The Most Beloved Characters That TV Shows Killed Off
Some of our favorite TV shows have a bad habit of killing off our favorite characters—usually when they're about to clinch victory from the jaws of defeat. Here are some of the most beloved TV characters that were taken too soon.
Glenn Rhee
Steven Yeun's character, Glenn Rhee from The Walking Dead (2010) is one of the most infamous—and shocking—TV deaths in history. One of multiple characters that met a grisly end in TWD, Glenn's demise at the hands of the infamous Negan and his spiked baseball bat left fans shocked, angry and appalled.
AMC, The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
Omar Little
From The Wire (2002), Omar Little always seemed to find a way to escape death in a series filled with gang violence and shootings— the bullets and knives seemed to always miss the kind-hearted decent man that was Omar. Until, that is, he's slain by a child who robs a convenience store in season 8. Heartbreaking for fans, but even more tragic that his demise should come at the hands of a child.
The Ambush Of Jon Snow
Jon Snow was always one of Game of Thrones' (2011) good guys, always trying to do the right thing and do right by everyone else. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for the greedy members of the Night's Watch—the treasonous ambush of their commander left fans' mouths aghast in horror.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Ned Stark
The end of season 1 of Game Of Thrones was always going to be a big moment. By then, the show had become a sensation and the conclusion of its first series demanded something spectacular. Well, poor Sean Bean (who always dies in almost anything he's in) was on the literal chopping block as patriarch of the Stark clan. He was beheaded by King Joffrey as his daughter, Arya Stark, watched on.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-19)
Rita Morgan
One of the most shocking moments in television history was the demise of Rita Morgan from Dexter (2006). After Dexter thought he'd defeated his arch nemesis, The Trinity Killer, John Lithgow's character reminded him of just the opposite. Dexter returned home to find his wife murdered in the bathtub. Brutal.
Showtime Networks, Dexter (2006-2013)
Matthew Crawley
Downton Abbey's (2010) Matthew Crawley was a much-loved member of the Crawley family who had just become a father at the end of season 5 of everyone's favorite period drama. Crawley's untimely death in a car accident led to outcry among fans and even had Dan Stevens, the actor who played Crawley, apologizing for some time afterwards.
Carnival Film, Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
Charlie Pace
You may not remember much of Lost (2004), even though it was a huge hit 20 years ago, but those that do will remember the passing of Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) as one of the show's most traumatic. His death-by-drowning left fans in mourning of the well-meaning, affable character.
Jax Teller
Charlie Hunnam's major role as Jax Teller on Sons Of Anarchy (2008) would come to an end after seven seasons, but in a way that fans wouldn't soon forget. On the run from the cops, Teller took a deep breath and, realizing no good end was in sight, swerved his bike into the path of an oncoming semi.
SutterInk, Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014)
Jack Pearson
This Is Us (2016) was a beloved TV series that explored the lives of two families and three of their children through a series of different timelines and flashbacks. In one such flashback, we learned of the passing of main character Jack Pearson. Although a tragic house fire was thought to be the cause of Pearson's untimely demise, it was later learned that he succumbed to heart failure not long after the fire. Fans were distraught, as Jack was a fan favorite.
Zaftig Films, This Is Us (2016-2022)
Dr Derek Shepherd
Dr Derek Shepherd, otherwise known as "Dr McDreamy" to fans of the show, was one of the heartthrobs and main characters of the show. Fans were outraged and upset when McDreamy was finally going to be reunited with wife Meredith Grey, but met a tragic end instead. He then returned to Meredith in visions in later episodes, much to the delight of Shepherd die-hards.
Shondaland, Grey's Anatomy 2005-
Charlie Harper
Charlie Sheen's tenure as Charlie Harper from Two And A Half Men (2003) lasted for almost 10 years. Unfortunately, Sheen's personal struggles with drugs and alcohol saw him fired from Two And A Half Men as he entered rehabilitation for his addictions. The death occurred off-screen, but season 9 began with Charlie's funeral. Although Sheen had fallen from grace, Charlie Harper was very much loved by fans.
Warner Bros., Two and a Half Men (2003-2015)
Mark Greene
Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) was an early star on the 90s medical drama ER (1994), which also starred a young George Clooney as Doug Ross. One of Greene's most infamous moments is when he refuses to save the life of a shooter at the ER in contravention of the Hippocratic Oath. Although not fired, Greene's departure from the show comes at the cruel expense of brain cancer in season 14.
