedea and Jasonand recommended him for the role. An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works He was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison. The three were arrested soon after the killing of Santana. 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. 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. Gates got three life sentences, and 70 years imprisonment for murder and attempted murder of Adams, and Bynes got 23 years after pleading guilty. Behind the scenes, Strickland suffered from mental health and substance abuse issues. Hopefully Monique King and her accomplices have been rehabilitated, and we can only pray that Merlin Santanas loved ones have found a way to manage their grief. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Merlin Santana, a 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 2003, Gates was convicted of a first-degree degree and received three life sentences and a 70-year sentence. His killers include 21-year-old Damien Andre Gates and 25-year-old Brandon Douglas Bynes. Atty. $1 Million - $5 Million. While he'd already appeared on television including on sitcoms likeGood TimesandThe Jeffersons, the role Gary Coleman will always be remembered for is Arnold Jackson onDiff'rent Strokes. At the time, she said she was ready for a comeback, but unfortunately, that wasn't in the cards. On November 9, 2002, Santana was murdered while sitting in a car in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Gates friend, Brandon Douglas Bynes, received a 23-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, and voluntary manslaughter. Kelly was replaced in the role by Christina Moore. She was 33. While still searching foracting gigs, Merlin would sometimes hang out with his boys and meet women, until that one night when he met the female who would ultimately cause him to meet his death date on November 9, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. The cause of death was a bullet to the head. Sitcom Actors You Didn't Know Passed Away. Two men, Damien Andre Gates and Brandon Douglas Bynes, were identified as the suspects who shot and killed Merlin Santana in Los Angeles, California, on November 9, 2002. Al Adamson was a master of kitschy, low-budget horror movies, only to find himself a victim in a story that could have come straight from one of his own films. All content, including text, and images contained on. He was the son of Walter Koenig, best known as Pavel Chekov fromStar Trek: The Original Seriesand the subsequent films. Many fans and social media users paid respects and emotional tributes on Merlins birthday on Sunday, March 14th. Carbonell went on to say Strickland would"have a bad episode, and we'd all worry about it for a night or two, and he'd resurface as if nothing had happened.". In November 1994, Santana appeared on Sister, Sister as Joey, who falls in love with Tia and Tamera (Tia and Tamera Mowry) at Rocket Burger. Brandon was also a very popular young 90s actor who was cute and talented. Merlin Santana was a famous actor and model and performed his best in numerous films. Happy 45th Birthday Merlin Santana., Another fan remembered him by saying that Merlin Santana wouldve been 45 years old today Happy Eternal Earthday., His numerous fans remembered him, saying They would never forget the actor.. In 2002 I recall the day I heard Merlin Santana had been shot in the head while sitting in a car in California. Death. The two had just left an acquaintance's home in the Crenshaw District. Merlin Santana. Co-star Anne Schedeen who played Willie's wife, Kate toldPeoplethat on the last day of filming, Wright "walked off the set, went to his dressing room, got his bags, went to his car, and disappeared.". 21-year-old Damien Andre Gates was convicted of first-degree murder in the murder and sentenced to 70 years to life in prison. It happened on the night of November 9th, 2002; Santana and his friend, Brando Quintin Adams, were leaving the latter's apartment at Crenshaw District, Los Angeles. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. She was charged with corporal injury upon a spouse in March 2012, and that November, both Kelly and her husband, Robert Joseph Gilliam, were arrested after an alleged domestic disturbance. "Justice will be served," the judge said. Many people paid tributes to the actor and rapper who would have turned 45 years old on March 14th, 2021. Lamont Bentley played neighbor, friend, and sometimes love interest to Moesha (Brandy Norwood) onMoeshaand its spin-offThe Parkers. Shelley Morrison enjoyed a long, fruitful acting career, including regular appearances as Sister Sixto on SallyField's late '60s sitcomThe Flying Nun. Net Worth in 2022. Brandon doesnt speak publicly too much about that horrific night, but he revealed this to Jet Magazine: It was devastating. Between 1996 and 1999, he played the role of Ohagi on Moesha. 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. On the season three finale, "A Day in the Life," Stitie's co-workers panic when he goes missing. