Top 10 TV Series That Killed the Most Main Characters

Plot twists galore! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the TV shows that feature the most deaths of primary, supporting, and recurring characters. There will be lots of spoilers ahead! Our countdown includes shows “Homeland”, “The Walking Dead”, “Vikings” and more! Is there a TV show with a high mortality rate we made a fatal mistake by forgetting? Revive our chances for next time by sharing your favorites in the comments!
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#tvshows #walkingdead #tvcharacters #television #characterassassination

[@WatchMojo]

Is there a TV show with a high mortality rate we made a fatal mistake by forgetting? Revive our chances for next time by sharing your favorites in the comments! For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmrYo5dnf8aIh5o Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@jafodesrrhinuaaanndez1521]

You've already made a fatal mistake you may not have realized until it's too late...

[@v4vun]

The 100. It has a good shout at number 1

[@Padlock85]

Sons of Anarchy?

[@maryt2290]

The Sopranos ?😊

[@ang3536]

Never heard of Supernatural? 24?

[@shypanda945]

Why does he keep saying morality rate instead of mortality rate in the video?😂

[@YEDxYED]

Editors called off bro lol

[@damianBTSot7]

It was driving me crazy.

[@BobSMASHTV]

Omg! Yes! This! People are so illiterate these days, it's astounding.

[@tarevajohn9541]

I had to run to comments because I thought I was tripping lol.

[@WatchMojo]

Young Deuces apologizes for that! Happened T-wice. Thanks for letting us know!

[@witeknapieraa4109]

Sons of Anarchy is glaringly lacking on this list. Out of eight characters in season 1 starring cast only two of them survived to the end of season 7.

[@dannygornall827]

I was fully expecting SOA to appear, I can't be the only one who got annoyed at their use of 40+ before switching to 40 somethings...

[@markbeebe125]

Bingo. This is the first show that I thought of. As a fan or at least as a TV watcher, I finally got around watching it a few years ago and it was entertaining enough that I stuck it out however by about the halfway through what was it the seven or eight seasons? I was ready to give up because it was just way too hard to swallow all of the massive amount of murders/killings / deaths. Keep in mind they didn't necessarily run that club out of let's say Oakland or San Fran, this was in a fairly rural area of Northern California and even if it was in the suburbs let's say if you had that many bodies showing up if you had that many people disappearing if you had that many incidences of unexplained deaths, the FBI would have been called in probably by season 3 to investigate a serial killer because so many damn people were dying in that area. it was just so damn implausible. They really stretch the boundaries of that whole willing suspension of disbelief thing.

[@kennethferrari5232]

American Horror Story, Charmed, Criminal Minds and SVU all should get honorable mention.

[@ristridin_photography]

I might be wrong but didn't Criminal minds only kill 2 of its main cast? So don't think that it counts as "most main character deaths in tv shows" 😅

[@kennethferrari5232]

@@ristridin_photography Yeah but there were several killers that multiple episode storylines, including two that had more than one season.

[@ristridin_photography]

@@kennethferrari5232 still....its says "...that killed the most MAIN characters" not side characters.

[@kennethferrari5232]

@@ristridin_photography Actually if you look at the beginning of the video they say Primary, Supporting and Reoccurring characters. Reoccurring characters fits in which is why I included Criminal Minds.

[@ristridin_photography]

@@kennethferrari5232 point taken, I was hung up on the video title. In that case these shows fit quite well

[@Peer165]

Boardwalk Empire is so underrated.

[@spikelovecraft8812]

Yeah but I do find myself stopping at the finale of season 3 a lot when rewatching. I was definitely not a fan of the last two seasons but still worth anyone’s watch.

[@oliverfa08]

Honorable mention : Killing Eve , even though with two main characters , each season has their own main characters killed , even Villanelle herself died in end ( which i think was a bad idea in a bad ending )

[@KevinYannutz]

Peaky Blinders could be pretty brutal. Also it's kinda cheating, buy what about Squid Game

[@mcpalaveri7551]

Doctor Who. It may not be as brutal as many of these series, but damn, the body count of the Daleks or the Cyberman far surpasses those listed here. And also, the main idea of the series is to “kill” the main character and replace him with the next “incarnation” of the Doctor.

[@JacquelineMoleski]

Came here to say this. There are Doctor Who stories where the ENTIRE guest cast dies. And even companions aren't safe.

