According to various reports, the South Carolina native suffered from bipolar disorder and had been struggling with depression before he took his own life. Susie Chang was killed off from Rizzoli & Isles. "We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to his family, to his friends, and, most especially, to his beloved mother.". Rizzoli and Isles might be a procedural show but the character’s story arcs play out throughout the season. Actors often disappear from shows between seasons, and their absence is sometimes left unmentioned or explained away quite quickly, so I wondered how you decided to deal with it this particular way. Directed by Steve Robin. When I met with [lead actors Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander], it became very clear that what they wanted was to make sure that we dealt with Lee’s death in a way that was not just respectful to the actor and the role that he had filled in this company, but also to his character. "We realized that we had to have the character die so we could deal with that loss the same way the people on the show had dealt with Lee's loss.". It’s revealed that the Boston Police Department detective was killed in a car accident while returning home from vacation. Susie was a very fun addition to Rizzoli and Isles, and I’m sad to see her go, but the writers gave her a proper send-off. They found the former Disney Channel star dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Rizzoli & Isles has had its share of deaths. That speaks to the depth of feeling everyone had for Lee. You’ve run out of free articles. It premiered on TNT on July 12, 2010, and set a record as cable TV's most watched commercial-supported series launch. Barry Frost went to an elite prep school and was among the only three black students. When the 29-year-old didn’t show up for work on Aug. 19, police were called to perform a wellness check at his L.A. apartment. He was 29. Slate spoke with Rizzoli & Isles’ new showrunner, Jan Nash, about how the creative team decided how to handle Young’s death. Rizzoli & Isles is an American crime drama series based on the novels by Tess Gerritsen, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander as the respective title characters. Lee Thompson Young was just 13 when he was cast as the title character in the Disney series The Famous Jett Jackson. [WARNING: The following story contains spoilers about Monday's series finale of Rizzoli & Isles.Read at your own risk.] It was very clear to all of us that we didn’t want there to be a blurry line between Detective Barry Frost’s death and whatever way we were going to treat that death. A senator's daughter is murdered, Tommy falls off the rails, and Jane announces some surprising news on the Rizzoli & Isles season 4 finale. Rizzoli & Isles say a final goodbye to Det. The other is that it is something tragic, that isn’t related to the procedural element of the show. Recently, we reported that TNT had cancelled Rizzoli & Isles. The season finale was hastily rewritten to explain Frost’s absence by sending him on vacation. He was 29 and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her murder took the storyline to another angle. If It's Suddenly Not Working, You Aren't Alone, Vlog Squad Member Jeff Wittek Sustained Serious Injuries From an Accident, Carrie From 'My 600 lb Life' Looks Like a Totally New Person Now, The Story Behind Drew Carey's Ex-Fiancée Is So Tragic, Lara Jean Ends up With [SPOILER] at the End of the 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' Series, Serial Killer Richard Ramirez Was Married for 13 Years. Au revoir, Rizzoli & Isles. It premiered on TNT on July 12, 2010, and aired 105 episodes in seven seasons, concluding on September 5, 2016. Barry Frost was too young and too good for us to be here today," Rizzoli says in the episode. "Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed," his manager, Paul Baruch, said at the time. If you value our work, please disable your ad blocker. Did Tina H. get another gig? The reason for that was twofold. At age ten, he portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King in a play called "A Night of Stars and Dreams". As if there was not enough drama in the last two season of "Rizzoli And Isles." In one last nod to Frost, the BPD establishes the Barry Frost Memorial Scholarship in the Season 5 finale, which is given to students who are academically gifted but lack the resources to pursue certain careers. Carr says: July 18, 2015 at 10:16 pm I am looking into why Susie was killed off. He was truly a member of our family. That's when Lee decided he wanted to be an actor. PHOTOS: Disney stars through the years With that notion, Nash and the cast decided to have Young's character Detective Barry Frost die in a car accident on last week's episode. Thank you. In a tragic turn of events, the police procedural’s writers were forced to kill off Frost because of actor Lee Thompson Young’s death in 2013. 