15 Heartbreaking TV Character Exits We’ll Never Get Over

One of the hardest parts of watching television is saying goodbye to our favorite characters. Whether a character leaves town or tragically dies, goodbyes are never easy. 

We develop attachments to characters for various reasons: they inspire us, they relate to our struggles, or they simply bring us joy with each new episode. Great television always leaves lasting impressions on its audience, which starts and ends with the characters we meet along the way.

It’s natural for shows to evolve as the seasons go on, so heartbreaking character exits are inevitable. Sometimes the best stories are the ones that hurt, which is why they stick with us years later.

This list comes with a giant spoiler alert. You’ve been warned.

Here, in no particular order, are 15 heartbreaking TV character exits we’ll never get over:

1. George O’Malley (Grey’s Anatomy)

In the first of many heart-wrenching Grey’s Anatomy character deaths, George died a hero. We all still remember the tragic reveal that John Doe was in fact their dear friend George. 

It always hurts thinking about the lost potential of talented surgeons dying too soon, but George died doing what he was born to do — saving lives. He’s an inspiration for the rest of his coworkers and friends for seasons after.

George will always be a comfort character for many. He was a classic underdog stumbling through life in the hopes of succeeding. But his compassion and care for those around him set him apart from the rest, making him a great doctor. 

The original interns will always hold a special place in our hearts, and George is no exception.

2. Joyce Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

It was the perfect metaphor in a series full of them. Buffy saved the world from monsters daily, but she couldn’t save the person she loved and needed most from a non-supernatural death.

Joyce was Buffy’s comfort and normalcy in a world full of darkness and demons, especially as she got older. While it took Joyce a bit to adjust to her daughter’s calling, she always tried her best to support Buffy and keep her safe. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 Episode 16, “The Body,” remains one of the saddest episodes of television. Joyce’s death pushes the show further into adulthood, setting Buffy on a darker path as she accepts her duty, despite the tragedy she continues to endure along the way.

3. Marissa Cooper (The O.C.)

For a character as tortured and lost as The O.C.‘s Marissa Cooper, it made sense, albeit tragic, that she’d go out in a fiery car wreck in the arms of her lover, Ryan Atwood.

The heartbreaking symmetry of Ryan carrying her out of the burning car, an eerily similar silhouette to when he saved her life in Mexico in Season 1, is not lost on audiences to this day. Marissa’s death remains one of the most devastating yet unsurprising teen drama deaths.

After seasons of occasional highs and too many lows, Marissa finally found a way out of Newport. She deserved a fresh start and the opportunity to build a new, happier life for herself, free of her past mistakes. 

The nature of her death still feels like a reminder of her poor choices, an unfair end for a dynamic female character. 

4. Sheriff Forbes (The Vampire Diaries)

The Vampire Diaries is a show notorious for tragic, violent deaths of characters close to our hearts. The exit of Caroline’s mother in Season 6 was the perfect reminder that life and death can be out of our control, even when we have magical solutions for disaster. Vampire blood does not cure-all.

Her death led to one of the show’s strongest hours in an otherwise boring back half of the series. It is grounded, it honors an important figure in the story, and it allows the characters to come to terms with their own lives and experiences with grief. 

Sheriff Forbes’ death also sets the groundwork for Caroline’s humanity switch to turn off — an exciting twist for the show’s most well-balanced and adjusted vampire.

5. Keith Scott (One Tree Hill)

In a move that altered the course of the show irrevocably, Kevin is killed during One Tree Hill‘s most raw and powerful hours, by his brother of all people. It’s a death that shocked audiences in an episode full of haunting speeches and unexpected turns.

Keith and Karen were so close to the happy ending they always deserved. His Season 3 return felt too good to be true — because it was. 

Keith was the father figure that many of these characters desperately needed. He provided honest advice for struggling teenagers and genuinely cared about their lives. His fatherly influence on Lucas specifically still holds a special place in our hearts.  

His death led to a beautifully complex grieving arc for Lucas and Karen, and complicated guilt for Dan that would span the rest of the series.

6. Fred Andrews (Riverdale)

Because of the death of actor Luke Perry, Riverdale mourned the loss of a beloved character and cast member as the characters began their senior year. In the most grounded and emotional episode the show will ever do, Fred died a hero.

In a town full of toxic and manipulative parental figures, Fred was the image of morality and kindness. He taught Archie to always fight for what is right when nobody else will. When Jughead and Betty needed someone in their corner, Fred was there to support them.

Fred Andrews’ legacy lives on through Archie, reminding us that there was a pure heart bred in such a wicked town. His influence will always guide Archie through life, making for a beautifully authentic arc about grieving the loss of a parent. Their presence never leaves you.

7. Allison Argent (Teen Wolf)

To send Teen Wolf into the final act of its strongest season, we were forced to say goodbye to our fearless heroine. Crystal Reed delivered an absolutely heartbreaking monologue as Allison poetically died in the arms of her first love, Scott.

Allison’s death stayed true to her character, as she went down fighting against evil. She was an intelligent hunter with a bright future, sharing in her death the key to defeating the Oni and saving the people she loved.

Allison’s death marks a shift into darker territory for Teen Wolf. These teens spent so much time fighting evil, but it was the first time evil cost them the life of someone so dear to the pack. 

