Depending on the film, losing a character can be either a tragedy or a godsend. For instance, the audience was relieved when Scar’s hyena minions in The Lion King tore him to shreds. But when a character we have grown to love dies, it triggers some strong feelings. What is even more traumatic is when a character’s death occurs unexpectedly and out of the blue.

Death is a natural part of life, and the same is true of movies. However, major character deaths that weren’t in the original script are always a shock to the audience. Whether it’s a popular TV show or a blockbuster film, this type of unexpected character death may shake the plot up for better or for worse. If you want to learn about some of the most shocking main character deaths that were unplanned, continue reading!

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Marion Crane - Psycho

In addition to being one of the most famous moments in history, Marion Crane’s (Janet Leigh) death in Psycho broke new ground in terms of cinematic storytelling. Within the first thirty minutes of the movie, Crane is murdered by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) in the shower. Because Crane was supposed to be the focus of the entire movie, the audience was completely taken aback when she passed away so early on. Alfred Hitchcock enjoyed playing with the audience’s expectations in order to showcase his brilliance as a master storyteller.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Fred Andrews - Riverdale

Luke Perry’s Riverdale character, Fred Andrews, was killed in an off-screen car crash in the Season 4 opener. This was following Perry’s passing in 2019. In the Season 4 premiere, Archie finds out that his dad lost his life while attempting to save a woman whose vehicle had become stranded on the side of the road. Shannen Doherty, Luke’s coworker and friend from 90210, had a special appearance as the woman that Fred stops to help.

6 Princess Leia - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

When Leia passed away shortly after reaching out to Kylo Ren for the final time in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it was a clear reference to Carrie Fisher’s passing in 2016. Leia’s final scenes before her demise were created using unused material from the previous films The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi since Carrie died before The Rise of Skywalker began production.

5 Paul Hennessy - 8 Simple Rules

     Shady Acres Entertainment 

When John Ritter passed away in 2003, his well-loved Paul Hennessy character from the television series 8 Simple Rules also was sentenced to death. Before his passing, John had finished filming the initial three episodes of the show’s second season. Following his death, the show took a break and then later reappeared with the episode “Goodbye,” which focused entirely on his character’s unexpected demise.

4 Leo - The West Wing

     Warner Bros. Television

John Spencer, who played Leo on the hit show The West Wing, tragically passed away in 2005. His death occurred during the show’s last season, and the showrunners added a special episode that celebrated both his life and his role. The West Wing’s “Requiem” episode served as a remembrance of John and his character Leo, who passed away from a heart attack the night Santos gained the presidency. During the 2020 reunion of The West Wing, John’s memory was honored.

3 Debbie Wolowitz - The Big Bang Theory

     CBS

On The Big Bang Theory, Carol Ann Susi portrayed Howard’s mother, Debbie. Sadly, the actress passed away in 2014 and her character then passed away while on vacation in Season 8. Having Howard’s mother pass away on the show was the greatest option and a way to respect Carol Ann, according to The Big Bang Theory showrunners, who said they couldn’t bring themselves to replace the actor.

The Big Bang Theory series concluded in 2019.

2 Livia Soprano - The Sopranos

     HBO

While playing Livia Soprano on The Sopranos, Nancy Marchand passed away in 2000. In Season 3, The FBI wants Livia to testify against Tony in the episode “Proshai, Livushka,” but the character passes away before she can. The centerpiece of the episode is Livia’s passing and funeral. The Sopranos is consistently ranked first on all “best ever” lists and is regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time.

1 T-Challa - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

     Marvel Studios

Actor Chadwick Boseman passed away from colon cancer at the age of just 43, just two years after playing T’Challa in the wildly popular Black Panther. There were suspicions that his death might put an immediate halt to the saga or that another actor might be chosen to take over Boseman’s role as T’Challa. But as they rewrote the script for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, writer-director Ryan Coogler and MCU supremo Kevin Feige chose another path.

As a result, T’Challa passes away and is eventually succeeded by a new Black Panther in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.