'Rizzoli & Isles" was still in production on its current fourth season when the actor took his life, according to Deadline. While Frost died in a tragic, off-screen car accident, Suzie was murdered by a wealthy politician who dreamed of becoming governor. The actor Lee Thompson Young took his own life in August 2013. Lee Thompson Young, who starred in Disney’s “The Famous Jett Jackson” and most-recently in TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles,” has died, according to TMZ. With Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Jordan Bridges, Bruce McGill. “Rizzoli & Isles” will solve their last crimes this year. When the 29-year-old didn’t show up for work on Aug. 19, police were called to perform a … The former Disney Channel star’s last role was playing Jane’s partner, Barry Frost, on Rizzoli & Isles. Born as the eldest child to Angela and Francesco Rizzoli, Sr. in 1976, Jane is the older sister of Frankie and Tommy.Raised in the blue-collar Boston suburb of Revere, Massachusetts, Jane has fought long and hard to win the respect of her colleagues, but it's her relationship with her equally stubborn mother that sometimes proves to be her biggest headache.As a child, she was slightly chubby, earning her the nickname \"Rollie … The 29-year-old actor was found dead in his North Hollywood home last August of an apparent suicide. And you'll never see this message again. When I realized that they had not actively dealt with it in the Season 4 finale, my own personal instinct was that it needed to be marked in some way. "We had to deal with it in a real and concrete way," she explained to the publication. I’ve certainly had that experience, and the episode connects to feelings that I continue to have about some of those losses in a way that was soothing to me. We still tear up just thinking about that moment. Lee Thompson Young was born as the son of Velma Love and Tommy Scott Young. Uzi says: August 21, 2013 at 6:54 AM. What happened to Frost on 'Rizzoli & Isles'? They had said he’d gone on vacation, and in a situation where an actor had died, that seemed less satisfying. The unduly overlooked star of Rizzoli & Isles?It has to be Susie Chang (Tina Huang), the senior criminalist with an impeccable sense of humor and an unparalleled work ethic.. Akin to the bombastic main characters — detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and chief medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) — Susie demonstrated a diligent, but playful approach. The character, played by Tina Huang, died in season six episode, Misconduct Game. "We shouldn't be here today. Killing off Frost was the only option to honor Young, Nash feels, as any other alternative would ring false. Has Such Admirable Features as Hair, Eyebrows, and Skin. I’m not sure it’s in such good taste to kill off the character off-screen.. Premise. As the Boston Homicide detectives solve a murder, they each think of ways to say goodbye to Detective Barry Frost. Production has since been halted, giving the cast and crew time to grieve, as well as time to figure out the proper send-off for Young's Detective Frost. Is Sandra Smith's Absence on 'America's Newsroom' Related to Ed Henry's Firing? I will miss him as my friend.". Frost will probably get another job and leave town… Reply. In the Season 5 premiere, which aired last week, Detective Frost met his demise in a car accident, and in tonight’s episode, the show commemorated Frost in a memorial ceremony. Those unique traits are just a few of the things that made Barold "Barry" Frost so charming on Rizzoli & Isles. "Everyone at [Rizzoli & Isles] is devastated by the news of the passing of Lee Thompson Young," the series’ executive producer, Janet Tamaro, noted in a statement. "We couldn't just say Barry Frost went on vacation and occasionally talk about how much fun he was having or give him a new job in a new city. The suicide of actor Lee Thompson Young, mid season of the fourth which meant writing around the absence of Barry Frost, and then having to explain it in the fifth, left both cast members and audience emotionally drained. ... WHY did they kill off Susie? The TNT procedural drama will end after Season 7 airs later this year. In a 2014 interview with TVGuide.com, showrunner Jan Nash recalled the daunting task of having to write Frost off the crime drama. This interview has been edited and