# Television characters who've endured the most tragedies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225 "2011-05-09T02:05:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/1 "2011-05-09T02:05:38Z")
So I’m re-watching _The X-Files_ with my little brother. I don’t know how apparent this was watching the first run episodes, spread out over weeks and years, but we’re noticing how awful Scully has had it. We’re just through the start of Season 5 (i.e., we still have 3+ seasons and two movie to get through), but already she’s… [spoiler]… been abducted and held captive by a serial killer. … had her sister murdered because of her own work on the X-Files. … been abducted by either aliens or a human shadow organization. … contracted terminal cancer as a result of the above (she got better). … become barren, also as a result of the above. … met and formed a deep emotional bond with a biological daughter she never knew she had, only to watch said daughter die within a couple of weeks. … had her dog eaten by a monster. (Seriously, this qualifies as a light-hearted moment for Scully, and is played for laughs.) … [other terrible thing that I’m forgetting.][/spoiler] What other characters have had such a cavalcade of horrors visited upon them? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/2 "2011-05-09T02:14:50Z")
I agree with Scully, but I have heard Sipowicz experienced a ton on NYPD Blue. However, I have not seen the show. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/3 "2011-05-09T02:17:43Z")
I would say some Soap Opera Character would endure the most tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/4 "2011-05-09T02:22:39Z")
Kenny on South Park. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/5 "2011-05-09T02:31:54Z")
In second place behind Kenny might be Hans Moleman on _The Simpsons_. He dies in many of his appearances on the show. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/6 "2011-05-09T02:32:26Z")
Maybe not the most tragic, but Galen Tyrol from BSG seemed to just have a constant rain of crap on him. Off the top of my head: -His girlfriend is a Cylon sleeper agent. -His best friend shoots and “kills” his girlfriend. -A Cylon that looks and act just like his old girlfriend comes back, except she’s in love with someone else. Fast forward a few years: -He discovers he too is Cylon and his homeworld was destroyed 2000 years ago. -His first love from when he was back at the Cylon world kills his wife. -He finds out his wife cheated on him and his son is not biologically his. -His Cylon girlfriend comes back ,shows him an amazing vision of how she wanted to live together, but it’s all a ploy to betray him. -He kills his first love. -He ends up going off to live by himself in prehistoric Scotland ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/7 "2011-05-09T02:39:03Z")
> [@heathen\_earthling](#): > > Kenny on South Park. Wile E. Coyote? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/8 "2011-05-09T02:41:05Z")
Scully also had her dad die and then chose to not find out what might have been a message from him. If _A Game of Thrones_ goes on long enough there will be some contenders there! ETA - realized others were using spoiler tags. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/9 "2011-05-09T02:47:39Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > If _A Game of Thrones_ goes on long enough there will be some contenders there! Beat me to it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/10 "2011-05-09T03:15:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I agree with Scully, but I have heard Sipowicz experienced a ton on NYPD Blue. However, I have not seen the show. Definitely. He was shot in the first episode. His son was murdered. His partner and friend dies of a heart condition His wife is murdered. His wife’s sister is murdered. **NYPD Blue’s** writers would always kill a character whenever they got stuck for an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/11 "2011-05-09T03:21:30Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Definitely. > > He was shot in the first episode. > His son was murdered. > His partner and friend dies of a heart condition > His wife is murdered. > His wife’s sister is murdered. **NYPD Blue’s** writers would always kill a character whenever they got stuck for an idea. Didn’t he also have like four other partners also have really bad things happen to them? Anyway, what about the dickhead redhead guy with a beard on ER? I saw like three episodes of that show, and in one he had his arm chopped off by a helicopter and in another he had a helicopter crash on top of him. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/12 "2011-05-09T03:26:47Z")
I think you’re confusing two characters from ER. Archie Morris was the redhead bearded guy, while Robert Romano was the (bald) guy who suffered an amputation-by-helicopter and then had a helicopter fall off the building onto him (perhaps the same helicopter?). ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/13 "2011-05-09T03:38:31Z")
Mary on _Little House On The Prairie_, had her share of woes. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/14 "2011-05-09T03:58:24Z")
Ben Cartwright on _Bonanza_. Widowed three times (each of his three sons was by a different wife), and he lost one of his sons (Hoss, who was killed off when actor Dan Blocker died suddenly). I also believe (though I can’t find references ATM) that he had one or more daughters-in-law who died suddenly. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/15 "2011-05-09T04:02:04Z")
There were characters on _Oz_ that would trade places with some of those already listed. By the midpoint of that show, it pretty well abandoned all pretense of realism and bore as much similarity to the penal system as _Ally McBeal_ did to the legal system. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/16 "2011-05-09T04:03:34Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Robert Romano was the (bald) guy who suffered an amputation-by-helicopter and then had a helicopter fall off the building onto him (perhaps the same helicopter?). Well, once a helicopter gets a taste of blood… ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/17 "2011-05-09T04:30:15Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Didn’t he also have like four other partners also have really bad things happen to them? > > Anyway, what about the dickhead redhead guy with a beard on ER? I saw like three episodes of that show, and in one he had his arm chopped off by a helicopter and in another he had a helicopter crash on top of him. > > -Joe Don’t forget the alcoholism and the murder of another partner! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/18 "2011-05-09T04:32:01Z")
Calculon: Does anyone here _not_ have amnesia? ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/19 "2011-05-09T04:36:32Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225/20 "2011-05-09T04:39:36Z")
Don’t forget Scully also gave away her own son **Buffy** didn’t have it easy, either: Died during attempt to save the world (but it was all part of the plan!) Boyfriend turned into evil asshole right after he takes her virginity Has to kill said boyfriend (in the middle of his attempt to destroy the world) even while realizing he is no longer evil Local politician turns evil, tries to destroy world College professor turns evil, creates being who wants to destroy world Fake sister is implanted in her life Dates Riley, sleeps with him Mom died Dies again, to (a) save fake sister and (b) prevent evil Hellgod from destroying world Asshole friend removes her from heaven, refuses to sing in her musical Her mentor leaves her in an effort to make her “grow up” Bangs Spike, who then tries to rape her Goes broke, while rich Englishmen (supposedly in charge of her activities) allow her to go broke Asshole friend turns evil, tries to destroy world First Evil tries to kill her, and, yes, you guessed it: also wants to destroy the world [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-characters-whove-endured-the-most-tragedies/581225.md?page=2)