The original post: /r/television by /u/Malphos101 on 2025-05-26 17:42:54.
Was talking about this subject with friends, how nowadays a major cast member dying on screen is practically expected, but back in the early 00s and before it was almost taboo to show main characters dying on screen. The first one we could think of was Pussy on Sopranos but I feel like there has to be ones before that because that happened right at the start of 2000.
Anyone got any input?
EDIT: So far looks like the earliest on screen main character death we have is May 18, 1984 with Bobby Ewing being shot and killed on Dallas (technically it was all a dream, but the character is still “killed on-screen” and Bobby was a big character of the show). Please post any you have that appear earlier and I will try to update this. Remember: on-screen death of major/main character, no “died between episodes” or “died offscreen” or “written off the show to never appear again” stuff.
EDIT 2: Some good suggestions that I cant find strong evidence of is Katarina dying on Doctor Who and characters from Blake’s 7 dying on the show, if anyone has a clip and date for those deaths it would help because I cant find any firm evidence for them.
EDIT 3: Someone mentioned a couple dying in the 1953 show “Topper” that then come back as ghosts, but they technically die in a jump-cut that isnt on screen so Im putting it as an Honorable Mention.