Jay Thomas, dead at 69.
The headline that I clicked read "Cheers Favorite Jay Thomas Dies At 69"...
Jay Thomas (at the time appearing on Cheers as Carla's boyfriend/husband/whatever) that he had the hardest job in Hollywood, he had to kiss Rhea Perlman. They killed him off the show after that. His character was run over by A Zamboni. Yeah, I would call that being a favorite.
YouTube 'Jay Thomas Lone Ranger Story', though, you won't be disappointed. Very funny. There is more than one instance of him telling this story on Letterman, it's kind of a tradition.