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20 People Share What They Believe Are The Saddest TV Deaths Of All Time

We all hate it when a character we like dies. But some deaths hurt more than others.

20 People Share What They Believe Are The Saddest TV Deaths Of All Time

Some TV deaths hit harder than others, and Reddit has plenty of opinions about which ones still sting years later. From sitcom favorites to prestige drama heartbreaks, people keep naming the scenes that left them stunned, sad, or just plain wrecked.

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This roundup keeps the original Reddit reactions intact while smoothing out the flow around them. A few of the longer editorial sections have been trimmed back so the focus stays on the characters, the shows, and the deaths people still cannot get over.

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And honestly, once you start reading these picks, it is easy to remember your own worst TV heartbreak. Read on.

Someone asked:

Someone asked:Reddit
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1. The transplant patients in Scrubs

1. The transplant patients in ScrubsReddit
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2. Sadly, this was based on a real event...

2. Sadly, this was based on a real event...Reddit

That kind of loss always lands harder than expected.

3. Blackadder and coming out of the trenches to face the German machine guns in WWI...

3. Blackadder and coming out of the trenches to face the German machine guns in WWI...Reddit

4. Buffy's mom

4. Buffy's momReddit

5. It hurts because it was so unexpected... and that makes it so real.

5. It hurts because it was so unexpected... and that makes it so real.Reddit

Some deaths just stick with people for years.

6. Poor Mr. Hooper

6. Poor Mr. HooperReddit

7. Alan Alda talking about a baby's death in M*A*S*H

7. Alan Alda talking about a baby's death in M*A*S*HReddit

8. Adriana in The Sopranos

8. Adriana in The SopranosReddit

And then there are the ones nobody saw coming.

Also, it’s like the fight over the cat promise, when one partner got it against their partner’s wishes.

9. Too many deaths on Lost...

9. Too many deaths on Lost...Reddit

10. Dr. Wilson on House M.D.

10. Dr. Wilson on House M.D.Reddit

11. Sybil in Downton Abbey

11. Sybil in Downton AbbeyReddit

Fans clearly remember the emotional ones best.

12. Andrea in Breaking Bad

12. Andrea in Breaking BadReddit

13. Ragnar Lothbrok from Vikings

13. Ragnar Lothbrok from VikingsReddit

In 2019, the number of original scripted television series in the United States hit 532, up from 495 in the previous year. And who knows how many TV shows have been made since the beginning of television?

That makes the number of characters we saw on the TV screen close to… a gazillion, we guess. One would say we should be used to seeing characters die by now.

But it’s something that always makes us sad.

14. David Tennant from Doctor Who

14. David Tennant from Doctor WhoReddit

15. The kid on The Wire

15. The kid on The WireReddit

16. Chidi in The Good Place

16. Chidi in The Good PlaceReddit

17. Rita from Dexter

17. Rita from DexterReddit

18. Sadly, the character died because the actor died. John Spencer's death ended Leo McGarry's character.

18. Sadly, the character died because the actor died. John Spencer's death ended Leo McGarry's character.Reddit

19. So many good people...

19. So many good people...Reddit

20. People are still sad about Dr. Frasier from Stargate SG-1

20. People are still sad about Dr. Frasier from Stargate SG-1Reddit

We all hate it when a character we like dies. But some deaths hurt more than others. There is no doubt that the TV characters’ deaths that hurt the most are the ones that were forced because the actors passed away.

Yes, it’s one thing not to see your favorite character, but not seeing your favorite actor at all… that really hurts. For instance, John Ritter and John Spencer died during the shooting of TV shows.

Knowing that we won’t be able to enjoy some new characters they are portraying is simply awful. We sure loved them...

Heartbreaking news: Todd Meadows from Deadliest Catch died at 25 during filming.

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