David Strickland

Strickland's television work was more prolific, beginning with 1995 appearances on the sitcoms "Roseanne" (ABC) and "Dave's World" (CBS), interestingly playing police officers on both series. He had recurring roles on UPN's "Sister, Sister" and NBC's "Mad About You" (both 1996), featured in the latter with a memorable turn as Paul's backstabbing co-worker. Surely, though, Strickland was best known as the awkward music critic Todd Stites on "Suddenly Susan." His close cropped hair, infectious energy and wide-eyed innocent appeal made him a perfect candidate to represent the MTV generation on the magazine-set program, which he aptly did as the short-attention span stricken writer. Todd, whose plotlines included a sacrificial self-enforced celibacy in an effort to better his writing, emerged as a most endearing character, and the actor's portrayal of the goofy critic was a highlight of the Brooke Shields' vehicle. He starred on "Suddenly Susan" from it's 1996 debut until his 1999 tragic suicide, an act that happened to coincide with the Number One box office showing of "Forces of Nature" (1999).