One of the worst parts of being a TV fan is the possibility that your favorite character could die. The reasons behind character deaths are varied, from stars asking to leave a show, or — heavens forbid — an actor passing away in real life. Here are 20 of television’s most heartbreaking character deaths that we still haven’t gotten over.

Fred Andrews – ‘Riverdale’

Losing actor Luke Perry in 2019 following a stroke was devastating. Even though we knew Riverdale would be sending the beloved character off in its Season 4 premiere, it wasn’t any easier to watch. In true Fred Andrews fashion, he stopped to help someone stalled at the side of the road and was killed in a hit and run. Giving the episode even more gravity was the person cast as the woman Fred stopped to help: Perry’s 90210 co-star, Shannen Doherty. It was a fitting farewell for the character and for Perry that had us in tears and turned me into a blubbering mess from beginning to end.

Poussey Washington – ‘Orange Is the New Black’

In a devastating example of art imitating life, Poussey’s death in Season 4 of Orange Is the New Black highlighted the realities that Black people face at the hands of law enforcement. During a protest by Litchfield inmates over unfair treatment by prison guards, a CO restrained Poussey (Samira Wiley) as she was trying to console Suzanne (Uzo Aduba), and he suffocated her. The fandom was understandably upset by the loss of a much-loved, queer Black character, and the effects of Poussey’s death rippled through to the end of the series.

Derek Shepherd – ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

In a series that has seen more than its share of tragic deaths since its premiere, Season 11 of Grey’s Anatomy brought us one of the most shocking ends to a major character. After saving two teens involved in a car crash on a mountain road, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) was hit by a semi as he pulled away from the scene. He was alive and conscious when he arrived at Dillard, the nearest hospital, but wasn’t able to speak although his internal monologue showed he knew a heat CT was needed. The doctors figured it out too late and Derek was declared brain dead. After having him taken off life support, Meredith pleaded with him to stay until the very end. Even though this character’s death resulted from Dempsey wanting to leave the long-running series, it still stings to this day.

Jen Lindley – ‘Dawson’s Creek’

It certainly wasn’t a happy ending for everyone in the series finale of Dawson’s Creek. During Gale Leery’s second wedding, Jen (Michelle Williams), now a single mother to a one-year-old, passes out. While she’s hospitalized, Jen reveals to her best friend, Jack (Kerr Smith), that she has a fatal heart condition and that nothing can be done to help her. Jen passes away with her grams at her side, leaving her daughter, Amy, in Jack’s care.

Will Gardner – ‘The Good Wife’

It wasn’t until Will Gardner (Josh Charles) was suddenly killed off The Good Wife that fans found out he wanted to leave the show. One of the original stars of the series and long-time romantic interest for Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), Charles’ character was fatally shot in the courtroom by one of his own clients in Season 5, utterly shocking viewers although the writers had been planning it for a year. Charles not only watched the reaction unfold on Twitter, he even made calls to console some distraught fans.

Lady Sibyl – ‘Downton Abbey’

There’s no denying that Matthew Crawley’s untimely death on Downton Abbey was sad, but the death of Lady Sibyl (Jessica Brown Findlay) after giving birth was truly gut-wrenching. It was eclampsia — a dangerous condition where high blood pressure leads to seizures — that ended her young life, leaving her husband, Tom Branson, and their daughter behind. In real life, the young actor decided not to renew her contract following the third season for fear she’d become too comfortable and no longer challenge herself professionally.

Hodor – ‘Game of Thrones’

Game of Thrones fans had no clue what they were in for with the Season 6 episode entitled “The Door.” What they ended up getting was flashbacks of Hodor’s life, including a time when he could say other words besides “Hodor.” Finding out that it was short for “hold the door,” words that he heard as he had a brain-altering seizure when he was young was already painful enough, but also it was Bran Stark warg-ing into his mind that caused it made the situation even worse. Ultimately, Hodor died holding the door to a cave while Bran and Meera escaped from the White Walkers.

Tara Maclay – ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’

Tara’s death on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was painful for several reasons, and she wasn’t even the intended target of the bullet. First, it followed a long-awaited reconciliation between her and Willow (Alyson Hannigan). Second, she was a fan favorite and a grounding figure in the overall story. Third, it was one of the most notable examples of the “bury your gays” trope, especially since it happened after Willow and Tara were in bed, implying that lesbian sex is punishable by death. The stray bullet intended for Buffy killing Tara instead was supposed to be a way to further Willow’s character arc, but there were better ways that this could’ve been accomplished. Nearly two decades later, it’s still a point of contention for fans of the show.

Lexa – ‘The 100’

One of the most impactful deaths on the small screen was that of Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) on The 100. Much like Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Commander of the Grounders was killed by a gunshot wound shortly after she and Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) had sex for the first time. This was a tipping point for LGBTQ+ fans who immediately took to social media to declare #LexaDeservedBetter and push for queerbaiting and the “bury your gays” trope to end. It sparked a movement that demanded better queer representation on TV, raised over $100K for The Trevor Project, and even led to ClexaCon, an annual fan convention for LGBTQ+ women, and trans and non-binary fans, content creators, and allies.

Logan Echolls – ‘Veronica Mars’

The excitement over a Veronica Mars revival quickly turned sour following the Season 4 release in 2019 when one half of Neptune’s OTP died in the finale. Veronica (Kristen Bell) and Logan (Jason Dohring) finally tied the knot and just as they were about to head out on a well-deserved honeymoon, Logan was killed by a car bomb intended for Veronica. Fans were outraged by the death — and still are more than a year later — and may never forgive series creator, Rob Thomas.

