Glee was a glorious show that singlehandedly captured the cultural zeitgeist of the late 2000s. Premiering in 2009 on Fox, the show combined high school drama with musical spectacle, following the ups and downs of the New Directions show choir at McKinley High. At its core, however, Glee was about outsiders finding their voice. Over six seasons, running until 2015, it delivered unforgettable covers of pop hits, Broadway classics, and holiday standards, while weaving storylines about friendship and ambitions.
Glee had a sprawling cast, too. Main players, like Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, and Chris Colfer, were joined by dozens of recurring characters, guest stars, and cameos, making the Glee universe one of the widest and wildest ensembles in modern TV. What makes the series a bittersweet memory today is not just its enduring popularity, but the reality that many of its actors are no longer with us. They all contributed to a show that balanced camp with sincerity, and their absence is felt by fans who still return to it fondly.
This list gathers every Glee actor who has sadly passed away, honoring their contributions both to the show and to the world of entertainment.
21
Edmund Shaff (1935 – 2023)
Hipster Male
Edmund Shaff’s appearance on Glee was brief but memorable. He played one of the Hipster singers in season two’s “A Night of Neglect,” an ensemble that added texture to the show’s ever-expanding musical universe. Shaff’s career spanned decades, with roles in Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Set It Off, and Herbie: Fully Loaded, where he often played understated but pivotal supporting characters.
Shaff also popped up in cult TV favorites like Space: Above and Beyond and Modern Family, showing up as Victor in a 2015 episode. He passed away on June 16, 2023, at the age of 88, but he was the kind of actor who stitched himself into the fabric of multiple generations of TV and film.
20
Roger Keller (1949 – 2017)
Bill
Roger Keller’s role as Bill in Glee may not have been central to the show’s main arcs, but his presence added a layer of authenticity to the background cast of McKinley High. Keller was a seasoned character actor, with credits in Frasier, Caroline in the City, and Deadly Games, which are all staples of ‘90s television that lean on actors like him to ground their worlds.
Keller died on January 10, 2017, in Sherman Oaks, California, due to cancer. He was 67. His passing didn’t make major headlines, but because Glee was built on the contributions of actors like Keller, his death marked the quiet end of a career that helped shape the tone of multiple shows without ever demanding the spotlight.
19
Tonita Locastro (1953 – 2016)
Imelda
Tonita Locastro brought a burst of personality to Glee as Imelda, a minor character who left an impression with her warm presence and sharp comedic timing. In Season 1, Episode 21, she appeared as Sue’s housekeeper, but little about her life outside of work was portrayed on screen. But we get glimpses of her relationship with her sister and her desire to have a child.
Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Castro transitioned into acting later in life after decades working in radio. Her career began in 2005 with The Shield, and she quickly became a go-to for scene-stealing guest roles in shows like Two and a Half Men, Kroll Show, and Life in Pieces. She also had a recurring role in Go On with Matthew Perry and was part of the main cast in Dads, a sitcom produced by Seth MacFarlane. Castro passed away on May 8, 2016, at age 63, after battling stomach cancer.
18
Suzanne Krull (1966 – 2013)
Eccentric Vogue Woman
Another brief, but unforgettable turn in Glee was Suzanne Krull as the eccentric Vogue interviewer, a role she played with offbeat charm and comic precision in Season 4, episode 3. Krull had a long career in television. She appeared in everything from CSI to ER, and was known for her ability to slip into wildly different roles with ease.
Born in New York City in 1966, she trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked steadily from the late ’80s until her death in 2013. Krull died suddenly on July 27, 2013, from a ruptured aortic aneurysm. She was just 47. Her death was a shock to friends and colleagues, many of whom remembered her as a vibrant, generous performer with a knack of making even the smallest roles matter.
17
Phyllis Applegate (1930 – 2023)
Birdie Lawrence
Phyllis Applegate showed up on Glee in season four’s episode “Makeover,” where she played Birdie Lawrence, a member of the Show Choir Rules Committee. Even though it was a brief role, she added a touch of authority to the episode’s exploration of competition politics. Her career stretched far beyond Glee. She was a veteran of stage and screen, with credits in theater productions, TV guest spots, and movies.
Her notable TV roles include Myrtle in Better Call Saul, Ida Pearl in Any Day Now, and Darnell’s Grandmother in My Name Is Earl. Additionally, in movies, she played Grace in Insidious: Chapter 3 and Aunt Billy in Black Dynamite. Applegate passed away on January 13, 2023, at the age of 92.
16
Michael Mandell (1959 – 2020)
Mo
Michael Mandell appeared on Glee as Mo in Season 2, Episode 22, “New York,” one of the quirky side characters in the show’s sprawling ensemble. His career was otherwise rooted in theater, where he made his Broadway debut in Big River and later played the Macy’s Store Manager in productions of Elf.
On screen, Mandell built a résumé that included appearances in Law & Order: SVU, Ugly Betty, Ed, I Love You Phillip Morris, and New Year’s Eve. Mandell died on July 28, 2020. His passing was noted in theater circles, where he had built a reputation as a dependable performer. As someone who could step into a scene and give it flavor without overshadowing the leads.
15
Mike Hagerty (1954 – 2022)
Pete Sosnowski
On Glee, Mike Hagerty played Pete Sosnowski, the associate director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and a minor character whose presence elevated the show’s tapestry of everyday figures. He was the one who revealed that New Directions and the Warblers tied in Season 2, Episode 9.
Thanks to his trademark mustache and Chicago accent, Hagerty was instantly recognizable and almost always cast as the quintessential working-class guy. He had a memorable turn in Friends as Mr. Treeger, the building superintendent, and he also appeared in Seinfeld, Brooklyn Nine‑Nine, and Overboard. Hagerty was 67 when he passed away on May 5, 2022, at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a seizure caused by an adverse reaction to antibiotics.
14
Sonya Eddy (1967 – 2022)
Angry Mom
Sonya Eddy plays Angry Mom in Glee Season 3, Episode 4, where she throws a brick at Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba). Outside of Glee, Eddy is best known for her long‑running role as Nurse Epiphany Johnson on General Hospital, a part she played from 2006 until her death. She also appeared in Seinfeld, Malcolm in the Middle, and Coach Carter.
On Glee, Eddy’s cameo fit perfectly into a world where emotions were heightened and personalities were colorful. Eddy passed away on December 19, 2022, at the age of 55, following complications from a non‑emergency surgery earlier that month.
13
Jean Sincere (1919 – 2013)
Ancient Librarian
Credited just as Ancient Librarian, Jean Sincere appeared in Glee Season 2’s “Special Education.” She’s part of a hilarious running gag in the show. One that reinforced the idea that the Glee Club’s antics weren’t appreciated by the rest of the school. She also requested the club to make a song for her church.
A Broadway veteran since the 1940s, Sincere performed in classics like Arsenic and Old Lace and Brigadoon. On screen, she appeared in films such as Roxanne and lent her voice to Pixar’s The Incredibles. Sincere passed away on April 3, 2013, in Los Angeles at the age of 93.
12
Barbara Tarbuck (1942 – 2016)
Nancy Bletheim
Appearing in Season 3, Episode 1 of Glee, Barbara Tarbuck plays Nancy Bletheim, the William McKinley High geometry teacher and one of the judges during the show’s choir competitions. Her role was short, but she was part of the judging panels that often decided the fate of New Directions.
Tarbuck’s career was extensive. She was a familiar face on TV, with recurring roles on General Hospital as Jane Quartermaine, and appearances in American Horror Story: Asylum, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She died on December 27, 2016, in Los Angeles at the age of 74, from Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder.