[@julianaylor4351]

Some poor supporting characters get killed, every other story.

[@kuriakosejim8696]

Sons of anarchy and breaking bad shouldnot have been omitted

[@meaganbernard7592]

Seriously! They killed Opie!

[@nicolelylewis]

um, where's Supernatural?? The main stars die over and over and over again

[@goodwillhumping7331]

this is a list of good tv shows

[@austinrauls6558]

Sons of Anarchy?!?!? So many deaths come out of nowhere

[@DefkonAndLector]

R.I.P Ope.

[@projectpat8807]

Yep. The four main characters die (Jax, Tara, Clay, and Gemma). Plus compare the club members from the first episode to last. When you look at those sitting at the table, only two are still there when you get to the last episode. Everyone else dies at some point in the show. Plus then you got someone like Unser aka a non-club member that dies. So yeah. Lots of death in the show. And I’m talking characters with names that aren’t extras or are only there for one or two episodes. There are characters that last a couple seasons or maybe just a season that get killed off.

[@canos263]

I see Mr. Harrow, I click the video.

[@Spiyder11]

I loved Mr. Harrow in Boardwalk Empire

[@jharker1827]

One of my favourite characters in all of TV. Was so well written just a misunderstood man looking for love

[@caronstout354]

The show ended, for me, when Richard Harrow died.

[@cow4094]

I never saw The Wire. Worth the binge?

[@andres355]

Definitely! Don't binge it though. It needs to be savored. Spend a year and watch one episode a week.

[@matts.1443]

Yes, but you need to pay attention or you'll be lost. It's not one of those you can just have on while doing other stuff.

[@Metaljedi12]

No Sons Of Anarchy? There’s very few that survived from the beginning to the very end

[@chryssmetzler2098]

Almost everyone died in the mayans mc.

[@tinaclark5865]

Why do lists like this never mention Spartacus I'll never understand

[@TheJumpninja12]

Surprised Supernatural didnt make the list

[@marcborkowski6474]

Sons of Anarchy and Dexter? TWD did get good at the final 3 seasons tbh.

[@jacobdrolet4262]

Amazing video watch mojo of tv series kills the most main characters in there shows,fantastic job.

[@Chmima]

Sons of Anarchy, Peaky Blinders, and 24 should be on the list.

[@alexanderharries6738]

Breath of fresh air when that idiot in the suit who pushed that poor girl into the zombie ended up eaten himself

[@farfaraway4285]

Honourable mention - Dark

[@Ruleof2Review]

Walking Dead is definitely king of this category. I’ve never shed more tears for character deaths than with that show. While Lost is the best show on the list, TWD (a close 2nd) clears them all in terms of deaths.

[@mrdeeds72]

Morality rate?

[@WatchMojo]

Meant mortality! thanks

[@scottramsay1685]

Does no one preview before publishing at Watchmojo?

[@nintendolife25]

OZ be killing off main characters left and right.

[@jamespfersdorf9439]

I know right! I actually thought it was cool when dead characters narrated episodes in the last season

[@edgarroig3010]

Were in the hell is The Sopranos?

[@goodwillhumping7331]

not on this list

[@goodwillhumping7331]

not on this list

[@josh72456]

Ive only seen Lost and Game Of Thrones all the way through.

[@v4vun]

The 100 is easily top 3

[@EvilNinja14]

How is AHS not on here??? Literally every season almost the whole cast of characters dies by the end 😭💀

[@ayrohstodoroky..9506]

Because it's a anthology show 😂

[@batgurrl]

Each season is its own entity and only in the stupidest seasons have that many died. That show, in season 12 has gone on a downhill slide since season 5. It stinks

[@beezy22]

New York Undercover should’ve been added also…….Sandy getting killed off season one, but the main kicker was Eddie and Tommy getting killed off the third season finale plus lieutenant Cooper leaving ended New York Undercover…..

[@julianaylor4351]

Sharpe...loads of soldiers including supporting characters on battlefields and Buffy The Vampire Slayer with monsters and their victims and sometimes leading characters.

[@RyanGutierrez-ks8sm]

I think there’s enough to have a 2nd category of this survey lol

[@patodanihel7052]

sons of anarchy missing 😢

[@Taylorstyles101]

Grey’s Anatomy needs to be on this list! So many deaths in the first 8 seasons alone

[@Terastas]

Heroes. They even killed off the character whose whole shtick was that she couldn't be killed. Gary the Rat. The one and only survivor is the main antagonist's cat.