8. Hayley Marshall (The Originals)

Hayley’s death is the first of many painful moments during The Originals‘ swan song, but it will always hurt the most. In a heroic fashion, Hayley saved her daughter in her final moments. 

Her death sets off a trajectory of grieving and guilt for Hope, Klaus, Elijah, and the rest of the Mikaelson clan. The loss of her mother continues to impact Hope as she grows up and fights evil on Legacies. 

Hayley’s influence on the forever-complicated Mikaelson family is remarkable. An outsider brought in due to a miracle pregnancy became a key member of the family, fighting and loving as fiercely as the others. 

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of Hayley’s exit is Elijah’s role. His complicity, while unaware, in the death of his lover haunts him deeply throughout Season 5. Hayley and Elijah remain one of the The Vampire Diaries universe’s most tortured love affairs. 

9. Maya St. Germain (Pretty Little Liars)

As mysteries unraveled season after season on Pretty Little Liars, we were just as invested in the romances developing on-screen as we were in the exciting reveals.

Emily and Maya were one of the many beautiful relationships to blossom throughout the series, representing the bisexual and lesbian communities when it was rare to see these characters so prominent on-screen. 

Maya’s death was an unnecessary tragedy for such a compassionate young woman. She was complicated and struggled with her demons, but losing a queer character at the hands of her psychotic ex-boyfriend was a cruel writing choice.

Maya deserved so much more than the story she was given, making her senseless death one that we still grieve a decade later.  

10. Mitch Leery (Dawson’s Creek)

He is the reason you’ll never eat ice cream while driving. Dawson’s Creek never shied away from the opportunity to explore the sadder side of life, and Mitch’s unexpected passing set up a powerful character journey for Dawson. 

James Van Der Beek delivers some of his best performances as a grieving and guilty son as Dawson comes to terms with his strained relationship with his father, leading up to his death. It also began an emotional therapy storyline, which elevated Dawson’s relatability and depth as a character.

After seasons of living in a land of delusion, Dawson became a character we could connect with as he healed from tragedy.

Mitch’s legacy was always present in Capeside, especially in the impact he had on the lives of Dawson, Gail, Pacey, and Joey.

11. J. T. Yorke (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

J.T. was our favorite class clown. His laugh and smile were infectious. His charming presence lit up television screens for years, making his violent death such a painful turn for Degrassi: The Next Generation.

His death led to tensions between Degrassi High and Lakehurst High when the schools merged later in the series. Although they would never get him back, his classmates still fought against the tragic and cruel loss of their friend. 

J.T.’s legacy was carried on by his friends as the show continued for many years after his death. His friendship with Toby and his love story with Liberty are among our favorites of the series. 

12. Michael Scott (The Office)

Although Michael did not go out in a tragic death like many on this list, his exit is just as tear-jerking. 

The Office is a sitcom full of comedy, but it is also full of love. Michael’s love and dedication to Dunder Mifflin carried the show through seven seasons of laughs and warmth. He’ll always be one of the most beloved sitcom characters of all time. 

However, his enormous heart called him to Colorado, a perfectly in-character exit for an honorable and loving leader. Although he loved his job and was fiercely loyal to the work family he spent years fostering, his new family needed him. 

Michael will always be the soul of The Office, and the show was never the same without him.

13. Josie Saltzman (Legacies)

In a shocking, but appreciated, choice for The Vampire Diaries franchise, Josie Saltzman exited Legacies unscathed. In a personal choice to grow outside of the confines of the Salvatore School, Josie decides to live her own life away from Mystic Falls. 

Although she deserved a full episode dedicated to her major decision to leave her home behind, she earned a life free of monsters and chaos — even though we will miss her dearly. Josie will always be an integral member of the Super Squad, which relied heavily on her intellect and strength. 

We all wept watching her say goodbye to her sister, reminding us that we are loved. Josie and Lizzie’s sisterly love will always be one of the strongest bonds on Legacies.

Here’s to hoping that we’ll see Josie again.

14. Jackie Taylor (Yellowjackets)

On Yellowjackets, death is inevitable, especially as the show jumps between timelines, addressing the loss of beloved teammates. However, it doesn’t make it any less shocking or heartbreaking when Jackie meets her end.

Jackie represented sanity and rationality in terrifying and mind-altering life-and-death circumstances. Although it remains to be seen, her death clearly marks a turn into darkness, depravity, and occultism for her teammates, especially for her best friend, Shauna. 

A team once united slowly unraveled and drifted into insanity in order to survive, but Jackie could never make the change. 

Jackie was a natural leader with an effortlessly endearing presence, and we will certainly feel her absence on Yellowjackets Season 2. 

15. Nicolette “Nic” Nevin (The Resident)

As Conrad and Nic finally start a family and settle down, disaster inevitably strikes as Nic is left brain-dead after a major car accident. 

There is a beauty in Nic’s death as it honors her nurturing and compassionate nature as a nurse. Conrad’s choice to donate her organs to patients in need instead of leaving her plugged into a machine and wasting away remains true to her principles.

She always went above and beyond for her patients, so it’s fitting that her death saved the lives of others. 

We’ll always grieve the loss of Nic for the pain it caused Conrad and Gigi, in addition to the heartbreak of losing an inspirational favorite character. 

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What heartbreaking character exits are you never getting over? Let us know in the comments!

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