20 Shocking TV Character Exits That Will Leave You Speechless

TV writers often face the challenge of writing out certain actors' characters from their shows, whether it be due to the actor's departure or being fired by the network. These character exits can range from off-screen deaths to relocations to different cities or even something completely different. Since these departures are typically a result of contractual complications rather than a creative decision, finding a seamless way to incorporate them into the story can be difficult. The Simpsons famously mocked this issue by having Poochie from The Itchy & Scratchy Show die on his way back to his home planet. While this may be an exaggerated portrayal of lazy character removals, there have been real instances where TV character exits have been equally unsatisfying. Examples include introducing a severely injured George O'Malley as a patient in Grey's Anatomy or abandoning Silicon Valley's Erlich Bachman in an overseas opium den. Ultimately, writing a character out of a TV series often results in clumsy and implausible storylines.

10 Charlie Harper (Two And A Half Men)

9 Tasha Yar (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Following a contentious fallout between Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre, the creator of Two and a Half Men, the writers chose a rather horrific demise for Sheen's womanizing character, Charlie Harper. Season 9, episode 1, titled "Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt," commenced with Charlie's funeral, resulting from a tragic train accident. In a rather vindictive move, Lorre later decided to kill off Charlie once again. Surprisingly, the show's final episode disclosed that Charlie was indeed alive, only to have him meet his ultimate fate when a grand piano unexpectedly plummeted and crushed him to death. It seems that the animosity between Sheen and Lorre overshadowed the narrative requirements of the series.

The demise of Tasha Yar occurred in episode 23 of the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, titled "Skin of Evil." Her untimely death at the hands of Armus, a sinister entity composed of black viscous matter with appendages, was met with largely negative reception upon the episode's broadcast, and it continues to be a subject of divided opinions. In an interview with StarTrek.com, Denise Crosby, the actress portraying Yar, revealed her decision to depart from the show was triggered by her dissatisfaction with the limited character development of Yar. Crosby firmly believes that choosing to leave the series was the correct choice for her.

8 Erlich Bachman (Silicon Valley)

When T.J. Miller departed from Silicon Valley between seasons 4 and 5, an official statement by HBO stated that the actor and the network had "mutually agreed" to go their separate ways (via Variety). However, it is believed that Miller's legal troubles, which coincided with his departure, played a role in this decision. As the last episode of Silicon Valley season 4, episode 10, "Server Error," concluded with Erlich in an opium den in Tibet, the writers opted to let the character remain in that opium den for the remainder of the series.

7 Lexa (The 100)

Although not present in the original books that inspired The 100, Lexa quickly gained immense popularity as a compelling character in the dystopian sci-fi series. Her romantic involvement with Clarke Griffin was a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in television. Sadly, Lexa's untimely demise occurred in episode 7 of season 3, titled "Thirteen," when she was unintentionally shot by Titus while protecting Clarke's life. This sudden and unnecessary tragedy faced criticism as it exemplified the widely disliked "bury your gays" trope.

6 George O'Malley (Grey's Anatomy)

Dr. George O’Malley met a tragic fate in Grey’s Anatomy season 5, episode 24, “Now or Never.” A courageous act led him to save a woman's life by jumping in front of a bus, resulting in severe facial injuries that rendered him unrecognizable. Unaware of his true identity, the hospital staff proceeded with treatment until Meredith's realization. It was only when she noticed the familiar nickname "007" etched on her hand that she identified the patient as George. This unexpected departure of the character was prompted by actor T.R. Knight's request to be written off the show, following his co-star Isaiah Washington's use of a homophobic slur on set (as reported by CNN).

5 Donna Gable (Kevin Can Wait)

Following the conclusion of season 1, CBS opted to revamp the Kevin James sitcom Kevin Can Wait by bringing back the beloved characters from King of Queens. Erinn Hayes portrayed Kevin's wife Donna Gable for the duration of the first season. However, when the second season commenced, viewers were simply informed of Donna's passing, which had occurred more than a year earlier. In a surprising turn of events, Leah Remini, James's former co-star from King of Queens, took over the role as Kevin's business partner Vanessa Cellucci. The insensitive manner in which Kevin Can Wait handled Hayes's departure and Donna's demise, happening off-screen, inspired the creation of a satirical show called Kevin Can F**k Himself, which scrutinizes the traditional gender dynamics commonly found in American sitcoms.

4 Dodo (Doctor Who)

Dorothea “Dodo” Chaplet, a companion of the First Doctor, was unexpectedly written out of Doctor Who. In the middle of “The War Machines,” the final serial of Doctor Who season 3, Dodo falls under the control of a rogue A.I. called WOTAN and is sent away to recover in the countryside. From that point on, Dodo's fate remains unknown as she is swiftly replaced by Polly and Ben. In a candid interview given to Doctor Who Magazine, actor Jackie Lane expressed her disappointment with the way her character's story came to an end. She referred to her character's departure as an "anti-climax" and expressed her desire for a more dramatic conclusion.

3 Michonne (The Walking Dead)

Danai Gurira bid farewell to her long-standing role as Michonne on The Walking Dead in season 10, episode 13, titled "What We Become." In this milestone episode, Michonne made the difficult decision to abandon her children in order to embark on a mission to find Rick Grimes, who had gone missing in the previous season. While her departure was intended to set the stage for a spinoff series called The Walking Dead: Rick & Michonne, it felt out of character for the fiercely protective Michonne to leave her loved ones behind. This serves as a poignant example of how the cinematic universe franchise model can sometimes compromise character development in favor of generating additional content.

2 Jonathan (Boy Meets World)

Cory, Shawn, and Topanga’s beloved teacher, Jonathan Turner, who was known for his coolness and love for Harley-riding, encountered a devastating motorcycle accident in season 4, episode 21 titled "Cult Fiction" of Boy Meets World. Despite surviving the crash, he mysteriously disappeared from the series without any further appearances. However, in the subsequent series, Girl Meets World, the fate of Mr. Turner was finally unveiled. It was revealed that he had fallen head over heels in love with his caring nurse and eventually tied the knot with her. Actor Anthony Tyler Quinn disclosed that his departure from Boy Meets World stemmed from the decision to steer the show in a new direction, as the characters were progressing towards high school.

1 Chef (South Park)

Isaac Hayes, a Scientologist, left the voice cast of South Park after the show parodied the Church of Scientology in season 9, episode 12, titled "Trapped in the Closet" (via CBS News). In response to Hayes's departure, Trey Parker and Matt Stone dedicated the season 10 premiere, called "The Return of Chef," to the exit of Hayes's character, Chef. Creating a thinly veiled parallel to real-life events, "The Return of Chef" portrays Chef being brainwashed by a cult known as the Super Adventure Club. Unlike the character exits in shows like Two and a Half Men, South Park's satirical departure finds humor in its spite.