[@projectpat8807]

No Sons Of Anarchy? Pretty much the four main characters. Then if you go back to Season 1 and look at who’s sitting around the table, only two of them are still alive by the end of the show. Everyone else gets replaced by characters we meet and stuff throughout the show. Some don’t get a seat at the table until Season 6 and 7. But the table looks a lot different from the first episode to last. Plus a whole bunch of non-club members die. Like Unser. So, I think SOA should’ve been among the ten shows.

[@PhoenixJusticeCom]

Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount has a pretty good body count and they are rather inventive about it as well.

[@Trancexistence]

I haven't watched all of these shows but I'm surprised Sons of Anarchy didn't make the cut.

[@victorwinters36]

The Vampire diaries and the Sopranos.

[@84bombsjetpack23]

WatchMojo just posted a "Top 20 Shows That Kill Their Characters" video 4 days ago, now another one?

[@elizabethford7263]

Anyone else watch GoT and think "she's dead, he's dead, he survived, etc .."

[@codylembke2555]

Sons of Anarchy, sopranos, and this might sound a little off but Fargo.

[@meaganbernard7592]

What about ER? I know it's kinda an old show but they killed off multiple main characters. And it was a really good show!

[@andrewjones9029]

I knew The Wire and OZ would be on here.

[@markwilliams6358]

Sons of Anarchy and the Sparanos

[@mariusmitre492]

Not surprised one bit about the number 1.

[@THC420Dogg]

6 Feet Under killed every main character.

[@batgurrl]

That’s not very bright- they projected into the future

[@THC420Dogg]

@@batgurrl What's the title of the video?

[@emanuelpatrar1002]

Spartacus !

[@IanLaidlaw-pi1tj]

What is Argus Filch doing in Game Of Thrones?!!

[@farfaraway4285]

It was his calling 😂

[@sheemalmighty]

This either deja vu or y'all did this list a few days ago 🤔

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Animated shows like South Park should be on the list!

[@RyanGutierrez-ks8sm]

Sons of Anarchy is the only show I thought I would see

[@alansmith4228]

How is 24 not on this list

[@ronnie2115]

Ragnar Lodbrog? Dude, come on

[@jimmyhu6014]

I thought for sure vampire diaries would be on here!

[@Rave.-]

"Morality rate" Should probably use voice actors that know what words are.

[@tmac4666]

Did him mispronouncing the word ruin the video for you? No? Then who cares. Yes? Then who cares. Lol

[@hpfan2007]

What show was :03? If it was walking dead what ep did that happen?

[@Trancexistence]

The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 18

[@hpfan2007]

@@Trancexistence okay I haven’t gotten that far so that explains it 😂 thank you!

[@Pessimist31]

OZ should be First place

[@gingaddict]

Line of Duty should be on here. At least every series, their main cops would get killed

[@Wearetheliving33]

Lost doesn’t count if they’re already dead….

[@batgurrl]

I watched and mostly loved these HBO series. I thought the death of Nucky in Boardwalk Empire was dumb. True Blood wasn’t very well written but entertaining as hell. Lost’s ending was confusing and a copout. OZ was very underrated and the finale’s Play had juicy deaths. GOT deserved it spot. House Of The Dragon in its very first season had lots of death. If you guys actually watched OZ, it didn’t stay open

[@kyero8724]

Negan killed them because they murdered a bunch of his people in their fuckin Sleep

[@ryankeown2004]

24 with Jack Bauer

[@ruthgiannandreaful]

MORTALITY not morality

[@MrHand-ms7ut]

Fargo is missing.

[@DryBones271]

How is Grey's Anatomy NOT on the list, wtf?

[@kain772]

They killed my N Ned was one the most true and funny videos on KZbin at the time. We all were like that.

[@GVIL1977]

Sons of Anarchy

[@bloodstone1058]

11:00

[@DJ-Frostbite64]

The fact that some shows kill off main characters adds emotion and depth to the series. WatchMojo I wonder if you could do a Top 30 weirdest toy adverts?

[@CLF1975]

Blakes 7.... All of them dead.

