Eddie Seidel Jr.

Eddie Seidel Jr. (September 22, 1963 – August 22, 1979), also known as Edward Robert Seidel, was a 15-year-old Battlestar Galactica fan from Saint Paul, Minnesota whose tragic death became one of the most notable incidents related to the cancellation of the Original Series. Born to Edward L. Seidel and Marilyn E. Clausen, his suicide on August 22, 1979, occurred approximately three weeks after the final rerun of Battlestar Galactica aired on August 5, 1979.

Background

Edward Robert Seidel Jr., known as Eddie, was described by his family as an intellectually gifted but troubled teenager who struggled with boredom and finding meaningful challenges in life. Born in Saint Paul to Edward L. Seidel and Marilyn E. Clausen, Eddie lived with his father and stepmother Dawn Seidel. His stepmother indicated that Eddie earned mostly B and B-plus grades in school with occasional A's, but was generally bored with his classes. He had at least one older sister who lived in the family home.

The family lived in Saint Paul, and Eddie worked as a stock boy at a local supermarket to earn spending money. Despite his intelligence, Eddie struggled with finding purpose and direction in his life. His father later reflected that Eddie was "sometimes brilliant" but couldn't find enough in life to keep him interested.

Prior to his death, Eddie's father, Edward Seidel Sr., had discovered that his son had been experimenting with inhalants with friends and had sent him to psychiatric counseling approximately four years earlier. The psychiatrist reportedly told the family that Eddie "was just kind of bored with life, that there was nothing here for him to excel in" and that "there was no real challenge here on this earth." Edward Seidel Sr. later regretted not pursuing more specialized educational opportunities for his gifted but troubled son.

Devotion to Battlestar Galactica

Eddie Seidel Jr. developed an intense obsession with Battlestar Galactica that consumed much of his life. His bedroom contained an extensive collection of Battlestar Galactica memorabilia, including posters, magazines, plastic models, and other merchandise related to the series. He had purchased his own television set specifically to watch the show and made audio recordings of all the episodes.

When ABC announced the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica in April 1979, Eddie was devastated by the news. In spring 1979, he took the initiative to contact ABC directly, writing to network officials and asking them to reconsider their decision to cancel the series. His stepmother later said, "He bought everything they put on the market" and noted that the family had spent considerable money on Battlestar Galactica merchandise.

Death

On August 22, 1979, Eddie Seidel Jr. returned home from his job as a supermarket stock boy and retreated to his bedroom. After writing what his family described as a last will and testament, he left the house on his moped and drove to the High Bridge in Saint Paul. Around 1:00 AM, Eddie's older sister discovered the note he had left behind.

The note contained Eddie's final thoughts and his expression of despair over the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica. His famous last words, as reported in the media, were: "They canceled my show. ABC canceled my show."

In the pre-dawn hours of August 22, 1979, Terry Brown reported someone on the High Bridge to police. Officers Mark Pearson and Mike Morehead responded to the call and arrived at the scene to find Eddie positioned on the bridge railing.

The two officers engaged in conversation with Eddie, trying to persuade him to come down from the dangerous position. During their attempts to talk him down, Eddie told Officers Pearson and Morehead that he was upset about the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica. Despite their persistent efforts and attempts at negotiation, the officers were unable to dissuade Eddie from his tragic course of action.

After the extended conversation with police, Eddie jumped approximately 200 feet to his death, landing on the ground beside the Mississippi River. His parents, Edward Seidel Sr. and Dawn Seidel, arrived at the scene approximately ten minutes after Eddie had jumped. The family had been alerted after Eddie's sister discovered his note and they realized he was missing.

Eddie Seidel Jr. was buried on Friday, August 24, 1979.

Family Response

Following Eddie's death, his family expressed the profound impact that Battlestar Galactica had on their son's life. Dawn Seidel, his stepmother, stated: "I hope we never ever see it on TV again, because it would just crush us." She noted that Eddie's "whole life was wrapped up in the television space show."

Edward Seidel Sr. reflected on his son's death, saying: "I really should have tried to get him into a gifted children type situation, but it's too late to look back and say I should have." He also expressed his newfound understanding of television's influence, stating: "I was never sure it did influence kids that bad, but now I'm convinced it does."

Media Coverage and Legacy

Eddie Seidel Jr.'s death received widespread national media coverage, with the Associated Press story being published in newspapers across the United States. The story appeared in major publications including The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and dozens of other newspapers across the country.

The incident has since become a frequently cited example of the intense fan devotion that Battlestar Galactica inspired and the emotional impact of its cancellation on viewers. The story has been referenced in various Battlestar Galactica fan communities and historical accounts of the series.

Some fans have speculated that the character Colonel Sydell from Galactica 1980 may have been named in tribute to Eddie Seidel, though this connection has not been officially confirmed.

Significance

Eddie Seidel Jr.'s death represents one of the most tragic consequences of Battlestar Galactica's cancellation and serves as a reminder of the profound emotional connection that science fiction television can create with its audience. The incident occurred during a period when Battlestar Galactica fans were actively campaigning for the show's renewal, including organized protests outside ABC studios.

The timing of Eddie's suicide was particularly poignant, as it occurred just weeks before ABC announced Galactica 1980, a continuation of the Battlestar Galactica universe that premiered in January 1980. Additionally, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, another science fiction series that might have appealed to Eddie's interests, premiered on September 20, 1979, less than a month after his death.

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