WARNING: This article contains spoilers about the series and films mentioned
There is life past the big screen. Even actors can see this, and after trying their hand at a bunch of roles in series or film sagas, they sometimes decide to abandon ship and look elsewhere for other opportunities.
When this occurs, the question is what to do with these characters? Do we replace them with a different actor? Slightly risky. Or even an even better idea... kill them off! Of course, when this happens this leaves fans up in arms grabbing their handkerchiefs to wipe away the tears.
Rest in peace
So, we have found some examples of when actors and actresses have asked for their own character to be killed off for a number of different reasons. These reasons have ranged from the actor wanting a change in career path, actors believing killing off the character is the right thing for the storyline or the actor wants their character to die in a memorable way so it leaves a lasting legacy.
Here are 13 actors who have asked for their own characters to be killed off their respective films and television series.
1 Dean Norris in 'Breaking Bad'
The actor who played Hank Schrader in 'Breaking Bad' wanted his character to be killed off in the first couple of episodes of the last season of the series so he could take up another job offer of a sitcom series that was soon to be filmed. "I said, 'Would it be interesting if Hank died in the first eight episodes? They said, 'No, we kind of need you for the last eight. We've been building that up the for last five years' ... Obviously, I'm glad that they did." explained Dean Norris.
2 Josh Charles in 'The Good Wife'
One of the more striking deaths in television in recent years was that of Will Gardner, half way through the fifth season, when he was shot by one of his colleagues. It seems that Josh Charles' contract had expired at the end of the fourth season of 'The Good Wife' and he decided not to renew it.
"It's been one of the greatest gigs for me in my entire career, but at the end of last year, my contract was up and I was just ready to kind of move on." Charles admitted that it's tough to leave a steady job, but added, "I think it was great for the show and also I think was a proper goodbye to the character, so that was special."
3 Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien'
Ripley's death at the end of 'Alien 3' was, it seems, down to the actress' feelings towards the saga and the fact she didn't particularly want to carry on taking part in films that wouldn't be successful.
A couple of years later, Sigourney Weaver spoke with Comic Con in London and she mentioned that she wanted Ripley to be killed off because she had heard that Fox were thinking of making 'Alien vs. Predator' and she didn't want to ruin the previous three films in the saga.
4 Harrison Ford in 'Star Wars'
Before doing the Star Wats: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi', Harrison Ford had expressed his interest in having his own character killed off, but George Lucas did not agree to it. When asked why Lucas said he didn't think there was any future in dead Han Solo toys and merchandise.
However, thirty years later, and the actor finally got his wish in 'Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force Awakens'. Ford explained that "I think it's a fitting use of the character. I've been arguing for Han Solo to die for about 30 years, not because I was tired of him or because he's boring, but his sacrifice for the other characters would lend gravitas and emotional weight."
5 Sophie Turner in 'Game of Thrones'
"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? I think it would be really disappointing if I got to the end and I was okay." These were the words of Sophie Turner who has joked about her character, Sansa Stark, being killed off in a memorable season finale somewhere down the line. Baring in mind there are still a few more episodes to churn out, it could still be a possibility for the Northamptonshire born actress.
6 Dan Stevens in 'Downton Abbey'
Actor Dan Stevens played the character of Matthew Crawley in the first three seasons of the ITV series 'Downton Abbey'. However, at the end of the third season, Stevens decided he wanted to pursue an acting career past Downton, so his character was killed off in a car accident.
Stevens made the decision before he even started filming the third series. "We were always optioned for three years," he explained. "And when that came up it was a very difficult decision. But it felt like a good time to take stock, to take a moment. From a personal point of view, I wanted a chance to do other things. It is a very monopolising job. So there is a strange sense of liberation at the same time as great sadness because I am very, very fond of the show and always will be."
7 T.R. Knight in 'Grey's Anatomy'
Despite the fact that Doctor O'Malley was a fan favourite from 'Grey's Anatomy', the actor didn't get on well with producer Shonda Rhimes. It seems, as time went by, there became a breach in communication between the two and little by little Knight's screen time became less and less. It got to season five of the series and the actor had had enough and asked for his character to be killed of. And that was that, his character was ran over by a bus.
8 Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in 'Lost'
The unhappiness of the actor, who wasn't a fan of living in Hawaii during the filming of 'Lost', got even worse after the death of his parents. After speaking with producers, it was planned for his character to be killed off as soon as possible so he could return to London. Producer Carlton Cuse said at the time that "there were personal things going on in Adewale's life that made it hard for him to be in Hawaii and we chose to accommodate his wishes."
9 John Francis Daley in 'Bones'
Although his character was a regular in the series, John Francia Daley requested for his character to be killed off from 'Bones'. In the tenth season, his character Dr. Sweets was killed. What was the reason behind this? Well, the actor had been offered the directors role in the 2015 film 'Vacation', a reboot of the 1983 comedy.
Daley explained in an interview that "It wasn't something I was going to walk away from because the movie was a huge opportunity for me. I was super pumped to do it, but sad I had to leave the show that I had been on for seven years. I've been writing movies simultaneously while I was on the show and was able to manage both schedules, but directing is an all-encompassing job, and it didn't really fall in line with my summer hiatus from the show."
10 Isaac Hayes in 'South Park'
After being the voice of Chef for over nine years, Hayes decided to call it a day and leave the series in 2006 after an episode taking the mickey out of Scientology left him offended. "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends, and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices" explained Hayes.
11 Kal Penn in 'House'
If you have ever asked yourself why Dr. Kutner committed suicide at the end of the fifth season, the answer is the White House needed it to happen. Yes, that's right, actor Karl Penn left the series in order to pursue a career working for the current president at the time, Barack Obama. "I love what I do as an actor. I couldn't love it more," said Penn. "But probably from the time I was a kid, I really enjoyed that balance between the arts and public service."
12 Charlie Sheen in 'Two and a Half Men'
There wasn't any direct announcement from Charlie Sheen himself, however according to his fellow acting partner, Chuck Lorre, his actions spoke for themselves. The actor pushed the producers right to their limits during filming and of course all of his exploits behind the camera ultimately lead to the actor being killed off.