David Strickland
Encyclopedia
David Gordon Strickland, Jr. (October 14, 1969 – March 22, 1999) was an American
television actor
best known for playing the boyish rock music reporter Todd Stites in the NBC
sitcom Suddenly Susan
.
, Long Island
, New York, and moved to Princeton, New Jersey
, with his family, before relocating to California
. His earlier television roles before Suddenly Susan
included Dave's World
, Roseanne
, Sister, Sister
, and Mad About You
. He had suffered from bipolar disorder
and had a history of drug
and alcohol abuse
. He was arrested in October 1998 for the possession of cocaine
, pleaded no contest
in December and was sentenced to 36 months probation
and ordered into rehabilitation. He was due in court on the day of his death for a progress report. News reports of events leading up to his death suggest that he had chosen to stop taking the lithium he was prescribed to control his bipolar disorder.
, Strickland consumed several bottles of beer and later hanged himself with a bed sheet over the ceiling beam. His body was discovered by a hotel desk clerk. He left no note, and evidence of drug usage was found in his room. The Clark County Coroner declared Strickland's body bore the marks of a previous suicide attempt.
After much discussion, the writers of Suddenly Susan decided to deal with Strickland's death directly. In the show's third season finale, Todd simply did not show up to work one day. When Susan (Brooke Shields
) called Todd regarding tickets to a show, his pager vibrated on his desk. She spent the day searching for Todd, finding out about a number of good deeds he did throughout his life that she had no idea about. In the episode's conclusion, the police visited Susan and her office staff as she asked hopefully if they know where Todd was. The exact details of Todd's fate were left ambiguous. The entire episode was interspersed with out-of-character interviews of Shields and several supporting cast including Judd Nelson
, Kathy Griffin
, Barbara Barrie
, Nestor Carbonell
, and Andrea Bendewald
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for playing the boyish rock music reporter Todd Stites in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The show takes place at The Gate, a fictitious magazine which is based in San Francisco. Among the magazine's employees is Susan Keane , who always has been cared for by someone else...
.
Life
Strickland was born in Glen CoveGlen Cove, New York
Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York, and moved to Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, with his family, before relocating to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His earlier television roles before Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The show takes place at The Gate, a fictitious magazine which is based in San Francisco. Among the magazine's employees is Susan Keane , who always has been cared for by someone else...
included Dave's World
Dave's World
Dave's World is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1993 to 1997. The series was based on the writing of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry.-Plot:...
, Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
, Sister, Sister
Sister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
, and Mad About You
Mad About You
Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1999. The show starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a newly married couple in New York City. Reiser played Paul Buchman, a documentary film maker. Hunt played Jamie Stemple Buchman, a public relations specialist...
. He had suffered from bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
and had a history of drug
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse eventually progresses to alcoholism, a condition in which an individual becomes dependent on alcoholic beverages in order to avoid...
. He was arrested in October 1998 for the possession of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
in December and was sentenced to 36 months probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
and ordered into rehabilitation. He was due in court on the day of his death for a progress report. News reports of events leading up to his death suggest that he had chosen to stop taking the lithium he was prescribed to control his bipolar disorder.
Death
Strickland died during the morning hours of March 22, 1999. After checking in at the Oasis Motel in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Strickland consumed several bottles of beer and later hanged himself with a bed sheet over the ceiling beam. His body was discovered by a hotel desk clerk. He left no note, and evidence of drug usage was found in his room. The Clark County Coroner declared Strickland's body bore the marks of a previous suicide attempt.
After much discussion, the writers of Suddenly Susan decided to deal with Strickland's death directly. In the show's third season finale, Todd simply did not show up to work one day. When Susan (Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
) called Todd regarding tickets to a show, his pager vibrated on his desk. She spent the day searching for Todd, finding out about a number of good deeds he did throughout his life that she had no idea about. In the episode's conclusion, the police visited Susan and her office staff as she asked hopefully if they know where Todd was. The exact details of Todd's fate were left ambiguous. The entire episode was interspersed with out-of-character interviews of Shields and several supporting cast including Judd Nelson
Judd Nelson
Judd Asher Nelson is an American actor. He is best known for being a member of the "Brat Pack" in the mid-1980s; and for his roles as John Bender in The Breakfast Club, Alec Newbary in St...
, Kathy Griffin
Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedienne, television personality, New York Times best-selling author and an LGBT rights advocate. Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom...
, Barbara Barrie
Barbara Barrie
Barbara Barrie is an American actress and author of children's books.-Personal life:Barrie was born as Barbara Ann Berman in Chicago, Illinois, of Jewish heritage, the daughter of Frances Rose and Louis Berman. She was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. She graduated from University of Texas,...
, Nestor Carbonell
Nestor Carbonell
Nestor Gastón Carbonell is an American actor, known for portraying Richard Alpert in ABC's drama Lost and Mayor Anthony Garcia in the film The Dark Knight...
, and Andrea Bendewald
Andrea Bendewald
Andrea R. Bendewald is an American actress best known for her role as Maddy Piper on Suddenly Susan.-Personal life:Andrea is the daughter of Judith Bendewald and Mervin Bendewald, both of New York, and the sister of Mason Bendewald....
.