How did Charles Siebert die? Tributes pour in as Trapper John MD star dies aged 84

Actor Charles Siebert passed away at the age of 84 on May 1, 2022. He primarily gained recognition for his performance as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on the CBS medical drama series Trapper John, M.D.

The 6th Street Playhouse confirmed the news in Santa Rosa, California, where Siebert appeared frequently. Further details on his funeral are yet to be revealed.

Charles Siebert's cause of death and career explored

Charles Siebert died on May 1 from Covid-related pneumonia at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. There is very little information on when he was hospitalized, and the time he was diagnosed with the disease.

Born on March 9, 1938, he first became famous as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on Trapper John, M.D. from 1979 to 1986. Pernell Roberts played the lead role, and the series ran for seven seasons. He later continued working as an actor but also directed episodes for television shows like Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

Charles studied acting at Marquette University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He first appeared in regional theatre productions across the United States during the 1960s with companies like Shakespeare in the Park in New York City, the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, Chicago's Goodman Theatre, Baltimore's Center Stage, and others.

He was a charter member of the American Conservatory Theater and made his Broadway debut in 1967 in Bertolt Brecht's Life of Galileo. He then appeared as Michael Leon in John Sebastian and Murray Schisgal's 1968 musical Jimmy Shine.

His other Broadway appearances include The Gingerbread Lady, The Changing Room, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sticks and Bones, and others. He began appearing on New York television during the 1960s and 1970s like Another World, Search for Tomorrow, One Life to Live, etc.

Siebert moved to Los Angeles in 1976 and appeared in the 1978 horror film Blue Sunshine. Although the film received mixed reviews, it became a cult classic and was later shown at many film festivals. He began making guest appearances on TV shows like One Day at a Time, The Blue Knight, Mancuso, and others.

Charles appeared on the comedy program Husbands, Wives and Lovers and then on the pilot of Good Morning, Miss Bliss. The latter was picked up by the Disney Channel and made many casting changes, including dropping Siebert's role. He appeared in many films from the mid to late 1970s, including ...And Justice for All, Coma, All Night Long, and White Water Summer.

Siebert played a supporting role as the mayor of Los Angeles, Frank Baldwin, in the 1990 made-for-television disaster film, The Great Los Angeles Earthquake. The film aired on NBC from November 11 to 12 and focused on seismologist Clare Winslow, played by Joanna Kerns, who tries to warn city leaders that a powerful earthquake may strike southern California.

He appeared regularly on game shows during the 80s, including $25,000 Pyramid, $100,000 Pyramid, Match Game, Super Password, etc.

Fans pay tribute on Twitter

Charles Siebert became a famous name in the entertainment industry due to his flawless performances on film and television. Twitter was flooded with tributes when people heard about his death:

About the author

Anupal is a pop culture writer at Sportskeeda with a degree in Political Science. He developed a keen interest in the lives of celebrities, films, TV shows, and box office collections since an early age. After accumulating significant experience as a content writer across varied fields at companies such as The Indian Wire, DigiStatement, and QuirkyByte Media, he eventually settled on writing about his favorite genre - pop culture.

Anupal believes in conducting in-depth research while writing about any topic and relies on varied sources to ensure he produces holistic articles. He also often glances through content that was published in the 80s and 90s to gain a better understanding of the subject he is covering.

Anupal admires Robert Downey Jr., who played one of his favorite Marvel superheroes, Iron Man. He is inspired by the actor's resilience and the determination in overcoming past struggles to building a successful Hollywood career and admires the way he articulates his thoughts while speaking in interviews.

If Anupal could travel back in time, he would love to experience James Cameron's 2009 film 'Avatar' in a theatre full of fans. When he's not busy working, he binges on the latest OTT titles across languages.

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