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Unfortunately, Wilson lost her battle with multiple illnesses in June 2012at the age of 48. He was best known for his roles as Rudy Huxtable's admirer Stanley on The Cosby Show, Marcus Dixon on Getting By, Marcus Henry in Under One Roof and as high school student Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show. Brandon immediately called 911 in which Merlin was taken to the hospital but later died. 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. Prosecutors, who tried her as an adult, agreed that King would be sentenced to the California Youth Authority and held until age 25. King was convicted last month of second-degree murder and attempted murder. Merlin Santana Cause Of Death & Last Photos. . }); Copyright 2015 . 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. Wright toldPeoplethat his work was on the decline afterALF, but that after his diagnosis and subsequent remission, he "came back to life after being on the edge, with a tremendous gusto for the things I love." She died shortly after checking in to rehab in August 2013. Santana was seen as a rising star, playing Hector in Showtime alongside . Brandon doesn't speak publicly too much about that horrific night, but he revealed this to Jet Magazine: "It was devastating. For instance Gwen being crowned Queen does not unfold the way Morgana had foreseen it, nor does Morgana's death at Merlin's hand. Unfortunately he and his best friend were shot, resulting in the death of his friend. 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. Merlin Santana on IMDb: Movies, Tv, Celebrities, and more. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. 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. 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. And over the course of the series, James Avery would become one of the most well-loved father figures on American television as Smith's Uncle Phil. 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. Kelly's battle with addiction didn't end well. While Coleman was adamant about not sharing specifics, we know that his relatively short stature was due to kidney disease. He was gone but never forgotten. Santana was only 26 years old when he was shot in the head by Damien Andre Gates, apparently because Gates erroneously believed Santana had been making sexual advances toward his girlfriend, Monique King, who was a minor at the time. Merlin was a young, handsome heartthrob who often played a bad boy but his talent and charm is what really won audiences over. The police later arrested Monique, (who was really 15 and not of age as she had Merlin believe), and her accomplices. 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. Police arrested a teenage girl Monday and were seeking two men in connection with the fatal shooting two days earlier of actor Merlin Santana. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Adams managed to drive away but realized as soon as he stopped that Santana had died. Greg Dohi. Merlin Santana Death: and Cause of Death On November 9, 2002, Merlin Santana died of non-communicable disease. A few years before his death, McKeon moved to Wimberly, Texas, to be closer to his family and host his own talk radio show. Duringthe hit sitcomHome Improvement's eight seasons, one of its most popular characters was also its least visible. Saint Raymond's New Cemetery and Mausoleum. When the teenage characters ofMoeshaneeded a place to hang out, they went to The Den owned by Andell Wilkerson, played by Wilson. Most Popular #34183. Murder b/c of a Lie, SMDH!! It was later learned that the shot that killed Merlin was from the 12 gauge(Gates) and that the handgun (Bynes) never fired a shot because it jammed. Brandon doesn't speak publicly too much about that horrific night, but he revealed this to Jet Magazine: "It was devastating. So Im assuming Mercedes is already out of prisonwhat the??? 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 as high school student Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show . (Merlin) was my best friend, and (the murder) was a senseless thing. "I had lost a baby," she told ABC. I lost everything, and I was abusing alcohol.". Brandon immediately called 911 in which Merlin was taken to the hospital but later died. Gates pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. One person wrote: Today would have been Merlin Santanas 45th birthday. Image and ALMA award nominee Merlin Santana, who recently appeared in the Eddie Murphy movie "Showtime," and had a recurring role on "The Steve Harvey Show," was shot to death while sitting. It took me a long time to recover from that. For the first five seasons, Kelly played the mean older sister to Eric (Topher Grace)and the "other girl" to Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), but in the sixth season, Kelly was replaced in the role by Christina Moore. that benefits the victims. Sam Cooke Soundtrack | Innerspace