I'd completely forgotten about it, but I think you are right that the show ended prematurely because one of the major male cast members died. I believe it may have been Mark Frankel.
It's bad enough when a show ends prematurely because a network pulls it for often unfathomable reasons (like Warren Littlefield killing the '91 DS because it was Brandon Tartikoff's pet project and not one of his) - but it's really sad when it ends because one of the leads dies.
Complete this phrase: "Nicholas truly enjoyed being evil - and especially on the days when he could come up with diabolical and fiendish plots like...!!"
Complete this phrase: Professor Stokes - "Come, Julia - do you really believe that for even one second I actually believed your ridiculous story that (you'd buried Barnabas Collins because) ...?!"
Fill in the blank: Professor Stokes - "I must say, Mr. Blair, that the new ________ on your face (is quite flattering)(isn't flattering at all, if you'll pardon my frankness)!!