10 Great TV Characters Who Die Before Their Shows Even Start

It’s not very uncommon for beloved television characters to die shocking deaths before their shows come to an end. After all, even TV’s most beloved people can be killed off for any number of reasons, from issues related to their individual story arc to the actor no longer wanting to be a part of the show. In rare cases, however, popular characters die before their shows even begin. Even though they are dead, these characters still manage to have a huge impact on their series.

If they appear as memories, as ghosts, or as something in betweenThese fascinating characters continue to influence other people and events that occur in the Beyond the Grave series. This is typically a carefully planned decision by the writers, with character deaths often playing a vital role in initiating the series’ entire plot. Regardless of how they died, these characters have a persistent and lasting influence on their TV shows and have managed to remain popular even after their tragic endings.

10

Michael “Mikey” Berzatto

The Bear / Played by Jon Bernthal

The acclaimed FX Series, The Bearwouldn’t even exist without Michael’s off-screen death “Mikey” Berzatto before the series even started. The popular comedy-drama show follows the story of a prestigious chef, Carmy, who must return to her humble Chicago home to take over her family’s struggling restaurant following the sudden death of her brother, Mikey.

Throughout the series, it becomes clear that Mikey’s death had a huge impact on Carmyalthough his ambition often prevents him from fully processing it. Mikey makes appearances in several episodes of The Bear through flashbacks of moments shared between him and various members of the Berzatto family.

In the show’s second season, Jon Bernthal even won a Primetime Emmy Award for his portrayal of Mikey. His undeniable charisma, love of family, and emotional complexity make Mikey a compelling character, even with his limited screen time. Even when it’s not shown, its impact on the series is always felt by the other characters and the audience.

9

Bill and Frank

The Last of Us / Played by Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett

Although the acclaimed HBO drama series The last of usis based on a video game, the part of the story that resonated most with viewers was a part that differed drastically from the game. The third episode of the series, “Long, Long Time”, introduces Bill, an isolated survivor living in the post-apocalyptic version of America.

After years alone, Bill meets a fellow survivor named Frank, sparking a tender and emotional love story between the two new characters. After many years together, Frank falls ill and Bill, not wanting to live without him, voluntarily chooses to die alongside Frank. The episode received immense critical acclaimwith Nick Offerman winning an Emmy for his portrayal of Bill, and Murray Bartlett also being nominated for playing Frank.

Unfortunately, the story’s tragic (although beautiful) ending meant that the duo only appeared in this episode. Its impact continues to be felt throughout the remainder of the series, however, as Bill left all of his remaining supplies (including his truck) to Joel to take with him as he travels the country with Ellie. Bill and Frank’s story poignantly reminds us that love can thrive even in the most dire circumstances.

8

Vision

WandaVision / Played by Paul Bettany

The Disney+ original series, WandaVision kept Marvel Cinematic Universe fans on the edge of their seats throughout the show’s early 2021 run. As the name suggests, mystery miniseries features Wanda Maximoff and Visiontwo popular characters from several MCU films. Of course, fans will certainly remember one important detail: Vision died in Avengers: Infinity Warwhat happened years before the beginning WandaVision.

Knowing that the show’s creators wouldn’t have simply forgotten about it, viewers tuned in every week to solve the mystery of how Vision could be alive and well. Played by Paul Bettany, Vision contributed greatly to the overall quality of the WandaVision. For one, the character’s mere presence effectively contributed to the show’s exciting mystery element, with fans dying to find out the explanation of how he could be alive again.

Furthermore, the character’s charm, humor, and wisdom have made him a popular addition to the MCU in several films, and his role in WandaVision it was no different. The notion that he died before the series began simply made WandaVision even more exciting.

7

daniel jackson

Reserve Dogs / Played by Dalton Cramer

Even with only a few brief appearances throughout the series’ three seasons, Daniel Jackson is the driving force behind the entire story of Reserve dogs. This FX comedy-drama series explores the complex lives of four indigenous friends living as part of the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma. Before the series began, his other friend, Daniel, tragically passed away.

Much of the show follows the friends’ efforts to save enough money to leave the reservation and travel to California in honor of Daniel’s dream. While Reserve dogs it certainly has comedic elements, the backstory surrounding Daniel adds a consistent emotional tonegiving the series an impressive level of depth.

Virtually everything the main characters do throughout the series is driven by their love for Daniel and their determination to pay homage to his dream in the most appropriate way possible. The series serves as a powerful reminder that people can continue to have a lasting impact on the world even after they die and that no life is insignificant.

6

Jack Pearson

This Is Us / Played by Milo Ventimiglia

The NBC drama series, This is ushighlights the stories of the various members of the Pearson family across multiple generations and time periods. Tragically, not all family members are alive in each time period. Jack Pearson, the father of main characters Kevin, Kate and Randall, was killed in a fire many years before the current stories.

