14 Unexpected TV Character Deaths And Departures That Fans Blame On Behind-The-Scenes Drama
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Warning: spoilers ahead!
Sometimes, bad endings happen to good characters. A lot of the time, TV writers give a character a particularly bad ending for a plot twist, like when Tracy (aka The Mother) from How I Met Your Mother dies so Ted can end up with Robin. Other times, however, a devastating finale hints at drama behind the scenes. While it's not always spelled out clearly, fans often read between the lines.
Recently, I asked the BuzzFeed Community which TV characters they think were killed off in petty and spiteful ways.
Here are 14 of their top answers:
1.Edie Britt from Desperate Housewives
"Nicolette Sheridan was allegedly fired from the show after reported tensions (and an alleged altercation) with series producer/creator Marc Cherry. He had Edie killed by electrocution following a car accident.
Sheridan has tried to sue Cherry since then, and the case has been dismissed and appealed more times than I can keep track of."
2.Logan from Veronica Mars
"He went through so much character development and waited for his dream girl, only to be killed on his wedding day because Rob Thomas, the creator, decided he didn't want his fandom to be happy. (He literally told Entertainment Tonight that he feels 'like fans of the show have liked Veronica the most when she's the furthest down.')"
3.Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead
"Chandler Riggs didn't want to leave the show, and also his character didn't die in the comics, so basically he signed a two-year contract with the show before they started filming for that season. He had moved closer to set and was even going to do online classes for the college he was accepted for whilst filming.
According to his dad, like two months after agreeing to that contract and after only filming five episodes, Chandler was told his character would be killed off a few more episodes in. His dad expressed how hard Chandler took the news, and when he called those responsible for the show out in a social media post, AMC told him to take his post down. Production stated it was simply for storyline purposes, but it's still shitty for Chandler because he practically picked up his entire life to be closer to this job."
4.Maude Flanders from The Simpsons
Maggie Roswell asked for a raise to cover flight costs because she traveled from her home in Denver to Los Angeles to record her lines for the show. She quit when they only offered her $150. Maude was killed off with a T-shirt cannon, but she was later brought back as a ghost when Fox reached a deal with the actor.
"When I watched that episode when it first aired, it left me saying, 'WTF?'"
5.Eddie LeBec from Cheers
![<div><p>"Jay Thomas <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkristenharris1%2Ftv-characters-written-off-drama&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpagesix.com%2F2022%2F05%2F31%2Fjon-cryer-was-almost-chandlerplus-tv-secrets-of-friends-more%2F&xcust=7344624%7CBF-VERIZON&xs=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:joked;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">joked</a> on a radio show about how awful it was to have to kiss Rhea Perlman [who played his onscreen love interest, Carla], so he was fired. His character was killed offscreen by getting run over by a Zamboni."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/aditson" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:aditson;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">aditson</a></p></div><span> NBC / courtesy Everett Collection</span>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_AFrBZYLbP4_FBllQtWUKw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyNw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/buzzfeed_articles_778/762f621ef4a71205189abcb7fe303a67)
6.Jadzia Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
![<div><p>"Terry Farrell just <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkristenharris1%2Ftv-characters-written-off-drama&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trektoday.com%2Fcontent%2F2015%2F05%2Ffarrell-berman-was-inflexible%2F&xcust=7344624%7CBF-VERIZON&xs=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:wanted;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">wanted</a> to adjust her shooting schedule [because she was burned out after six years on the show, but executive producer Rick Berman refused to let her reduce her role]. Several other (male) actors on the show had been given the same freedom she was asking for. [She <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkristenharris1%2Ftv-characters-written-off-drama&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrekmovie.com%2F2011%2F08%2F03%2Fterry-farrell-wanted-recurring-role-for-star-trek-ds9s-final-season%2F&xcust=7344624%7CBF-VERIZON&xs=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:decided;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">decided </a>not to renew her contract.]</p><p>They killed her off abruptly and disrespectfully, and then they replaced her with an almost-identical actor. The character was a symbiote, so it was literally 'Dax' in a different body, but not 'Jadzia.'</p><p>The show got noticeably worse after her death."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/violettelafleur" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:violettelafleur;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">violettelafleur</a></p></div><span> Fergus Greer/TV Guide/©Paramount Television/ Courtesy Everett Collection</span>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hp5844z7ecFMiQ9HbIuEYw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTExODg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/buzzfeed_articles_778/3f722131173e07b764a24ba013d59c0d)
"Terry Farrell just wanted to adjust her shooting schedule [because she was burned out after six years on the show, but executive producer Rick Berman refused to let her reduce her role]. Several other (male) actors on the show had been given the same freedom she was asking for. [She decided not to renew her contract.]
They killed her off abruptly and disrespectfully, and then they replaced her with an almost-identical actor. The character was a symbiote, so it was literally 'Dax' in a different body, but not 'Jadzia.'
The show got noticeably worse after her death."
