10 Actors who asked for their characters to be killed off in a TV Show

Killing off a beloved character in a TV show has been in trend for several years. It is always shocking and heartbreaking to see your favorite characters die in a TV show or movie. However, not every time does the decision stem from a creative reason.

Beyond the plot requirement, the decision to kill off a character could also be made by the actors playing the characters, and the reasons for this could be many: from finding the character boring to leaving the show to pursue other opportunities. Let’s look at 10 actors who asked for their characters’ deaths in a TV show.

10 Actors who asked for their characters to be killed off in a TV Show

10) Kevin Alejandro (Lucifer)

Lauren German with Kevin Alejandro in Lucifer | Image via Warner Bros. Television

Kevin Alejandro played the character of a corrupt homicide detective, Daniel ‘Dan’ Espinoza. Alejandro’s character was one of the fully developed characters from the TV show, with an arc where he transforms from being an unlawful detective to a good one. However, as his character begins his journey on the righteous side and on his way to becoming a fan-favorite character, Dan meets his end in season 5 of Lucifer, when Michael’s French mercenaries kidnap and then kill him.

Fans were shocked and heartbroken, but as the actor revealed in a 2021 interview with EW, the killing of his character was his idea, which he shared with the showrunners, and they obliged, as Season 5 was supposed to be the last season. However, as Netflix ordered another season, Dan returned to the show, but not in his human form.

9) Julian Glover (Game of Thrones)

Julian Glover in Game of Thrones | Image via HBO Entertainment

Amid the many deaths we have encountered in the fantasy series, Game of Thrones, Julian Glover is one of those who actually asked to be killed off. In an interview with IGN, Glover said:

"Cersei ticked me off all the time, and I never had any comeback. So that wasn't any fun to play, so I went to them and said, 'Look, I don't want to do this anymore, it's not interesting to go on doing this... and what's going to happen to him?'"

With that being said, Glover parted ways with his character in Season 6 of the fantasy TV show when he was stabbed by one of the Little Birds of Lord Varys. Glover found his death scene exciting and just how he wanted to leave the show.

8) Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey)

Dan Stevens in Downton Abbey | Image via Carnival Films

Dan Stevens' character, Matthew Crawley, was one of the popular and fan-favorite characters from Downton Abbey. His love story with Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary was one of the highlights of the early seasons, due to which his sudden demise affected the fans of the TV show globally.

However, it was not a decision made from the storytelling point of view, but due to the actor himself. Stevens wanted to explore and work on other projects, so he wanted his character to end. In an interview with The Express, creator Julian Fellowes shared that he was left with no option as Stevens wanted to leave the show. He said:

"I had no choice. Dan would not stay – he was determined to go."

7) Emma Caulfield (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Emma Caulfield in Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Image via 20th Century Fox Television

Emma Caulfield’s Anya Jenkins was a beloved character in the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The demon with a conscience gave her her life while fighting in the battle at the Hellmouth. The unexpected death was heartbreaking for many, but it was a decision that Caulfield took for her character herself.

According to telltaletv, Caulfield asked creator Joss Whedon to kill her character off as she believed that season 7 might be Buffy’s last season and wanted her character to have a poetic ending, which resulted in Anya’s death while fighting with the Scooby Gang one last time.

6) Jeffrey DeMunn (The Walking Dead)

Jeffrey DeMunn in The Walking Dead | Image via AMC Studios

Jeffrey DeMunn’s Dale was the voice of reason who still wanted to believe in humanity when the other members of his group were losing it while surviving the zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead. Therefore, his death was not only a turning point for the characters but was also devastating to fans.

The decision to Dale’s exit was made by the actor himself when the show’s original creator and a good friend of his, Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption), was let go from the TV show. According to Cinemablend, DeMunn did not like how Darabont was terminated from the show.

5) Kal Penn (House)

Kal Penn in House | Image via Universal Television

Kal Penn played the sci-fi fan and the overenthusiastic Dr. Lawrence Kutner, who was impressed by House’s ability to take risks and find new diagnostic methods; hence, he joined his team. Penn joined the TV show in Season 4 and had to exit in Season 5 due to his next exciting venture in Kal Penn’s professional life.

As per an interview with EW, Penn asked for his character’s end due to his going to work in the White House under the Obama administration. This led to Kutner’s death by s*icide in the medical drama.

4) Jessalyn Gilsig (Vikings)

Jessalyn Gilsig in Vikings | Image via MGM Television

Jessalyn Gilsig’s Siggy was an integral part of the early seasons of Vikings, and her death scene also made her character more important. Siggy died while saving Ragnar’s children as they fell into a frozen pond. After seeing a vision of her daughter, who had died, Siggy didn’t try to save herself and drowned in the frozen pond in Season 3 of the historical TV show.

The decision of Siggy’s death was due to Gilsig’s own request, as she had some personal reasons. While talking to EW, the actress stated:

"I went to Michael. At the end of season 2 I had some family issues, and living overseas in Ireland just wasn’t conducive to me feeling like I could do what I needed to do on behalf of my family."

3) Frank Dillane (Fear the Walking Dead)

Frank Dillane in Fear the Walking Dead | Image via AMC Studios

The shocking death of Frank Dillane's Nick Clark in Fear the Walking Dead confused many fans, as he was one of the protagonists of the post-apocalyptic series, and the decision did affect the show a bit. Killing off Nick might not be one of the wisest decisions for the TV show, but that's what the actor wanted, as Frank Dillane wanted to explore new opportunities in his rising career.

Showrunner Andrew Chambliss shared this information in a 2018 THR interview. He stated:

"It actually goes back to season three, before Ian and I even came aboard. Frank Dillane had asked the producers and AMC if he could leave the show, because he wanted to pursue other opportunities."

2) Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries)

Paul Wesley in The Vampire Diaries | Image via CBS Television Studios

The popular supernatural drama, The Vampire Diaries, revolved around the complicated love triangle between Elena Gilbert and the two Vampire brothers- Stefan and Damon Salvatore. As their coming to Mystic Falls brought chaos to the small town, the actors, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, wanted their characters to die in the series.

In an interview with Mario Lopez for Access Hollywood, the actors revealed that they wanted their characters to die in the series and even fought with each other while deciding who would die. Ultimately, it was Paul who won the bet as his character, Stefan, died in the TV show.

1) Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy)

Chyler Leigh played the character of Dr. Lexie Grey, Meredith’s half-sister, with whom she had a troubled relationship, but later grew into a beautiful sibling relationship. Lexie died in one of the most tragic finales of Grey’s Anatomy.

The decision of Lexie’s tragic death was taken due to Leigh’s request as she wanted to exit the show after five long years. In 2012, TVLine shared a statement by Chyler Leigh in which she spoke about her decision to leave the show and the wonderful experience she had while playing the character.