Who was Chris Harrell on The Resident? Tribute explained 

The Resident (image via 20th Television)
The Resident (image via 20th Television)

Chris Harrell was a beloved behind-the-scenes staff worker for the TV medical drama The Resident who was awarded a heartfelt tribute after his sudden passing. While his name never did appear in the official credits for the show, Harrell was a significant contributor to the behind-the-scenes production crew working in Atlanta, where the show was filmed.

According to multiple sources, Harrell was a member of Teamsters Local 728, a labor union that provides critical support for film and television productions in the Atlanta area. While his specific role on The Resident remains unclear, his impact on the show was significant enough to warrant a memorial tribute.

At the end of the Season 6 premiere episode entitled "Two Hearts," which was aired in September 2022, the audience saw a title card that said "In Loving Memory of Chris Harrell." As per a GoFundMe page created in May 2022, Harrell died suddenly while undergoing medical treatment earlier in the year and is survived by "a family who loved her dearly and by a myriad of friends.

The award brought to the forefront the usually unsung effort of crew members who work behind the camera to bring shows to viewers. While fans might never see their faces or names, players like Harrell are the backbone of shows like The Resident, setting the stage upon which magic occurs on screen.


Chris Harrell's contribution to The Resident production

Chris Harrell was a member of Atlanta-based Teamsters Local 728, part of the indispensable crew keeping TV productions humming along. Teamsters represent film and television crew workers in various capacities, who oversee key facets of production coordination.

The Resident (image via 20th Television)
The Resident (image via 20th Television)

Teamsters Local 728 members, according to CarterMatt, are "vital to keeping things rolling with productions all over the greater Atlanta area," which is now one of America's largest entertainment production centers outside of Hollywood. Harrell's exact role in The Resident isn't well-documented in the sources available, but his input was important.

One individual who knew him said Harrell was "truly a great role model in the filming industry" who "never [had] a dull moment" and "could make anybody laugh," based on remarks posted on his GoFundMe page. His work ethic was also highlighted, with sources saying that "he worked hard at whatever he did."

The fact that the creative team of the show decided to pay tribute to him with an in-memoriam title card says a lot about his significance to the show.


The Tribute in The Resident Season 6 Premiere

The memorial to Chris Harrell surfaced at the end of "Two Hearts," which was the inaugural episode of Season 6 of The Resident and screened on September 20, 2022. In memoriam title cards are

"one of the highest honors a TV or film production can confer on a deceased cast or crew member,"

as described by SlashFilm.

Placing this tribute during a season premiere—usually one of the most-watched shows of any season—reiterates how important Harrell was to the show. The episode itself revolved around sensitive medical storylines, such as a character called Padma being put through a dangerous procedure after learning she was pregnant with twins, one of whom was underdeveloped.

The Resident (image via 20th Television)
The Resident (image via 20th Television)

This thematic resonance—a medical procedure in the show and Harrell's reported death on the operating table—gives an added touch of poignancy to the tribute. For Hidden Remote, the dedication provoked significant discussion amongst viewers who wanted to know the extent of Harrell's link to the show.


Chris Harrell remembered outside of The Resident

Outside of work, Chris Harrell was a family man with various interests. As per the GoFundMe campaign created for his family, he was "completely devoted to his wife and adored his children with incredible passion and pride." Besides television production work, Harrell had a link to the auto racing world as well.

The GoFundMe fund collected more than $13,000 to support his family in unexpected expenses after his death. A picture on the fundraising site was of Harrell fishing, representing his love for the outdoors. How people came together to support him after he died showed how much he affected the people in his life.

ScreenRant reported that "those who worked with him felt his impact deeply." The abruptness of his death—under what was called a medical procedure—made the loss particularly difficult for family members, friends, and colleagues who remembered him fondly as a person who cast light on everyone he made contact with.


Chris Harrell's memory continues in the form of The Resident and the recollections of those who had the pleasure of working alongside him. While he never actually appeared on television, his efforts behind the scenes assisted in creating the show that an estimated million viewers were able to watch.

The title card tribute guarantees his name and memory continue to be associated with the series, emphasizing the value of honoring all people who contribute to television production, whether they be in front of or behind the camera.

Edited by Ishita Banerjee
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