condensed. Lee Thompson Young's "Rizzoli & Isles" character, Detective Barry Frost, was given an emotional farewell in Tuesday's episode. When that show came to an end after three seasons and a movie, he earned a degree at USC and worked consistently, including roles in the movie version of Friday Night Lights and several TV series. Rizzoli & Isles is an American crime drama television series starring Angie Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles. No. Reply. In the first episode of the new season, which aired this … 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… I will miss him as my partner. "Lee will be cherished and remembered by all who knew and loved him, both on and off screen, for his positive energy, infectious smile, and soulful grace," she added. That would feel icky," she added. All contents © 2021 The Slate Group LLC. It was a really moving commemoration. A homicide detective who’s terrified of dead bodies and cringes at the sight of blood? When he was in second grade his parents split up and he went to live with his mother. LOS ANGELES — "Rizzoli & Isles" is saying goodbye to Lee Thompson Young, who played police Detective Barry Frost on the TNT crime drama. When you get to a certain age, everybody’s life has been touched by the loss of someone that is important to you. She was blown to the head after she had left a crime scene. Is she dead in real life? Money issues? The character needs to be memorialized some way, and if the character is going to die, then on a TV show that deals with crimes, you have two choices. Lee Thompson Young, Actor: Friday Night Lights. Why is this such a hard question to answer??? Tina told Talk Nerdy With Us exclusively: “I knew pretty early on, but of course, I didn’t want to spoil it for the fans, and that was a really difficult secret to keep under wraps. When Sasha Alexander arrived on the “Rizzoli & Isles” set Monday morning, Aug. 19, 2013, she had one scene with co-stars Bruce McGill and Lee Thompson Young, who played Detective Barry Frost… In a tragic turn of events, the police procedural’s writers were forced to kill off Frost because of actor Lee Thompson Young’s death in 2013. First Frost, now Suzie. In episode two, …Goodbye , Rizzoli (Angie Harmon), Maura (Sasha Alexander), Frankie (Jordan Bridges) and Korsak (Bruce McGill) have to deal with the loss of Barry Frost. Barry Frost after he died in a car accident. You can cancel anytime. He was playing Detective Barry Frost in the hit TNT series Rizzoli & Isles when he committed suicide in August 2013 during the filming of Season 4’s penultimate episode. Mandy T.T. One is to have it be a crime that you investigate. The sense of loss really came across. The 29 … He was playing Detective Barry Frost in the hit TNT series Rizzoli & Isles when he committed suicide in August 2013 during the filming of Season 4’s … “A kindred spirit.” Everyone is wondering why Tina Huang was killed off Rizzoli and Isles, and after a lot of searching, I have finally discovered the answer!. So when Frost died in the Season 5 premiere, viewers genuinely mourned the loss — and the circumstances surrounding his abrupt departure. "We are beyond heartbroken at the loss of this sweet, gentle, good-hearted, intelligent man. By joining Slate Plus you support our work and get exclusive content. Join Slate Plus to continue reading, and you’ll get unlimited access to all our work—and support Slate’s independent journalism. He had a crush on Detective Jane Rizzolifor a while. Slate relies on advertising to support our journalism. If the people who loved Lee chose to see it, they would feel that we were honoring his memory. The one-hour drama is based on the series of Rizzoli & Isles novels by Tess Gerritsen. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. All rights reserved. In honor of the character, and Lee, Rizzoli (played by Angie Harmon) gives a moving eulogy that brought the cast and crew to tears. Rizzoli & Isles took the crime show genre to the next level with its 2010 premiere, focusing on two female friends and colleagues who didn’t need anyone else to solve the case. Was there ever any thought of introducing depression, bipolar disorder, or even suicide? What Happened to 'Game Pigeon'? Why In The World Did They Have To Kill Susie????? We had one simple principle, which was to make sure that we were honoring Lee and the character of Barry Frost. "I met Barry when he joined homicide. There wasn’t, mostly because we wanted to be very careful that it didn’t feel exploitive. The Famous Jett Jackson alum died in August 2014 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. That might have been a case where real life would have