7.Lincoln from The 100
![<div><p>"He was killed off because the showrunner was on a power trip.</p><p> —<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/silentmeadow" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:silentmeadow;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">silentmeadow</a></p><p>Actor Ricky Whittle left the show because creator Jason Rothenberg "abused his position to make [Ricky's] job untenable."</p><p>He told the <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkristenharris1%2Ftv-characters-written-off-drama&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Ftv%2Ftv-news%2F100-ricky-whittle-jason-rothenberg-881496%2F&xcust=7344624%7CBF-VERIZON&xs=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hollywood Reporter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hollywood Reporter</a>, "What he did was disgusting and he should be ashamed. ... He was professionally bullying me, cutting out all the storyline I was supposed to be doing, cutting lines, cutting everything out, trying to make my character and myself as insignificant as possible."</p></div><span> Cate Cameron / ©The CW / courtesy Everett Collection</span>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/M4etRQ_NzG9681vulY0iSw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/buzzfeed_articles_778/44d7d70b56bf5c41283f29aff182f7a9)
"He was killed off because the showrunner was on a power trip.
Actor Ricky Whittle left the show because creator Jason Rothenberg "abused his position to make [Ricky's] job untenable."
He told the Hollywood Reporter, "What he did was disgusting and he should be ashamed. ... He was professionally bullying me, cutting out all the storyline I was supposed to be doing, cutting lines, cutting everything out, trying to make my character and myself as insignificant as possible."
8.Bellamy Blake from The 100
"He was written off for almost the entirety of the last season after he was 'killed' in some kind of explosion, and then they pulled a 'surprise he's actually still alive (but is also fully indoctrinated into this stupid cult),' all just to kill him again in the most out-of-character way three episodes before the finale.
The whole season honestly feels like a fever dream, but especially the parts about him. We knew the showrunner hated the Bellamy x Clarke ship, but come on. That was excessive."
9.Chef from South Park
![<div><p>"When <i>South Park</i> made fun of Scientology, Isaac Hayes quit the show. [At the time, series co-creator Matt Stone essentially <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkristenharris1%2Ftv-characters-written-off-drama&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbr.com%2Fwhy-south-park-killed-chef-isaac-hayes%2F&xcust=7344624%7CBF-VERIZON&xs=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:said;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">said</a> it was a hypocritical move because] he was apparently fine with making fun of every other religion. So the show had his character brainwashed by an evil cult then brutally killed."</p><p> —<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/aditson" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:aditson;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">aditson</a></p><p>However, 10 years later, his son and estate manager, Isaac Hayes III, told the <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkristenharris1%2Ftv-characters-written-off-drama&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Fmovies%2Fmovie-features%2Fsouth-park-20-years-history-trey-parker-matt-stone-928212%2F&xcust=7344624%7CBF-VERIZON&xs=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hollywood Reporter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hollywood Reporter</a>, "Isaac Hayes did not quit <i>South Park</i>; someone quit <i>South Park</i> for him. What happened was that, in January 2006, my dad had a stroke and lost the ability to speak. He really didn't have that much comprehension, and he had to relearn to play the piano and a lot of different things. He was in no position to resign under his own knowledge. At the time, everybody around my father was involved in Scientology — his assistants, the core group of people. So someone quit <i>South Park</i> on Isaac Hayes' behalf. We don't know who."</p></div><span> Comedy Central / Courtesy: Everett Collection</span>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nBa9EaYrapoL6n6CIj97dg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/buzzfeed_articles_778/f3c1e94d8cc37636eaeecba33ad17456)
"When South Park made fun of Scientology, Isaac Hayes quit the show. [At the time, series co-creator Matt Stone essentially said it was a hypocritical move because] he was apparently fine with making fun of every other religion. So the show had his character brainwashed by an evil cult then brutally killed."
However, 10 years later, his son and estate manager, Isaac Hayes III, told the Hollywood Reporter, "Isaac Hayes did not quit South Park; someone quit South Park for him. What happened was that, in January 2006, my dad had a stroke and lost the ability to speak. He really didn't have that much comprehension, and he had to relearn to play the piano and a lot of different things. He was in no position to resign under his own knowledge. At the time, everybody around my father was involved in Scientology — his assistants, the core group of people. So someone quit South Park on Isaac Hayes' behalf. We don't know who."
10.Suzanne Sugarbaker from Designing Women
"When Delta Burke was fired after a dispute with the creators of the show, her character Suzanne (a fan favorite) was spitefully written off as having sold her share of the design company to her cousin and having moved to Japan. She was rarely mentioned again after that."
11.Cordelia Chase from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
"Showrunner Joss Whedon allegedly didn't like that Charisma Carpenter got pregnant without permission.
Cordelia's death sucked for me personally because she was my favorite until Angel assassinated her character."
12.Andy from The Office
"He wasn't completely written off, but they had to write a reason for him missing a few months so Ed Helms could shoot The Hangover Part III. When they brought his character back, they made him so incredibly unlikeable that it felt like they were punishing him for having taken the part in the movie."
13.Emily from The Handmaid’s Tale
14.And finally, Henry Blake from MASH
McLean Stevenson was ready to leave the show, and the series co-creators secretly had a scene written for his character's offscreen death. They redacted it from the script and kept their plans hidden from the entire cast until McLean had finished filming his final scene.
"The last scene was filmed (as Stevenson watched); I bet the wrap party was awkward."
Which other TV characters do you think were killed off because of behind-the-scenes drama? Why? Share your answers in the comments!
Some responses have been edited for length/clarity.