Constant c Productions, ER (1994-2009)
Nate Fisher
Nate Fisher was the main character of the funeral-home centric Six Feet Under (2001), so fans of SFU were no strangers to death. But Nate's passing in the show's fifth (and final) season left everyone shocked. Fans were left watching Nate's family deal with his loss in the final episodes of the show. A crushing conclusion to Six Feet Under that left the star, well, six feet under.
HBO, Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
Zoe Barnes
Just when you thought Frank Underwood may have been outfoxed by the gifted journalist Zoe Barnes, House Of Cards (2013) had other ideas. In typical Frank Underwood fashion, Barnes is lured to a platform of a train station in DC, when Frank then brutally pushes her in front of an oncoming train. Ouch.
Netflix, House of Cards (2013-2018)
Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper was one of the most beloved characters on The OC (2003), a teenage drama that follows the lives of three families. Cooper was one of the four core characters on the show from its first season till the final episode of its third season. Her passing in a tragic car accident upset many doting fans.
Warner Bros., The O.C. (2003-2007)
Nicholas Brody
Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) was the main character of the intriguing spy drama Homeland (2011), lasting for nearly four seasons of the eight-season run of the show. Carrie Matheson, Brody's hunter-turned-lover, would be haunted by his death for the remainder of the show—it's hard not to be haunted by Brody's body hanging from a noose in Tehran, following his capture and execution. The graphic nature of the death left fans shocked.
Teakwood Lane Productions, Homeland (2011-2020)
Prue Halliwell
Lovers of all things witchy loved Charmed (1998), a drama centering on a group of sisters who discover they're witches. Prue Halliwell (Shannen Doherty) was killed off after the third season, after Doherty stepped away from the series to pursue other work. Charmed's teenage audience was devastated. Such was the outcry from fans that Halliwell was replaced by her half-sister, Paige Matthews (played by Rose McGowan).
Spelling Television, Charmed (1998-2006)
Bob Newby
Stranger Things (2016) has a couple of entries on our list—the first is Bob Newby, who's selfless sacrifice to save his girlfriend Joyce's life left fans saddened that the couple who'd finally found each other later in the series' run wouldn't get to have their love displayed on-screen for longer.
21 Laps Entertainment, Stranger Things (2016-2025)
Mr Big
And Just Like That... (2021) was a much-anticipated spin-off of Sex And The City (1998), but few saw the demise of Mr Big (Chris Noth) coming. During the first season of And Just Like That..., Mr Big died following a heart attack, after riding a peloton race.
HBO, And Just Like That... 2021-
Henry Blake
One of M*A*S*H's (1972) most beloved characters, Colonel Henry Blake—the ever-loyal and steadfast friend of Hawkeye and company—would meet a tragic end, right at the end of his service in the military. After being discharged, Colonel Blake's helicopter taking him to the airport was shot down and Blake perished in one of the cruelest twists of fate in TV history.
Twentieth Century, M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Logan Echolls
Veronica Mars (2004) fans were a little surprised when Veronica's complicated relationship with Logan Echolls came to a sudden and abrupt end in season 4, when his character was killed off in a huge explosion, leaving Veronica in the throes of mourning for several episodes. Fans felt Logan got a raw deal.
Silver Pictures, Veronica Mars (2004-2019)
Alisha Daniels
One of the most shocking deaths in Misfits (2009) occurred during the third season, when Daniels (played by Antonia Thomas) had her throat slashed by a returning, vengeful Rachel, who Alisha had bullied in previous seasons. The character's brutal, graphic death left fans' mouths open in shock, particularly as she'd just begun a positive new relationship with Curtis.
Clerkenwell Films, Misfits (2009-2013)
Dr Kutner
Dr Lawrence Kutner often garnered ridicule from Dr Gregory House, but the mutual respect between the pair was also evident. So, when Dr Kutner took his own life in season 5, fans were sensitive to House's emotional reaction and grieved the loss of the short-lived Dr Kutner with him.
Heel & Toe Films, House (2004-2012)
Zeek Braverman
Zeek Braverman was the beloved patriarch of the Braverman family at the center of Parenthood (2010). The series finale in season 6 depicted his demise after suffering a heart attack, following the wedding of his eldest daughter, Sarah. Few fans of Parenthood were left without tears in their eyes as the beloved patriarch passed on.
