Every major character death in Sons of Anarchy, ranked by shock factor

Sons of Anarchy, the raw, highly energetic show by Kurt Sutter, made a sensation when it aired in 2008. The show ran on Fox till 2014 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon with its family drama, Shakespearean tragedy, and cold-blooded brutality.

At the heart of it is SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original), a motorcycling brotherhood that was involved in arms trafficking, rival gangs, and family struggles. There is a constant tug of war between loyalty to those in the club and personal freedom, yet what made the show hit hard was not just its plotting. The show never shied away from killing off major characters in bleak, brutal fashion.

These deaths were not just narrative points, but they reshaped alliances, broke hearts, and shocked fans.

Here’s a ranking of the most shocking deaths in Sons of Anarchy, from early heartbreaks to the finale’s tragic full stop.

Every major character death in Sons of Anarchy, ranked by shock factor

10. Bobby Munson (Season 7, Episode 9, What A Piece of Work Man Is)

Bobby, one of the club’s most reason-loving members and a popular character among fans, met a grim end after being kidnapped by August Marks. His death was not easy. He was badly tortured and mutilated before being finally executed.

This ending to his life was a senseless death born out of Gemma’s lies about Tara. The futility of his death imparted a deep psychological toll on the fans: Bobby died in vain, as collateral damage of deception and misplaced loyalty.

9. Clay Morrow (Season 6, Episode 11, Aon Rod Persanta)

Clay Morrow, played with extraordinary command by Ron Perlman, was one of the first few members of the SAMCRO brotherhood. He was also the stepfather of Jax and handled the chair of club president in the initial seasons. Over time, Clay’s legacy morphs into betrayal, infidelity, and ruthless violence as the show progresses. He plots murders, takes the path of betrayal and puts the SAMCRO in jeopardy to serve his own interests. So his death was long incoming.

By the later seasons, almost everyone he loved had found a reason to wish for his end and when the moment came, it came raw: Jax shot him point-blank, blood spilling from his throat in one of the series’ most cathartic deaths. Even though his death held an element of poetic justice, a son shooting his stepfather just reassures the key theme of Sons of Anarchy: anything can happen once anarchy is let loose.

8. Luann Delaney (Season 2, Episode 8, Potlatch)

Luann Delaney was the wife of Otto, who was in jail from before the show even began. So, he formed a porn studio named Caracara that Luann managed. She was one of the first few characters to die in the show after her rival Gerogie Caruso brutally beat her.

Her death truly shook the brotherhood, though the murder takes place off-screen. The impact was far-reaching and heavy. Otto was already in prison and the news of his wife's death made him spiral into despair. Luann’s death also fuels tension between Jax and Otto.

7. Wayne Unser (Season 7, Episode 12, Red Rose)

Wayne Unser was a charming former police chief who was more popular for his loyalty and humanity than for his image in the line of duty. Gemma defined a significant part of his character arc.

It all happened when Jax confronted his mother over Tara’s murder; Unser got himself involved in the confrontation and refused to leave. Jax, who was already angry, killed him instantly with a gunshot to the heart. The moment when Jax cut down a man who had been a bridge between the law and SAMCRO for years was a shock.

6. Harry “opie” winston (Season 5, Episode 3, Laying Pipe)

Sons of Anarchy (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

Only a few deaths from Sons of Anarchy rank on par with Harry’s demise. The loyal biker and Jax’s best friend always lived amidst suffering. Starting from Donna’s murder to the collapse of his family, his life has been anything but tough.

But when in prison SAMCRO needed a sacrificial lamb, Opie stepped up. He was brutally beaten to death. This incident totally impacted Jax’s path, fueling his darker transformation. This death was a reminder of how in Sons of Anarchy, each loss is a new scar burned deep into the brotherhood.

5. Mark and Katey Petrie (Season 3, Episode 11, Bainne)

The deaths of the Petrie couple in Sons of Anarchy were especially cruel because they were supposed to adopt Abel Teller. They represented a life of stability and love far removed from the bloodthirsty, chaotic lives in the brotherhood.

Even so, Jimmy O’Phelan slaughtered them, just to take Abel as leverage. This tragic set of deaths is a reminder that SAMCRO wars destroyed innocents and devastated families.

4. Tara Knowles (Season 6, Episode 13, A Mother’s Work)

Tara’s death in Sons of Anarchy triggered some of the other deaths in the show. Tara had long tried to pull Jax and their children away from the hold of violence and bloodbath all around SAMCRO.

The way she died is completely heartbreaking: bludgeoned and drowned by Gemma, who mistakenly thought Tara had betrayed SAMCRO. Jax cried in anguish when the realization of her death struck him. Her demise accelerated Jax’s eventual ruin.

3. Gemma Teller Morrow (Season 7, Episode 12, Red Rose)

Gemma was the fearless, ruthless queen of the SAMCRO brotherhood. Manipulations and expert schemes laid out by Gemma are exactly what made the show interesting.

But after murdering Tara in an unexpected twist, her lies unraveled, leaving Jax with a tough choice. Jax ended the long confrontation by shooting his mother in a rose garden. The haunting imagery and Shakespearean cruelty of a son being forced to execute the woman who raised him, makes this death impactful.

2. Dawn Trager (Season 5, Episode 1, Sovereign)

Tig’s daughter Dawn had one of the saddest deaths in the show. Her death was written in a manner that really centered on the key themes of the show: the dark and brutal reality SAMCRO world.

She was killed as punishment for Tig’s actions. Damon Pope had her burned alive and Tig was forced to watch helplessly. This was harrowing and fans were left in shock.

1. Jackson “Jax” Teller (Season 7, Episode 13, Papa’s Goods)

The series ended with Jax facing his inevitable downfall. After years of bloodshed, betrayal, and loss, he dies by driving head-on into a speeding vehicle. At this point his arc echoes his father’s fate.

His suicide was shocking, yet it was futile. It seemed like a waste to see him end his life that way. Jax tried but he was unable to escape the life he was born into. His death in Sons of Anarchy closed the circle, leaving fans heartbroken.