Plunged into a dystopian wasteland where the dead walk, death is a given. It’s been more than 10 years since the premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead, and the epic post-apocalyptic drama has seen its fair share of bloodshed along the way. Many characters have been lost over the past 10 seasons, from Shane to Andrea, but some of the saddest Walking Dead deaths are far more gut-wrenching than others.
While some nefarious and evil characters get their just desserts at the hands of the ravenous undead, the pure-hearted and kind sometimes suffer the same fate. It's an act of unfairness in an unfair world, and fans of the show arguably suffer these losses worse than the characters on screen.
Updated on May 18th, 2022, by Shawn S. Lealos: The final season of The Walking Dead is halfway finished, and there will surely be more character deaths between now and the final episode of the main series. While it is clear who won't die thanks to spinoffs coming with characters like Daryl, Carol, Negan, and Lori, there are sure to be some more sad Walking Dead deaths, as characters fans fell in love with fall in the final war for the future.
However, with the season halfway through, there has been a sad death already occurred that fans hated the second it happened. It might end up replaced by the time the series ends, but for now, it matched up to past deaths and survivors whose time came to an end long before anyone was ready to see them leave.
Amy (Season 1)
Of the Walking Dead characters who died, what made Amy's death so painful wasn't simply the fact that it was one of the show's first major losses, but also that it was so sudden and unexpected. Gathered around the campfire for a fish cookout, the group's peaceful night was ruined when Walkers stumbled into the camp and set off a panic-driven battle for survival.
Amy was one of the first casualties, bitten while stopping by the RV for a bathroom break. By the time Andrea heard her screaming sister, it was too late. She stayed with Amy's dead body up to the point of reanimation, where she hoped a part of her sister would live on. It soon became apparent that everything about Amy was gone, and replaced by a feral ghoul.
Dale Horvath (Season 2)
Dale was the sweet, level-headed grandfather figure amidst the little band of survivors. He bonded with each member in the way they needed most, providing a comforting ear, cringe-worthy dad jokes, and sage advice. He was central to the group's formation and stability, but it was his kindness that truly held the group together.
This sad Walking Dead death struck an intense emotional chord in both the audience and the survivors that had grown to care for and rely on him for support. In many ways, it was the most unfair death of the series, driven almost exclusively by a behind-the-scenes dispute between actor and studio.
Merle Dixon (Season 3)
Merle's death wasn't heartbreaking due to his loss, but the impact it had on his own flesh and blood. Merle was a hardheaded bigot and a bad older brother to his sibling, Daryl. Nevertheless, blood is thicker than water, and Daryl's reaction to Merle's death was one of the saddest in the series.
Part of the tragedy of Merle's death lay in the fact that he actually mended his ways and tried to do the right thing just before the end. His brutal killing at the hands of the Governor was an act not soon forgotten by Daryl or his team of survivors.
Hershel Greene (Season 4)
The kind, protective, Hershel opened his heart and his home to Rick and his survivors, and later filled Dale's shoes as a mentor and patriarch. Previously a veterinarian, he also provided the group with desperately needed medical care, allowing him to save the life of a critically injured Carl due to a hunting accident.
His kindness and tenacity made him one of the best Walking Dead characters who died. It made all the more painful when he was used as an emotional pawn by the Governor and beheaded in front of all of his family and friends. It was one of the saddest Walking Dead deaths in this show's history. His loss robbed the team of a mentor figure at a time when they needed one most, and it didn't make things any easier when the Governor was finally brought down.
Beth Greene (Season 5)
Beth was sweet and endlessly compassionate, known for taking care of baby Judith while singing to soothe the souls of the weary survivors. She emanated an air of innocence that was uncommon for someone living in such a brutal world. At one point, she seemed ready to take her own life, only to bounce back stronger.
Much like Amy, her death was sudden and shocking, coming when she was on the brink of being saved from the corrupt Dawn and her antagonistic security force. It was another tragic loss for Daryl, who cared deeply for Beth. Seeing him cry as he carried her limp body out of the hospital in full view of the survivors was another bleak loss for the show.
Denise Cloyd (Season 6)
Denise was an anxious, yet empathetic and soft-hearted, survivor who worked as a doctor in Alexandria's safe zone. One of the few LGBTQ+ characters on the show, she also formed a romantic relationship with Tara during season 6 of the series.
Her death is sudden and accidental, foreshadowing the debut of the Saviors and fan-favorite antagonist Negan. Amid a passionate speech, she was cut off in mid-sentence by an arrow meant for Daryl, which pierced straight through her eye. She managed only a few more words before succumbing to the wound and dying.
Glenn Rhee (Season 7)
Perhaps the most painful loss of any season of the series was the graphic and vicious murder of Glenn. In order to make a point, Negan proclaimed that he is going to kill someone from Rick's group in retaliation for the raid on the Savior compound and the deaths of several of Negan's henchmen.
When Daryl lashed out at Negan for slaughtering Abraham in a brutal fashion, he decided to kill Glenn as punishment. It was undoubtedly the most shocking and disturbing death scene of the entire series, which made waves among the fanbase for its controversial excess of violence and gore. In the aftermath, every character, including the audience, felt the impact of this sad Walking Dead death.
Carl Grimes (Season 8)
Carl was bitten by a walker while trying to save a stranger's life, which showed what kind of man he should have grown to become. Though the younger Carl had gone through many emotional ups and downs, his moral compass was forged in the fires of the post-apocalyptic world, prompting some of his bravest moments.
Of the Walking Dead characters who died, this death was especially poignant due to the fact that it gave both Rick and Negan reason to pause and reconsider their paths. Rick spared Negan's life, and that of his surrendering Saviors, while Negan was left a changed man by the incident, setting him on a long and difficult path towards some semblance of redemption.
Henry (Season 9)
Orphaned and adopted by Carol and King Ezekiel, Henry finally had a stable home and a family that loved him. He even had a growing relationship with Lydia, the estranged daughter of Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers. It was that connection that would lead to so much tragedy in season 9.
Henry's death at the hands of Alpha affected Carol so much that she ended her relationship with Ezekiel and ran away into seclusion once more. Of the Walking Dead characters who died, he wasn't an audience favorite, but he was a key part of the happiness of certain characters and his loss was enough to affect Carol on an even deeper level than before.
Siddiq (Season 10)
Siddiq was a good man who stepped in to fill the role of community doctor for Alexandria following Rick's disappearance. A casual relationship with Rosita resulted in the unexpected, yet welcome, addition of baby Coco into their small town. Sadly, Siddiq's time on the show was short.
After discovering that Dante was a Whisperer infiltrator in Alexandria, Dante murdered him to protect his own cover. Of the Walking Dead characters who died, this death was especially painful given the mercy bestowed upon him by Carl Grimes at a time when he felt he didn't have a friend in the world.
Leah Shaw (Season 11)
Leah Shaw had become a villain in Season 11 of The Walking Dead, but unlike other bad guys, she had a reason to be bitter. When Leah and Maggie faced off earlier in the season, it was a fan favorite moment as the two women were fan favorites from different sides of the track, and were two of the most powerful ladies on The Walking Dead.
In Episode 16 of Season 11, the survivors had to face peril in the Commonwealth and also face Leah, who had her own survivors to help her on her journey to vengeance. She had allowed her own people to die as collateral damage and it was clear she was losing it. She then set out to settle the score with Maggie. Leah got the advantage, but it was Daryl who showed up and killed her. It was one of the saddest Walking Dead deaths, as she and Daryl had gone from lovers to enemies, and the show lost a great character in the process.