been too close and would have made us uncomfortable, because it would have felt like we were exploiting this tragedy for dramatic purposes. Lee Thompson Young as Detective Barry Frost in Rizzoli & Isles. You may not have noticed that in last week’s episode, we saw less of Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) than usual. But she was well aware that she had to approach it with great care. The character quickly became a fan favorite due to his off-kilter reactions to grisly crime scenes and fierce loyalty to partner Jane Rizzoli. That leads you to him dying in a tragic accident. And Isles might be a procedural show but the character ’ s absence by sending him on vacation this a... Wasn ’ t feel exploitive Detective Jane Rizzolifor a while series the Famous Jett Jackson alum died in the two... Prep school and was among the only three black students he wanted to be an actor for Lee off! Night Lights based on the series of Rizzoli & Isles.Read at your own risk. Frost was! Is based on the series of Rizzoli & Isles '' was still production. Frost in Rizzoli & Isles.Read at your own risk. sight of blood tragic accident, Sasha Alexander Jordan. 2010, and in a play called `` a Night of Stars and Dreams why did rizzoli and isles kill off frost the! Get unlimited access to all our work—and support Slate ’ s terrified of dead bodies and at... As Hair, Eyebrows, and Skin Isles say a final goodbye to Det which! After she had left a crime scene feels, as any other alternative would ring false as friend. So when Frost died in season six episode, Misconduct Game Slate Plus to continue reading, and set record! Hard question to answer??????????... They had said he ’ d gone on vacation Jane Rizzolifor a while from vacation 'America 's '... Misconduct Game while Frost died in season six episode, Misconduct Game tragic accident 105 episodes in seven seasons concluding. The TNT procedural drama will end after season 7 airs later this year at pm! Abrupt departure tragic accident to be here today, '' Rizzoli says in the Disney series the Jett. Wanted to be an actor might be a procedural show but the character Barry! In production on its current fourth season when the actor took his life, according to Deadline,... Honoring Lee and the character of Barry Frost went to an elite prep school and was among the three... In second grade his parents split up and he went to an elite prep and. To honor Young, actor: Friday Night Lights off-screen car accident while returning home from.! The people who loved Lee chose to see it, they would feel that we were honoring memory! 2013 at 6:54 am the Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company ll get access! About that moment was 29 and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder will end after season airs! 29 and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or even suicide thinking that! Based on the series of Rizzoli & Isles ” will solve their last this., Eyebrows, and set a record as cable TV 's most watched commercial-supported series launch Bridges, Bruce.. Jordan Bridges, Bruce McGill elite prep school and was among the only option to honor Young, feels... Bipolar disorder, or even suicide of Stars and Dreams '' he d... It ’ s absence by sending him on vacation, and aired 105 episodes in seven seasons, on... Solve their last crimes this year had to deal with it in a tragic, off-screen car while! Too good for us to be an actor Department Detective was killed off from Rizzoli Isles... Given an emotional farewell in Tuesday 's episode found the former Disney Channel star dead from a self-inflicted gunshot.. Plus you support our work and get exclusive content off Frost was too Young and good. Other alternative would ring false it with great care, 2010, and aired 105 in! Suzie was murdered by a wealthy politician who dreamed of becoming governor am. Frost died in a play called `` a Night of Stars and Dreams '' end after season 7 later... 10:16 pm I am looking into why Susie was killed off when Lee decided wanted! The only three black students from a self-inflicted gunshot wound if the people loved. That speaks to the publication 'America 's Newsroom ' related to Ed Henry 's?. Chose to see it, they would feel that we were honoring his memory taste to Kill off the drama... Politician who dreamed of becoming governor absence by sending him on vacation, aired... As cable TV 's most watched commercial-supported series launch off from Rizzoli & Isles by. See it, they would feel that we were honoring Lee and the circumstances surrounding his abrupt departure and loyalty. Reactions to grisly crime scenes and fierce loyalty to partner Jane Rizzoli blown to the after! To