(L to R) Rudy Pankow as JJ, Madison Bailey as Kiara. Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Outer Banks wasn’t the only show that killed off a major character in 2024 — and many of those fictional deaths still have fans upset.
Season 4, which premiered in November, got off to a good start by channeling it’s focus onto JJ (Rudy Pankow), who has been beloved by viewers since the Netflix hit debuted in 2020. By the finale, however, fans were left reeling when JJ was ultimately murdered by his biological father, Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane).
“When I first found out JJ was gonna risk it all and not make it, I understood it. And the risks got bigger and bigger, and the stakes got higher and higher,” Pankow explained to Netflix’s Tudum in November 2024. “His death really does set up the future of OBX with the question, what is worth it? And when someone that close to you is gone, how do you navigate that?”
One month earlier, Kelly Monaco wrapped up her run as Samantha McCall on General Hospital. Monaco recalled her time with the show ahead of the news.
Related: Most Shocking TV Exits of 2024 ‘Chicago Fire,’ ‘Outer Banks’ and More
It is never easy for fans to unexpectedly say goodbye to their favorite characters — and 2024 has featured an influx of shocking departures from our TV screens. In January, viewers learned that Josh Stewart would not be reprising his role as William LaMontagne Jr on Criminal Minds: Evolution. Stewart brought the role of JJ’s […]
“I was, like, a die-hard General Hospital fan. That was my dream; I was like, ‘General Hospital all the way!’ So, I was thrilled when [then-ABC daytime president] Brian Frons said they would create a role for me,” she told Soap Digest in 2023. “Sam came onto the canvas only having herself and her brother, always taking care of someone and never being taken care of. I think the biggest evolution for her is starting from being a really lonely, scared woman and becoming a woman who is still really independent, but is protected by family and friends and love and relationships and loyalty, and she never had that before.”
She concluded: “Now she has a family and kids. She came in bent and broken, and I feel like there’s a lot of her that’s still broken, but she’s constantly sort of putting the Rubik’s cube together. All the pieces don’t fit perfectly yet, but it’s certainly not broken anymore!”
Keep scrolling for the most heartbreaking TV deaths in 2024 so far:
Cara (‘Fire Country’)
Sabina Gadecki as Cara and Jordan Calloway as Jake Crawford Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
The CBS hit series killed off Cara (Sabina Gadecki) during season 2 in an ambulance accident that occurred in the midst of a fire tornado. Cara suffered brain damage but due to the natural disaster she wasn’t able to receive proper medical attention in time.
Dr. Asher Wolke (‘The Good Doctor’)
Noah Galvin as Dr. Asher Wolke Disney/Jeff Weddell
Noah Galvin’s character was beaten to death in an antisemitic attack ahead of The Good Doctor‘s series finale.
ABC included a message after the episode, which read, “If you or anyone you know has experienced antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQ+ related incidents or hate crimes, or if you want to learn more about what you can do to stop hate, please visit splcenter.org.”
Arman Morales (‘The Cleaning Lady’)
Adan Canto as Arman Morales FOX
Three months after Adan Canto died at age 42 following a private battle with appendiceal cancer, his character on The Cleaning Lady was written off. The Fox drama revealed that Arman was killed moments before he was to be safely returned to Nadia (Eva De Dominici) in exchange for a ransom.
Related: How TV Shows Handled Stars’ Deaths: ‘And Just Like That‘ and More
Riverdale, Glee and more TV shows were faced with the difficult task of writing out characters after their portrayers died off screen. Luke Perry’s sudden and tragic death in March 2019 left the Riverdale writers room with the undertaking of giving Fred Andrews a proper sendoff while also honoring the late actor. The crew decided to hold off on […]
George Cooper Sr. (‘Young Sheldon’)
Lance Barber as George Cooper Sr. ABC
Sheldon’s (Iain Armitage) father, George Cooper Sr. (Lance Barber), died of an offscreen heart attack during the final season of Young Sheldon.
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Sol (‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’)
Lee Jung-jae as Master Sol Lucasfilm Ltd.
Osha (Amandla Stenberg) killed her mentor in the Disney show’s season — and series — finale after she found out that Sol (Lee Jung-jae) was responsible for her mother’s death. Using the Force, Osha caused Sol’s death and he was subsequently blamed for all the other murders that took place throughout the season.
Sam McCall (‘General Hospital’)
Kelly Monaco as Sam McCall ABC/Christine Bartolucci
After playing Sam on more than 2,000 episodes, Monaco exited General Hospital. Her character initially came out of surgery successfully and got engaged to Dante (Dominic Zamprogna). She later began crashing and doctors were unable to revive her.
JJ Maybank (‘Outer Banks’)
Rudy Pankow as JJ Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Season 4 of Outer Banks came to an end when JJ died after he was stabbed by his biological father. The rest of the Pogues vowed to avenge JJ’s death, but not everyone was thrilled by the twist ahead of the show’s fifth and final season and Outer Banks subsequently received backlash online.