However, Jack remains a prominent character throughout the series, starring in many episodes set primarily in the past. Although he is a prominent character throughout most of the series’ six seasons, This is us makes it clear almost immediately that Jack is no longer alive.

However, even though Kevin, Kate and Randall have grown up and started their own lives, her memories of Jack still have a huge impact about their personalities and actions. Several flashbacks reveal the many ways Jack helped them all become the people audiences see them as today, and how his loss shook their lives.

5

Boo

Fleabag / Played by Jenny Rainsford

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s acclaimed series, Flea bagfeatures many complex and interesting characters, but one of the most lovable died before the show even began. Boo, the protagonist’s best friend known only as “Fleabag”, was killed an undisclosed amount of time before the events of the show.. She continues to have a lasting impact on Fleabag’s life, appearing frequently on the show through her memoirs.

Boo’s wholesome personality and unwavering friendship make her a pure and lovable character amid a sea of ​​morally dubious characters. The wholesome nature of Boo’s character causes her to die in Flea bag even more tragic and further increases the complexity of the show’s protagonist.

Boo was accidentally killed by a truck while trying to slightly injure herself as a way to gain the attention/sympathy of her boyfriend, who had just cheated on her. This tragic event, made worse by the shocking realization that Fleabag was the person her boyfriend cheated with, gives Flea bag the heavy emotional core that drives the show.

4

Eleanor Shellstrop (and friends)

The Good Place / Played by Kristen Bell

The popular NBC comedy series, The good placeis different from most TV comedies in many ways. Perhaps the most prominent distinction, however, is the fact that virtually all of the characters are dead. The good place follows a group of deceased humans as they occupy an unusual celestial realm. Played by Kristen Bell, the protagonist of the series is Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who struggles to start acting more ethically in order to avoid being sent to a worse area of ​​the afterlife.

The good placeThe unique premise is driven by its lovable cast of characters. Over the course of the series, Eleanor and her new allies in the afterlife form deep bonds, fostering endearing friendships while offering a fun depiction of the afterlife. While many series may feature a character who has passed away, The good place puts a clever twist on the idea by presenting a show entirely about the people who died.

3

The Flying Dutchman

SpongeBob SquarePants / Played by Brian Doyle-Murray

Sometimes even animated TV shows are willing to include characters who died before the events of the show began. This is the case of the Flying Dutchman of SpongeBob SquarePantsone of the most iconic children’s TV shows of all time. Appearing in several episodes, The Flying Dutchman is a large, green, pirate-like ghost who haunts the residents of Bikini Bottom.

Although not a series regular, the Flying Dutchman is still a fan-favorite character, providing audiences with non-stop laughs whenever he appears. Of course, being a children’s program, SpongeBob never goes too deep into explaining how The Flying Dutchman turned out to be a ghost, but it can be inferred that his pirate antics eventually got him into big trouble one day.

Fortunately, with a large cast of colorful characters, Flying Dutchman never feels out of place despite being the only ghost in the show. His ghostly presence never fails to enchant viewers, thanks to the hilarious vocal talents of Brian Doyle-Murray.

2

Thorfinn

Ghosts / Played by Devan Chandler Long

While it may be difficult to choose a favorite character from the spooky CBS sitcom, GhostsThorfinn the Viking is certainly an excellent candidate for any viewer. The series continues a New York couple who inherit a house, only to discover that it is infested with ghosts of the people who died on the property over several centuries.

The oldest of these ghosts is Thorfinna Viking explorer who lost his life after being struck by lightning, leaving him to haunt the estate for centuries with the ability to control electricity with his ghostly body. Being a Viking who now exists in modern America, it would have been easy for the writers of Ghosts just turn Thorfinn into a one-dimensional caricature.

Instead, they made the wise decision to add an engaging sense of complexity to the character, giving him a unique personality and a surprisingly emotional backstory. Thanks to Devan Chandler Long’s infectious energy and humor, Thorfinn is a fun and versatile character who manages to stand out among a cast of unique individuals that spans centuries.

1

Ben Hargreeves

The Umbrella Academy / Played by Justin H. Min

The popular Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy explores the endlessly crazy lives of a group of individuals with superpowers who were all adopted by the same family, but have since grown up and lead their own lives. One family member, however, did not have the chance to grow up (at least not in the conventional sense).

Ben was tragically killed during a mission organized by his adoptive father when he was a child. Ben remains an active part of the show, as his adoptive brother, Klaus, has the ability to interact with the dead. Ben’s role in The Umbrella Academy becomes more and more prevalent as the series progresses, with Klaus learning more and more about the true extent of his powers.

Through Ben, audiences see the dark side of the superhero lifestyle, seeing the perspective of someone who was killed because of his powers when he was very young. Throughout the series, Ben takes on various versions of himself.at different ages and even in different dimensions. With a dark backstory and fascinating relationships with the other characters, Ben is always a compelling character to watch.