TV shows are always shaped by shocking character deaths that often feel untimely and forced. But did you know many of these exits weren’t based on creative decisions?
Here are 10 TV characters who got killed off because the actors themselves wanted to leave the show.
10. Matthew Crawley in ‘Downton Abbey‘
Crawley’s heartbreaking death in ‘Downton Abbey’ remains one of the most frustrating exits in TV shows. However, you can’t blame the writers for this because the decision largely came from actor Dan Stevens himself.
He wanted to leave the hugely successful show and explore other acting opportunities. Stevens didn’t want to be tied down to one project. So, shortly after his wife, Lady Mary, gives birth, Matthew Crawley dies in a brutal car accident.
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9. Dr. Derek Shepherd in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Patrick Dempsey decided it was his time to leave ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ after more than a decade on the show. He admitted that the series gave him a lot of opportunity, but it came at a cost. The commitment it required became too exhausting.
He wanted more control over his schedule and his life outside the show. So, writers had to cut him off. In Season 11, Episode 22, Dr. Derek Shepherd dies after a horrific car accident that causes him fatal brain injuries.
8. Siggy in ‘Vikings’
Actress Jessalyn Gilsig, who played the role of Siggy in ‘Vikings’, requested to leave the show after two seasons because of personal family matters happening in her life at the moment.
Gilsig explained that she needed some time to focus on important family responsibilities. The writers understood the situation and crafted a very emotional and heroic farewell for Siggy. In season 3, she died while trying to protect Ragnar’s children.
7. Grand Maester Pycelle in ‘Game of Thrones’
The reason Julian Glover wanted to leave one of the most iconic shows of all time was that he grew frustrated. He believed that the character of Grand Maester Pycelle was going nowhere and had little meaningful purpose left.
So, Glover asked the producers to kill him off in true ‘Game of Thrones’ style. Pycelle was brutally stabbed to death by Qyburn’s child spies. Glover admitted it was the exact kind of dramatic and memorable exit he wanted.
6. Marissa Cooper in ‘The O.C.’
Mischa Barton left ‘The O.C.’ because she was struggling with the show’s demanding schedule and the way they handled things. She also felt that it was the best decision for her health, as she no longer felt comfortable behind the scenes.
The producers gave her the option to leave in a way that would make it possible for her to return someday. But Barton wanted to leave permanently. So, in one of the most iconic teen drama deaths, her character, Marissa, dies in season 3 of the show.
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5. Bronwyn in ‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Everyone was surprised when Bronwyn suddenly left ‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ in season 2. But Nazanin Boniadi later confirmed that leaving was entirely her own decision.
She chose to leave in order to prioritize her activism work, particularly advocating for women’s rights in Iran. She explained that the reason she felt deeply connected to Bronwyn was because of her compassion and commitment to justice. That’s why she decided to leave, and her character dies off-screen in the show.
4. Lawrence Kutner in ‘House’
The reason Lawrence Kutner had to leave ‘House’ is probably the most unexpected reason imaginable. Actor Kal Penn actually got an opportunity to work for Barack Obama at the White House.
Penn accepted the position of associate director of public engagement and had to leave the medical drama. He was killed off in Season 5, Episode 20, ‘Simple Explanation.’ Penn admitted that working on the show was a genuinely loving experience, and it was a difficult decision to leave.
3. Dale Horvath in ‘The Walking Dead’
Jeffrey DeMunn asked for his character, Dale Horvath, to be killed off in ‘The Walking Dead’ because he was frustrated that the production fired showrunner Frank Darabont. DeMunn stated that he only joined the show because of his close friendship with Darabont.
Furious over AMC’s feud with Darabont and the way they fired him, the actor decided to quit in solidarity. So, Dale Horvath was killed off when he was attacked by a walker in season 2.
2. George O’Malley in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
T.R. Knight decided to leave ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ because of his feud with creator Shonda Rhimes. They reportedly had a lot of disagreements over George O’Malley’s storyline direction, and he ultimately decided to leave.
Writers responded with one of the show’s most devastating deaths when George was hit by a bus while saving another person. It wasn’t an amicable split, but Knight knew that he had made the right decision. Though later he was convinced by the showrunners to return for an appearance in a dream sequence in season 17.
1. Anya Jenkins in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Reportedly, Emma Caulfield felt underappreciated while working on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. She made it clear she did not want to return for possible sequels or spin-offs and wanted a permanent death for her character.
During the show’s climax, Anya was suddenly killed in combat. This shocked the fans greatly because she was the only regular character in the show to be permanently killed off.
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