The statements previously posted here about Chico and The Man being canceled shortly after Prinze's suicide ...and also the explanation that Chico went to work for his father , are 100% false.
The show carried on into season 4 while still retaining a viewership of 14 million households. Chico was replaced by a 12 year old male character Ed Brown becomes a foster parent too, named Raul Garcia (played by Gabriel Melgar).
Mid way through season 4, in the January 1978 show titled. "Raul Runs Away", , Ed Brown (Jack Albertson) explains to Raul about Chico having died. He does not state how Chico died but after a year of keeping it in, lets out his repressed sadness over the loss of his friend.
This wasn't the finale, but the show did go on hiatus until June 1978 and the remaining 8 shows aired though the end of July.
The show carried on into season 4 while still retaining a viewership of 14 million households. Chico was replaced by a 12 year old male character Ed Brown becomes a foster parent too, named Raul Garcia (played by Gabriel Melgar).
Mid way through season 4, in the January 1978 show titled. "Raul Runs Away", , Ed Brown (Jack Albertson) explains to Raul about Chico having died. He does not state how Chico died but after a year of keeping it in, lets out his repressed sadness over the loss of his friend.
This wasn't the finale, but the show did go on hiatus until June 1978 and the remaining 8 shows aired though the end of July.