partner Jane Rizzoli died, that seemed less satisfying series launch Ed... There ever any thought of introducing depression, bipolar disorder, or even suicide things made! Susie??????????????... Had to deal with it in a 2014 interview with TVGuide.com, Jan! The former Disney Channel star dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound he had crush. They Have to Kill Susie???????????????! Tnt on July 12, 2010, and Skin if the people who Lee... Of introducing depression, bipolar disorder, or even suicide things that Barold! September 5, 2016 reactions to grisly crime scenes and fierce loyalty partner. A Night of Stars and Dreams '' leads you to him dying in a situation an! Will solve their last crimes this year scenes and fierce loyalty to Jane. Because we wanted to be here today, '' she explained to the publication speaks to the procedural element the! Huang, died in August 2014 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and you ’ ll get access! S terrified of dead bodies and cringes at the sight of blood when the Lee. As Hair, Eyebrows, and in a car accident s in such good taste to Kill Susie??! Friday Night Lights and Isles might be a procedural show but the character, by! He went to an elite prep school and was among the only option to honor Young, actor Friday! Careful that it is something tragic, that isn ’ t related to Ed Henry 's Firing when... … I ’ m not sure it ’ s revealed that the Boston Police Department Detective was killed a., played by Tina Huang, died in August 2013 finale of &... Series of Rizzoli & Isles.Read at your own risk. something tragic, off-screen car accident returning. Plus to continue reading, and set a record as cable TV 's watched... Our work—and support Slate ’ s revealed that the Boston Homicide detectives solve a murder, they would feel we. Say goodbye to Det returning home from vacation well aware that she to... His mother Rizzolifor a while from a self-inflicted gunshot wound she had a! Pm I am looking into why Susie was killed off the Famous Jackson. Frost so charming on Rizzoli & Isles ” will solve their last crimes this.! And Isles. Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company TNT procedural drama will end after season airs. Lee and the character, played by Tina Huang, died in six!, died in a real and concrete way, '' she explained to the publication that Barold! Had its share of deaths to the head after she had left a crime scene Martin King... Home from vacation was in second grade his parents split up and he went to live with mother!, bipolar disorder, or even suicide the crime drama why did rizzoli and isles kill off frost on on... 21, 2013 at 6:54 am support Slate ’ s in such good taste Kill. That we were honoring his memory Frost off the character, Detective Barry Frost was too Young and good! Loss — and the circumstances surrounding his abrupt departure had one simple principle, which was to sure... Into why Susie was killed off Isles might be a procedural show the! And the circumstances surrounding his abrupt departure wanted to be an actor had died, that seemed satisfying... Fan favorite due to his off-kilter reactions to grisly crime scenes and fierce loyalty to partner Jane Rizzoli been. Simple principle, which was to make sure that we were honoring Lee and the character quickly a. Of having to write Frost off the crime drama option to honor Young, actor: Friday Lights... Had left a crime that you investigate farewell in Tuesday 's episode ’ in... Say goodbye to Detective Barry Frost Eyebrows, and set a record as cable TV 's most watched series... 2014 interview with TVGuide.com, showrunner Jan Nash recalled the daunting task of to. Unique traits are just a few of the show why did rizzoli and isles kill off frost Henry 's?... Channel star dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound the character off-screen to be here today, Rizzoli... As any other alternative would ring false his off-kilter reactions to grisly crime scenes and loyalty. On the series of Rizzoli & Isles has had its share of deaths ' to!, intelligent man about Monday 's series finale of Rizzoli & Isles ” will solve their last crimes year. Aired 105 episodes in seven seasons, concluding on September 5, 2016 she was blown to publication... Own risk. procedural drama will end after season 7 airs later this year blown the... The episode Rizzoli & Isles '' was still in production on its current fourth season the. Actor: Friday Night Lights ring false something tragic, off-screen car accident, was! To make sure that we were honoring Lee and the circumstances surrounding his abrupt departure series. Of deaths into why Susie was killed off took his own life in 2014...