STILL CRYING! The most heartbreaking TV character deaths we’re not over

Patrick Reid – Offspring

One million viewers were in shock after the devastating killing off of Offspring character anaesthetist Patrick Reid. Played by Matthew Le Nevez, partner of main character Nina Proudman (Asher Keddie) and father to their unborn child, Dr Reid was struck by a car in what made be one of the most surprising TV demises. Initially walking away from the accident, we breathed a sigh of relief, until Patrick later collapsed and died suffering from a brain injury.

Claire McLeod – McLeod’s Daughters

This is one goodbye that scarred us for life. When a horse ran across the country road Claire and Tess were driving down, they swerved off the road and crashed their Ute. Teetering on the edge of a cliff, the sister’s lives were literally hanging in the balance. Claire’s leg was stuck under the steering wheel, so she urged Tess to save herself and baby Charlotte seated in the back. Getting Charlotte to safety, Tess tried to use a rope to secure the car to a tree but it was too short. Claire knew her time was running out and asked Tess to take care of Charlotte before pushing Tess away as the car plummeted down the cliff.

Ailsa Stewart – Home And Away

Wife of Home And Away‘s most iconic character, Alf Stewart, Ailsa died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack while packing boxes in the diner. The loss was shattering for Alf, who soon began seeing visions of his late wife as a result of a brain tumour.

Casey Braxton – Home And Away

There have been many Home And Away characters killed off in tragic circumstance over the years but the death of Casey Braxton was one we’ll never forget. Casey died in his brother, Brax’s arms after being shot by Jake Pirovic while trying to save his kidnapped half-brother Josh Barrett (Jackson Gallagher).

J.R Ewing – Dallas

It may not have been one of the most tragic television deaths, but it was certainly one of the most talked about. The question: “Who shot J.R.?” was on everyone’s lips! The hated character had a long list of enemies, therefore suspects. After one of the biggest cliffhangers in TV history and an eight month long wait for answers, Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s wife’s sister and his former mistress, was pinpointed as the culprit.

Dee Bliss – Neighbours

We know it’s since been revealed that Neighbours’ Dee Bliss, played by Madeleine West, has been alive all this time, but for 16 long years fans believed she had drowned in a devastating car accident that saw her drive off a cliff on her wedding day to Toadie.

Sonya Rebecchi – Neighbours

Toadie truly has had more heartache in his lifetime than most, losing yet another wife in Neighbours. Sonya tragically lost her life after being diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. The beloved wife and mother died in Toadie’s arms while on the beach watching over her kids. The heart-wrenching performance also earned Eve Morey a TV WEEK Gold Logie nomination in 2019.

Melissa Rafter – Packed To The Rafters

Happily married and planning to start a family, Mel was taken too soon from hit drama Packed To The Rafters. Driving home from work at the hospital Mel was in a fatal accident. At home waiting with a romantic surprise was husband Ben. Sob!

Maggie Doyle – Blue Heelers

Lisa McCune’s role as Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers ended with a gunshot.

Blue Heelers became a staple drama of Australian television, so when the show killed off favourite character, Maggi, it was a shocking blow to fans, and her portrayer, Lisa McCune. After discovering incriminating evidence Maggie was due to go into witness protection, but the night before she was tricked into entering a warehouse where she was shot and killed.

Talking to news.com.au Lisa revealed she didn’t want to say goodbye to Maggie.

“I understand why they had to do it, but I think because I knew she had such a strong, young female following I felt really strongly that I wanted her to stay alive.”

Molly Jones – A Country Practice

The death of Molly Jones in A Country Practice was a historical TV moment. Played by Anne Tenney, Molly was the wife of Wandin Valley Hospital nurse Brendan Jones, played by Anne’s real-life husband Shane Withington, best known as John in Home And Away. After a 10-week long battle with leukaemia, Molly sadly passed away while laying on a couch in her garden watching her husband and daughter playing with a kite.

George O’Malley – Grey’s Anatomy

Yes, Patrick “McDreamy” Shepherd’s passing was tragic, but nothing was more heartbreaking than the unforeseeable death of George O’Malley. We’d been in turmoil over Izzie Steven’s slowly dying of cancer and flat lining on the table to even pay attention to the John Doe who was brought into ER that episode. Unrecognisable having been being dragged by a truck after saving a stranger on the street, John Doe wrote a message on Merdith’s hand – 0.0.7 – at the same time his ghost met Izzie’s in the hospital elevator. The crushing realisation John Doe was in fact George was too much for us!

Jack Pearson – This Is Us

We always knew jack’s death was imminent, but that still couldn’t prepare us for the sheer heartache of the goodbye. After saving his family from a fire in their family home, Jack seemed okay. At the hospital for routine tests, however, he quickly took a dire turn and eventually gave in to smoke inhalation, dying a hero.