More On:
celebrity deaths
-
R.I.P. Patti Yasutake: ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ And ‘Beef’ Actor Dead At 70
-
R.I.P. Charles Cyphers: ‘Halloween,’ ‘Major League’ Actor Dead At 85 After Brief Illness
-
R.I.P Hailey Merkt: ‘Bachelor’ Alum Dead At 31 After Battle With Leukemia
-
R.I.P. Chino XL: Rapper And ‘Alex & Emma’ Actor Dead At 50
Doug Sheehan, the actor best known for playing lawyer Joe Kelly in General Hospital, has passed away. He was 75.
Sheehan’s passing was confirmed by Kane Funeral Home, which will be handling his services. An obituary from the funeral home notes Sheehan “passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday morning, June 29, 2024 with his loving wife at his side.” A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
By the time of his death, Sheehan had long retired from acting. Sheehan’s career began with a guest appearance in a 1978 episode of Charlie’s Angels. But General Hospital gave him the most notable role of his career with lawyer Joe Kelly, a role he landed in 1979. He went on to star in 207 episodes of the ABC soap opera, earning himself a Daytime Emmy nomination for the category of outstanding actor in a supporting role in a daytime drama series in 1982.
He also enjoyed a stint on Knots Landing from 1983 to 1988 before later starring in the television series Clueless as Mel Horowitz, Cher Horowitz’s beloved father.
![CLUELESS, Doug Sheehan, 1996-1999](https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLUELESS-Doug-Sheehan-1996-1999.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLUELESS-Doug-Sheehan-1996-1999.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLUELESS-Doug-Sheehan-1996-1999.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1280 1280w, https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLUELESS-Doug-Sheehan-1996-1999.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=885 885w, https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLUELESS-Doug-Sheehan-1996-1999.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1284 1284w)
His other credits include appearances in Passions, Columbo, MacGyver, and Cheers.
His last on-screen appearance was in a 2003 episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, in which he played Sabrina Spellman’s father, Edward Spellman. Per Entertainment Weekly, his character appeared in one Season 4 episode in 1999 to invite Sabrina to move to Paris. He later reprised his role for the series finale in 2003 to walk her down the aisle.
This marked his last credited acting role. That same year, he also appeared in the Amanda Bynes-led comedy What I Like About You.
The Screen Actors Guild issued a statement remembering the late actor.
“We are saddened to learn of Doug Sheehan’s passing. From his Emmy-nominated role as Joe Kelly on ‘General Hospital,’ to ‘Knots Landing’ & many TV appearances, Sheehan had a memorable career. Our condolences to his wife & friends. #SagAftraMember since 1978,” they wrote on X.
He is survived by his wife, Cate Abert.