On November 18, 2002, Santana, age 26, was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx borough of New York City. Woman with dementia missing in Sumter, police say, Sumter Police search for missing woman with dementia, County officials holding town hall over possible rezoning of three northeast Richland properties, Elderly woman injured when tree falls through bedroom in Newberry. Merlin Santana was an American actor and rapper. http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107 Died July 24, 1975, age 36; she and a companion were shot to death in a drive-by as they walked to her car following an acting class Was an American actress who appeared on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Phyllis" The two shooters were never identified, and her murder remains unsolved 13. 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. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. 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. He was then cast as Marcus Dixon in the short-lived sitcom, Getting By, starring Cindy Williams and Telma Hopkins. Earlier, police said that at least one person approached the car and opened fire, striking Santana. In 1991, Santana landed a recurring role on The Cosby Show as Stanley, the boyfriend of Rudy Huxtable and the rival of Rudy's friend Kenny (Deon Richmond). Rosario wasn't meant to show up beyond that season one finale, but she proved a popular character. . Monique King has had a miserable childhood and this verdict punishes her fairly and gives her a chance to turn her life around.. NEWS SPORT WEATHER WORLD SERVICE A-Z INDEX SEARCH : You . In 2001, he played the role of Jermaine in the movie Flossin. Gates got three consecutive lifesentencesplus70 years in prison. BRANDON QUINTIN ADAMS: "I WAS DEVASTATEDFOR A LONG TIME". As soon as we receive more authentic information related to the topic, we will update this page accordingly to ensure that our readers have access to the most reliable and current information available. but would've been nice to see that. Hes 41 years old now, but we Old Schoolers, probably best remember him as the kid who played the mini Michael Jackson in MJs Moonwalk musical/movie back in the day. Lisa Robin Kelly is best known for her recurring role as Laurie Forman onThat '70s Show. His character left the show in season four's "Semper Fidelis," when he decided to drop college to join the Marine Corps. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. Prosecutors said that Santana and a friend had been at a nearby home with King the night of the murder. All that Santana could have been, the promises he held, and his dreams of the future got buried with him at Saint Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. The New York-born Santana earned nominations for the NAACP Image Awards and ALMA Awards, which honor Hispanic performers, for his recurring role as Romeo Santana on The Steve Harvey Show on the WB Network. Merlin Santana (March 14, 1976 - November 9, 2002) was an American actor and rapper. Gates and Bynes quickly ambushed them in a hail of gunfire using 12 gauge shotguns. Merlin Santana: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Salary in 2022. He was gone but never forgotten. At the time of his death, he was 26 years old. The bullet penetrated the right-front passenger headrest and entered Santana's head, killing him. For four seasons, Wright played the straight man to the wisecracking ALF puppet, an experience that eventually soured enough that Wright reportedly didn't bother saying goodbye to anyone on his last day of work on the series. Many of you probably recognize former kid actor, Brandon Quintin Adams. King, a runaway who was 15 at the time of her arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced April 20. His first screen appearance was as an extra in the Woody Allen film, The Purple Rose of Cairo. _taboola.push({ She was 43. In February 2010, Koenig's body was found hanging from a tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park. Merlin Santana, The Cosby Show's child star and a six-year cast member of The Steve Harvey Show, was gunned down while sitting in a car on a Los Angeles street corner. "Whatever the situation as, he didn't deserve to die." May he continue to rest in peace and were grateful for the beautiful legacy he left us with. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. Monique King has had a miserable childhood and this verdict punishes her fairly and gives her a chance to turn her life around.. 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. Merlin was sitting in a car with his Actor friend, Brandon Adams. The producers said the final Merlin scene was exactly that to show Merlin in the present was waiting for Arthur'ss comeback. King was sentenced to ten years in juvenile custody. Gates got a 12gaugeshotgun with a laser on it and Bynes got a hand gun. What I didn't know was the details surrounding his case. Along with some other acting work including voice work on the G.I.