Calling It Quits: Stars Who Requested Their Characters' Demise On Screen

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Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford in 'Star Wars'

In 'Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi' (1983), Harrison Ford wanted his character, "Han Solo", to die in the final installment of the original trilogy. His wish was granted in 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens' (2015), where Han Solo met his end. Ford had been advocating for Han Solo's death for decades, not because he was tired of the character, but because he believed his sacrifice would add depth and emotion to the story. He said, "His sacrifice for the other characters would lend gravitas and emotional weight."

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Game of Thrones Most Popular Characters: "Sansa Stark" actress Sophie Turner cast

Sophie Turner on 'Game of Thrones'

In 'Game of Thrones' (2011-2019), Sophie Turner expressed her desire for her character, Sansa Stark, to be killed off before the series concluded. She mentioned, "I don’t want to survive. If you’re on 'Game of Thrones' and you don’t have a cool death scene, then what’s the point?"

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Jamie Lee Curtis in 'Halloween: Resurrection'

Jamie Lee Curtis, known for her role in 'Halloween: Resurrection' (2002), actually desired to have her iconic character killed off. However, despite her initial wish, she later reprised her role in 'Halloween' (2018), followed by appearances in 'Halloween Kills' (2021) and the upcoming sequel 'Halloween Ends' (2022).

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Hollywood's Odd Man Out: Johnny Depp's Sad Fall From Grace

Johnny Depp in '21 Jump Street' (2012)

In his cameo appearance as Officer "Tom Hansen" in '21 Jump Street' (2012), Johnny Depp had a specific request. He agreed to the role with the condition that his character would meet his end. Screenwriter Michael Bacall admired Depp's desire for closure and found the idea brilliant, making it work effectively in the storyline.

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Milo Ventimiglia in 'Gilmore Girls'

In 'Gilmore Girls' (2000-2007), Milo Ventimiglia, who played "Jess Mariano", actually advocated for his character to be killed off. He shared, "I was the one who actually tried to get Jess killed, and they didn't go for it. Get him hit by a bus, a knife in the side of the neck, something bad. I guess I thought it would be kind of cool."

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"The French Dispatch" Photocall - The 74th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Bill Murray

In 'Zombieland' (2009), Bill Murray initially had a zombie cameo role, but he was so impressed by the script that he requested the producers to expand his character's role. The writers reworked the scene, allowing his character to be alive and die in a humorous manner.

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Samuel L. Jackson in 'Deep Blue Sea'

Unsatisfied with his lines, the actor expressed his reluctance to deliver them. As a result, a suggestion was made to have his character meet an earlier demise. Jackson bluntly stated, "Yeah, I’m not happy. Just kill me. The sooner you kill me, the happier I’ll be." He even dubbed it "the best death ever."

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T.R. Knight

T.R. Knight portrayed "Dr. George O'Malley" in the TV series 'Grey’s Anatomy'. The character's death was attributed to the strained relationship between the actor and show creator Shonda Rhimes. As a result, the character died by being hit by a bus.

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Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien'

In the movie 'Alien 3' (1992), Sigourney Weaver chose to have her character, "Ellen Ripley", die by the end of the trilogy. Weaver didn't want to keep playing the character and felt it was a suitable way to wrap up Ripley's story. Her decision was also influenced by the franchise's future plans, like 'Alien vs. Predator,' which she didn't feel good about as she was proud of the previous movies.

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Kal Penn in 'House'

In 'House' (2004-2012), actor Kal Penn made a unique request for his character, "Dr. Lawrence Kutner". He asked for his character to be written off the show so that he could shift his focus to his political career. Penn had secured a position at the White House during the Obama administration, and as a result, his character was written out by having him die at the end of season 5.

Saying goodbye to a beloved character can be tough, and sometimes, the actor's decision to end their character's journey. In fact, there are instances when actors themselves opt to kill off their characters.

Stars Who Requested Their Characters' Demise on Screen

This could be due to their desire to move on from a movie or show, or even as a stipulation before accepting a role. Did you know that Harrison Ford has been eager to bid farewell to Han Solo for years? Explore this gallery to uncover the actors who actively sought the demise of their characters.