It’s always a shock when a favorite TV character meets an untimely end. We often blame the writers for these heartbreaking twists. But what if the actor playing that beloved role was the one who asked for their character to be written out? Believe it or not, it happens more often than you think! From creative differences to new opportunities, actors have various reasons for wanting to say goodbye to their on-screen personas. Get ready to discover 10 actors who made the surprising request to have their popular TV show characters killed off.
10. Isaac Hayes (Chef) – South Park
South Park is famous for its fearless humor, often poking fun at just about everything and everyone. For nine seasons, soul legend Isaac Hayes voiced the beloved character Jerome “Chef” McElroy, seemingly on board with the show’s edgy satire.
However, things changed when an episode targeted Scientology, a religion Hayes practiced. He stated, “There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends, and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins.” Feeling the show had crossed that line, Hayes decided to leave. In response, Chef was given a rather brutal and controversial send-off in the show’s tenth season premiere, an episode that many felt also took a jab at Hayes’s beliefs.
9. Tom Payne (Jesus) – The Walking Dead
AMC’s The Walking Dead is notorious for its high body count, where no character ever feels truly safe. While many deaths are driven by the plot, sometimes actors themselves ask for an exit. Tom Payne, who played Paul “Jesus” Rovia, is a notable example.
Payne felt that the show had too many main characters surviving and wanted to bring back the unpredictable “anyone can die” feeling that defined its earlier seasons. He volunteered his character, Jesus, to be killed off, and his wish was granted in the middle of season nine. Interestingly, Jeffrey DeMunn, who played Dale Horvath, also asked for his character’s death in season two after his friend and producer Frank Darabont was fired from the show.
8. McLean Stevenson (Lt. Col. Blake) – M*A*S*H
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, played by McLean Stevenson, was one of M*A*S*H’s most cherished characters. His departure at the end of season three, dying in a plane crash, shocked and saddened many fans.
This tragic turn was at Stevenson’s own request. He was reportedly tired of playing a supporting role to Alan Alda’s Hawkeye and yearned for the spotlight as a leading man. The writers agreed, and Lt. Col. Blake was written out. Stevenson went on to star in a few sitcoms, but unfortunately, he never achieved the level of success he had hoped for. He later admitted, “The mistake was that I thought everybody in America loved McLean Stevenson. That was not the case. Everybody loved Henry Blake.”
7. Jessalyn Gilsig (Siggy) – Vikings
Siggy, originally the powerful wife of Jarl Haraldson in Vikings, had a compelling character arc. After her husband’s death at the hands of Ragnar Lothbrok, she faced numerous hardships, trying to regain her standing with admirable resilience.
Many fans who initially disliked Siggy grew to root for her. However, her journey was cut short when she drowned while heroically saving Ragnar’s children from a frozen lake. This seemingly harsh plot twist was actually because actress Jessalyn Gilsig requested to leave. The Canadian actress found it difficult to be away from her family in Canada for long periods, as filming took place in Ireland. To accommodate her personal needs, Siggy was written off the show.
6. Raymond Cruz (Tuco Salamanca) – Breaking Bad
Raymond Cruz delivered an unforgettable performance as the unhinged drug dealer Tuco Salamanca in Breaking Bad. Tuco was initially set up to be a major antagonist for season two, but he met his end surprisingly early.
The reason? Cruz himself found the role of Tuco incredibly demanding and emotionally draining. He felt that sustaining such an intense performance for an entire season would be too much. “Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to coming back and doing the part,” Cruz shared. “I asked them to kill me… This part’s really hard.” The producers obliged, leading to Tuco’s early demise, despite their initial plans for the character.
5. Josh Charles (Will Gardner) – The Good Wife
Fans of The Good Wife were deeply invested in the dynamic between Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) and Will Gardner (Josh Charles). So, Will’s shocking death, shot by a client in a courtroom during season five’s finale, left many viewers heartbroken.
This dramatic exit wasn’t a writer’s whim but a decision driven by Josh Charles. He had been working on year-to-year contracts and, after four renewals, felt it was time to move on to new projects. Despite co-star Julianna Margulies’s attempts to persuade him to stay, even with some “terrible Jew guilt” about upcoming family expenses, Charles was ready for a change. His departure marked a major turning point for the series.
4. Kal Penn (Dr. Lawrence Kutner) – House, MD
Dr. Lawrence Kutner was a popular member of Dr. Gregory House’s diagnostic team on House, M.D. for two seasons. His character’s sudden suicide in the fifth season was a stunner, especially since Kutner had shown no signs of depression or suicidal thoughts.
Dr. House himself suspected foul play, but the death was ruled a suicide. The real reason for Kutner’s abrupt exit was that actor Kal Penn had accepted a position in Barack Obama’s administration at the White House in 2009. To facilitate Penn’s move from television to politics, his character needed a definitive end, leading to the tragic and unexpected storyline.
3. Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) – Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey captivated over 120 million viewers worldwide, making it a global phenomenon. So, it was quite a surprise when Dan Stevens, who played the beloved Matthew Crawley, decided to leave such a successful show.
Stevens was concerned about being typecast and wanted to explore other acting opportunities. He requested that Matthew be killed off, leading to the character’s heartbreaking death in a car crash in the season three finale, just after the birth of his son. While fans were devastated, Stevens was ready to pursue new creative challenges beyond the confines of Grantham House.
2. John Francis Daley (Dr. Lance Sweets) – Bones
Dr. Lance Sweets, portrayed by John Francis Daley, quickly became a fan favorite on Bones. Over six seasons, his character evolved from a psychologist counseling Booth and Brennan into an integral part of their team, often providing comedic relief.
His unexpected death in Season 10 caught many viewers off guard. This wasn’t a plot-driven decision by the writers but a request from Daley himself. He had received an exciting opportunity to direct the movie National Lampoon’s Vacation and felt that his character’s death would provide a fitting and impactful exit from the show. The showrunners honored his wish, leading to Dr. Sweets’s demise.
1. Chyler Leigh (Lexie Grey) – Grey’s Anatomy
Chyler Leigh played Dr. Alexandra “Lexie” Grey, the half-sister of Meredith Grey, on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Lexie arrived at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital hoping to connect with the sister she never knew she had.
Although Meredith was initially hesitant, she eventually warmed up to Lexie, and the two sisters formed a bond. After five years on the show, Lexie Grey tragically died in a plane crash alongside her on-again, off-again love interest, Mark Sloan. Leigh requested her character be written out because she wanted to spend more time with her family. Their deaths were so impactful that the hospital was later renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in their honor.
As we’ve seen, an actor’s decision to leave a show, even by requesting their character’s demise, can stem from a multitude of personal and professional reasons. Whether it’s a desire for new challenges, personal commitments, or creative disagreements, these exits often leave a lasting impact on the shows and their fans. It’s a reminder that behind every character, there’s an actor with their own story and career path.
Which of these actor-requested exits surprised you the most? Did any of your favorite characters make this list? Leave your comment below and share your thoughts!
