Among the notable actors who have passed away is Merlin Santana, who played Stanley, a charming young man with a crush on Rudy Huxtable. Santana was just 26 when he was tragically shot in 2002. Another beloved figure, Michelle Thomas, portrayed Justine Phillips, Theo Huxtable’s supportive girlfriend. She lost her battle with stomach cancer at the young age of 30 in 1998.