Candy Ferocity – ‘Pose’

From its premiere, Pose not only celebrates trans and queer people of color, it also makes them the focal point rather than side characters. That made the Season 2 death of Candy Ferocity, portrayed by actor and activist Angelica Ross, even more overwhelming. It was devastating that Candy was murdered while doing survival sex work — highlighting the violence that trans women have faced and continue to face — and seeing how it affected her friends and family added to the heartbreak.

Charlie Pace – ‘LOST’

After finding out he was fated to die, Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) sacrificed himself to save everyone else. His mission to the underwater Looking Glass station was intended to switch off a device that was jamming communication with the island so they could reach a nearby rescue boat. Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) went along with him and watched helplessly as he drowned in the flooded communication room. Charlie was able to give Desmond a message first: the boat was not sent by Penny, Desmond’s long-lost love. The image of Charlie pushing away from that door with the words “Not Penny’s Boat” written on his hand makes it the LOST death that has stuck with me until this day.

Lexie Grey – ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

When a medical drama has been on as long as Grey’s Anatomy, characters are bound to die. The horrific plane crash in the Season 8 finale took fan favorite Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), surgical resident, Meredith’s little sister, and the love of Mark Sloan’s life. Pinned under debris, Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Mark (Eric Dane) attempted to free her but discovered she had a hemothorax and wouldn’t make it. Mark professed his love for her and held her hand until she passed. After the survivors are rescued and back in Seattle at the start of Season 9, Mark seemed to be OK but died of internal injuries sustained in the crash.

Ianto Jones – ‘Torchwood’

Fans were shocked and distraught following the death of Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) in Torchwood: Children of Earth’s “Day Four.” Introduced as the administrator/coffee boy/cleaner on the team in this Doctor Who spinoff, he grew to become a vital part of the top-secret organization, and also went from a casual hookup for Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) to full-blown couple status. In the penultimate episode of the five-part miniseries, aliens known as the 456 release a virus into the atmosphere when Earth refuses to sacrifice 10 percent of its children as a tribute, and Ianto dies in Jack’s arms.

Opie Winston – ‘Sons of Anarchy’

When Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) refused to sacrifice a member of his motorcycle club to appease rival Damon Pope (Harold Perrineau) in Season 5 of Sons of Anarchy, Opie (Ryan Hurst) made the choice and gave up his life. Opie was killed by a fatal blow to the head in a prison fight as Jax looked on in horror. It was one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the series, especially since Opie died for SAMCRO, the club responsible for the deaths of both his father and his wife.

Adriana la Cerva – ‘The Sopranos’

If there’s one TV death that still fills me with rage to this day, it’s the death of Adriana (Drea de Matteo) on The Sopranos in Season 5’s “Long Term Parking.” The FBI was forcing her to be an informant which was tearing her up inside literally; the episode started with a doctor diagnosing her with stress-induced ulcerative colitis. She almost died at the hands of Christopher (Michael Imperioli) when she told him what was going on and tried convincing him to join her in witness protection. Ultimately, it was Silvio Dante (Steven Van Zandt) who ended her life after an agonizing car ride that was so difficult to watch.

Gordon Clark – ‘Halt and Catch Fire’

Even though we knew Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy) was sick with chronic toxic encephalopathy, his death from a stroke in the fourth and final season of Halt and Catch Fire was a shock that packed an emotional punch. Seeing things from his perspective in his final moments — images of him with ex-wife Donna (Kerry Bishé) and their daughters — was beautiful and moving, even if we didn’t realize he was about to die. Gordon’s death wasn’t depicted on screen, so viewers learned his fate at the same time as his girlfriend, Katie (Anna Chlumsky).

William Hill – ‘This is Us’

Yes, the death of Jack, the Pearson family patriarch, was a sad one on This is Us, but the passing of Randall’s biological father, William, was a real tearjerker. In the Season 1 episode “Memphis,” father and son head out on a road trip so William can show Randall his old haunts in Tennessee. Following a day of trips down memory lane and reconnecting with family, William’s cancer takes him, but not before he can utter some of the most beautiful words ever spoken on the small screen: “The two best things in my life were the person in the very beginning, and the person at the very end,” referring to William’s mother, and his son, Randall. It’s no wonder Ron Cephas Jones won an Emmy for the role in 2017.

Dana Fairbanks – ‘The L Word’

Without a doubt, the saddest moment on The L Word was the death of Dana Fairbanks (Erin Daniels) in Season 3. A pro tennis player from a conservative family who was closeted at the start of the series, Dana became a queer icon before her breast cancer diagnosis and passing. Adding to the pain of it all was her parents continuing to deny Dana’s sexuality at her funeral and relegating her good friends/found family to the back of the church. Her best friend and ex, Alice (Leisha Hailey), and the others managed to get some of Dana’s ashes and give her a more fitting, teary-eyed farewell in a place that meant a lot to their late friend.

Patrick Reid – ‘Offspring’

In the hit Australian dramedy starring Asher Keddie as Nina Proudman, an obstetrician in Melbourne, fans rejoiced when she found love with the handsome anesthetist, Patrick Reid (Matthew Le Nevez). In Season 4 of Offspring, while Nina and Patrick were expecting their first child, Patrick was hit by a car and later died from a head injury. When the episode first aired in 2016, it was national news, and some fans phoned the police in Australia because they were so distraught. Writers of the show always knew that Patrick’s time was limited on the series as Le Nevez was pursuing roles in Los Angeles.