True Jack Productions, Parenthood (2010-2015)
Edith Bunker
Despite Archie Bunker being the mainstay of All In The Family (1971), his wife Edith was just as much a part of why the show was much beloved by 70s kids and adults. Standing faithfully by Archie's cantankerous side for nine years and 200+ episodes, Edith's demise in between the first and second series of Archie's continuation series, Archie Bunker's Place (1979), shook fans, some of whom may have wished for the passing of cantankerous old Archie first.
Tandem Productions, All in the Family (1971-1979)
Justin Ripley
In the BBC crime drama Luther (2010), Detective Sergeant Justin Ripley would become a fan favorite as the partner of the titular character. But his tragic passing in the show's third season would serve as a reminder to fans that no one is safe in the Luther universe, as they witnessed yet another emotional burden placed on the shoulders of DCI Luther.
Brian Griffin
Losing a pet is one of the hardest things anyone will ever have to go through. It's almost no different when the pet in question is a beloved TV character. Family Guy (1999) fans might have cried real tears at the passing of the family's beloved dog, Brian Griffin.
Tracy McConnell
By far one of the most brutal TV deaths that was a long time coming was the death of Tracy McConnell from How I Met Your Mother (2005). Better known as "The Mother", Tracy's demise isn't revealed to us until the final season of HIMYM and in one of the greatest twists in TV history, she's dead already. She got sick and passed on, leaving Ted with their two children—with the entire story being a recounting (to the children) of Ted's life before he met Tracy.
CBS, How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
Pops Solomon
Albert "Pops" Solomon was the iconic father/grandfather figure in The Goldberg's (2013), whose creative team wrote George Segal's character out of the show, following his own death in 2021. For long-time fans of the sitcom, the patriarch's passing came as a real tear-jerker.
Sony Pictures Television, The Goldbergs (2013-2023)
Mrs Landingham
The President's beloved secretary in The West Wing (1999) passed away off-screen following a car accident, after actress Katherine Joosten left the show. Mrs Landingham's demise was one of the most unexpected and awful deaths to hit The West Wing in the entirety of the political drama's eight seasons.
Warner Bros., The West Wing (1999-2006)
Janice Moss
Janice Moss was one of the good people in the crime drama Barry (2018), starring Bill Hader as a Midwesterner who moonlights as a hitman. Despite wanting to turn over a new life and leave the life of an assassin behind, Hader's titular character, Barry, can't risk being exposed by police detective Janice Moss—whom he shoots in the back and then hides her body. So much for turning over a new leaf...
Alec Berg Productions, Barry (2018-2023)
Maude Flanders
While not one of The Simpsons' (1989) first victims, Maude Flanders' death was certainly one of the most impactful. The beloved wife of Ned Flanders and neighbor of Homer Simpson, Maude's shocking demise came at the hands of a T-shirt cannon, after she was knocked off the grandstand and fell.
Gracie Films, The Simpsons 1989-
Poussey Washington
One of the most shocking deaths in a recent TV series, which echoed events at the time eerily, was the demise of Poussey Washington from Orange Is The New Black (2013). During a fight in the prison, Poussey is detained by a rookie guard who leans on her chest while Poussey mutters, "I can't breathe... I can't breathe..." in a spectacular, if heartbreaking, portrayal of art imitating life.
Tilted Productions, Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)
Adriana La Cerva
Fans of The Sopranos (1999) will remember this one well. Adriana La Cerva becomes an unwilling informant for the FBI and as the pressure mounts on her, she unravels and tells all to Christopher Silvio. Silvio chooses his mobster friends over Adriana, which leads to her execution. It's a brutal slaying that brought home the reality of mob betrayal: nobody escapes.
Game Of Thrones Kills Off The Starks
If Ned Stark's demise in season 1 wasn't enough, Game Of Thrones took that to a whole new level with season 5, episode 16's The Rains Of Castamere. Otherwise known as "The Red Wedding", GOT directors saw fit to kill off (almost) the entire Stark house at the hands of Walder Frey, following Robb Stark's breaking of the marriage pact between House Stark and House Frey.
It's a brutal few minutes of television that caused fans to scream in horror at the unfolding events. For beloved characters being killed off, Game Of Thrones took the proverbial cake by doing away with almost an entire family of beloved characters in one episode.
What was your most-beloved character that was killed off far too soon? Do you think any characters on our list would have made a difference if they'd have stayed on the cast—or was it time for them to go? Let us know in the comments below.
