Actor found dead in Las Vegas motel

Angie Wagner

Monday, March 22, 1999 | 9:02 a.m.

LAS VEGAS - Actor David Strickland, who played a music critic on the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan," was found dead Monday morning, hanging from a bed sheet that he had strung from a ceiling beam, authorities said.

The body was found by a worker at the Oasis Motel near the Strip, said police spokesman Steve Meriwether. A chair was nearby, and an empty box of beer also was seen in the room. It was not immediately clear how long he had been dead.

Strickland, 28, was alone when he checked into the motel between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monday, said motel owner Peter Napoli. The motel, in a rundown area of the city, advertises adult movies and fantasy rooms on its sign.

Shortly after checking into his room using his own name, Strickland went to a nearby convenience store and was seen returning to his room unaccompanied, the owner said. It was not clear if he was carrying anything at the time, Napoli said.

When the actor failed to check out by 10:30 a.m., an employee went to the room and discovered Strickland hanging from the wooden ceiling beam.

"I found him hanging with the chair behind him," said Napoli, who said Strickland was wearing jeans, a khaki shirt and black gym shoes.

Strickland played Todd, a music critic on "Suddenly Susan," which stars Brooke Shields as a sheltered magazine writer. Strickland has been on the show for the last three seasons, said his publicist, Marisa McGrath.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of David Strickland's death and our condolences and support go out to his family and friends," said NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks.

Warner Bros. Television, "Suddenly Susan's" production company, issued a similar statement.

"This news just came today and it's too soon to make any comments or decision regarding the impact of the show," Marks said.

Strickland also appears in the new DreamWorks film "Forces of Nature," starring Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. Strickland played the ex-boyfriend of Affleck's fiancee. The film was released Friday.

Strickland was born in Glen Cove, N.Y. but moved to Pacific Palisades near Los Angeles while he was in high school. After graduation, he pursued an acting career with a theater company.

He worked on a number of student films and guest-starred in episodes of "Roseanne" and "Dave's World." He also had recurring roles on "Sister, Sister and "Mad About You," playing Paul Reiser's coworker.

He also had a role in the 1998 independent film "Delivered."