Tahmoh Penikett in Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Lt. Karl C. 'Helo' Agathon from Battlestar Galactica - was supposed to die when the Raptor left him behind on Caprica
◄ IMDb Polls
Poll: TV Characters Who Weren't Supposed to Stay on Their Shows
The following TV characters were nearly killed off/fired off their shows. Which are you most glad DIDN'T get the boot?
Originally published 1/21/15 - 4,624 votes total as of 11/14/17
Make Your Choice
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Martin Sheen in The West Wing (1999)
President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet from The West Wing - was only planned to pop up occasionally in a handful of episodes -
Ed Helms in The Office (2005)
Andy Bernard from The Office - his 10-episode booking was supposed to end when Jim returned to Scranton -
Damian Lewis in Homeland (2011)
Nicholas Brody from Homeland - was supposed to be killed in the first season finale -
Gigi Edgley in Farscape (1999)
Chiana from Farscape - was supposed to die in her first episode -
Kelsey Grammer in Cheers (1982)
Dr. Frasier Crane from Cheers (and later Frasier) - was only scheduled for a six-episode arc -
Rich Sommer in Mad Men (2007)
Harry Crane from Mad Men - was scheduled to commit suicide in season one -
Walton Goggins in Justified (2010)
Boyd Crowder from Justified - Walton Goggins filmed a few scenes as a favor to Timothy Olyphant; audiences loved him -
Scott Wilson in The Walking Dead (2010)
Hershel Greene from The Walking Dead - creators planned to kill him in the second season but decided to give viewers a break -
Julianna Margulies in ER (1994)
Carol Hathaway from ER - she was never supposed to survive her suicide attempt from the pilot -
Colin O'Donoghue in Once Upon a Time (2011)
Killian Jones from Once Upon a Time - was only supposed to guest star for a few episodes -
"M.A.S.H." Jamie Farr
Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger from M*A*S*H - was only supposed to appear in one episode -
Danielle Fishel in Boy Meets World (1993)
Topanga Lawrence from Boy Meets World - was supposed to be just an occasional character -
Michael Emerson in Lost (2004)
Ben Linus from Lost - was originally planned to appear in only three episodes -
Kathryn Joosten in Desperate Housewives (2004)
Karen McCluskey from Desperate Housewives - was supposed to only be a brief role -
Joseph Morgan in The Vampire Diaries (2009)
Klaus Mikaelson from The Vampire Diaries (and later The Originals) - was planned to be killed off at the end of season three but instead got his own spin-off -
Estelle Getty in The Golden Girls (1985)
Sophia Petrillo from Golden Girls - was only planned to appear in the pilot -
Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad (2008)
Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad - was planned to be killed off in a massacre in season one -
Ari Millen in Orphan Black (2013)
Mark Rollins from Orphan Black - creators planned to kill him after a 6-episode arc -
Matthew Fox in Lost (2004)
Jack Shephard from Lost - wasn't supposed to survive the pilot -
James Marsters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - was initially booked for a one-off guest starring stint -
Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek (1966)
Spock from Star Trek - NBC wanted him removed because of his "satanic appearance" -
Jane Lynch in Glee (2009)
Sue Sylvester from Glee - Jane Lynch was already attached to another pilot and would have had pass on Glee if that pilot has been picked up -
Jaleel White in Family Matters (1989)
Steve Urkel from Family Matters - Jaleel White turned a one-episode role into a phenomenon