[@Mykie7]

Dexter

[@JAHxd2]

need to see power on here only 3 characters survive the og show. after the spinoffs probably none

[@the1989mars]

Technically... six feet under should have been on this list too...

[@plague223]

Bro why the spoilers😖

[@sharebear421]

No sopranos?

[@perrinebeast]

Game of Thrones should have ended with everyone dying and the Night King winning

[@BobbyRikishi]

1. Eastenders

[@cyndyturner8511]

Where’s Dexter

[@steveczap]

Uhhh… Blake’s 7?

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

Honorable Mentions: - Breaking Bad - The Sopranos

[@joeb.evrythngEclectic5571]

24?

[@koda8787]

Dude I don't think this is a real person, it might be a computer generated voice. He keeps fucking up names that are well known and it seems like there's some other small things I noticed after I noticed that

[@example2844]

How is TWD not at LEAST top 3?

[@austinhuber3131]

MorTality

[@KillaD69]

Game of Thrones was killing off main characters like it was going out of style 🔥

[@sourpatchkid394]

Until they didn’t!

[@bingo123270]

"Boardwalk Empire" made a crucial mistake by killing Jimmy.

[@direwoulf1663]

They killed him off because the actor was a nightmare to work with.

[@mikecampbell1731]

He may have been a nightmare but him and Richard are the best characters in th show. I still like Tommy killing nuckie in the end and even Jimmy's whole arch and death were amazing for the story it just didn't need to happen as early as it did

[@mikejohnson9773]

i thought that too when they killed his character but the next few seasons I thought did a good job of letting other characters get in on the conflicts which made it a better show. They needed to kill him to grow.

[@Saasan]

Not quite as high a count as some but Breaking Bad definitely killed a lot of the main cast.

[@batgurrl]

Only two of them, not most

[@mroggie8334]

Many of these deaths are what led to cable and streaming channels eventually surpassing the big networks and broadcast television - the networks were always too afraid to "rock the boat" and kill off a main character and so it was always super rare when it did happen, and often everybody knew about it months in advance through the tabloids and trade magazines. Streaming and cable channels were willing to kill a character to advance the story, which created an atmosphere of "You better keep watching because you never know what will happen!"

[@joshuamohlman]

The one thing I like about shows that kill off their main characters and is that they make plot armor nonexistent

[@anthonylesley982]

Oz was game of thrones before game of thrones

[@perrisdimitris1681]

Breaking bad?

[@chelseacanales8763]

What about Sons of Anarchy?

[@ScootyPuffSR13]

Why does the narrator sound like straw hat goofy???

[@SunflowerVibe329]

When Eddark died I was confused , it was so early in the series.

[@MichaelPop72]

Yeah I cringed when he tried to pronounce Ragnar’s name. Lol. I know it’s not a culture he’s familiar with but please don’t construe the Nordic/ Icelandic people’s names.

[@shaliseshaw9385]

Waiting for Top 10 Disney Animated Movies That Got A TV Series(101 Dalmatians, Lilo and Stitch, Aladdin, The Lion King, etc.), Top 10 Breakfast Cereal That You Won't Find In Grocery Stores Anymore, Top 10 Retired Disney Park Walk-around Costume Characters You Won't Find At Walt Disney World, Disney's California Adventure, or other Disney Parks, Top 10 Movies That Aren't For Kids(The Friday The 13th franchise, The Invisible Man, Rosemary's Baby, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, Slumber Party Massacre, etc.), Top 10 Misleading TV Promos, Top 20 2024 TV Shows That Shouldn't Have Been Canceled(So Help Me Todd, NCIS:Hawaii, Blue Bloods, LA Fire and Rescue, Hot Wheels: The Ultimate Challenge, etc.), Top 10 Worst Doctor Who Episodes, etc. 🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎬🎬📺

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

#1 just had to be _Game of Thrones._ Cercei was scarily right about what she said in the video’s intro.

[@TheDireWolf97]

Dude said “Meegan”…. If y’all gonna do these type of videos at least look up the correct character names.. It’s Neegan

[@WarXxandXxPeace]

Ummm... LOST. LOST *literally* killed every single "Main Character" on the show.

[@picvegita]

Yes whenever they die, but they weren't dead on the island, "what happened happened"

[@WarXxandXxPeace]

@@picvegita Yeah. That's typically how it works. The characters aren't dead until they're dead. At the end of Lost, every character had died.