Top 20 Family Guy Characters Who Died Tragically | Articles on WatchMojo.com (2023)

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 'Family Guy' characters who died tragically. For this list, we'll be looking at the most notable characters from this adult sitcom who really bit the bullet. We will look at those who miraculously came back to life, as long as they were dead for the time being. However, we will exclude characters who died on other shows, such as Loretta's death on "The Cleveland Show". Obviously, this list contains spoilers. Which of these characters do you miss the most? Tell us in the comments!

#20: Jess Slutz

"Dead Dog Walking"

"Family Guy" has a tendency to dump characters for an episode after their stories are over. But this Brian flame actually has a two-episode arc. Almost allergic to commitment, Brian only marries Jess because she has terminal cancer. However, when it is revealed that she has been cured, Jess celebrates her new life by eating food. Her new attitude makes her unbearable, causing Brian to let her choke on nachos. However, this death is fake and his survival causes their marriage to deteriorate further, culminating in her trying to put him down. They eventually reconcile, but the epilogue reveals that she has inexplicably passed away. Honestly, based on their toxic relationship, we're kind of happy.

#19: Paddy Taniger

"Hell Comes to Quahog"

You probably don't know this character by name, but you probably remember his catchphrase. A fleeting presence in the early seasons, Paddy Tanniger could always be counted on to respond to any situation with "Big whoop, wanna fight for it?" Whether it was rhyming words, bad movies, or general rants, the combative Paddy always tried to throw punches, even though no one really felt the same way. While Paddy was a fun, if fleeting, distraction for viewers, he was apparently not very popular in the writers' room. So much so that in Season 5, when Brian and Stewie take a tank to Superstore USA, they make sure to double-tap Paddy along the way, ending his tenure on the show for good.

#18: Sr. Wilson

"Stories of a Third Grade Nothing"

While Ms. Wilson only has a speaking role in one episode, she is voiced by the late, great Debbie Reynolds, whose daughter Carrie Fisher was a regular on the show. While we'll get more into Fisher's character later, Mrs. Wilson first appears in the season 7 episode where Peter has to retake third grade to get a promotion at work. Mrs. Wilson was his teacher then and he is not much nicer to her now. While Mrs. Wilson does not appear to die, she reappears in season 20, when Peter hallucinates nearly every character the show has killed off. This is likely due to Reynolds' death in real life, and it's good that the show remembered to include his character.

#17: Vern and Johnny

"Saving Private Brian"

While Paddy was hated by the "Family Guy" production staff, Vern and Johnny were apparently killed off because everyone else hated them. A pair of vaudeville performers, these two would suit any occasion. First, Vern would try some kind of prank, fall flat on his face, sometimes literally, and have Johnny take over at the piano. But apparently the viewers didn't love them as much as Seth MacFarlane, so MacFarlane had Stewie shoot and kill them. While Stewie claims they won't come back, that wasn't really the case as they have appeared from the grave a few times. Johnny obviously went to hell, but we really don't want to get into the why of that...

#16: New Brian

"The Man with the Two Brians"

No, this isn't the new dog the Griffins temporarily replace Brian with when the latter is dead for a few episodes, but the one Peter replaces Brian with a few seasons earlier when he thinks his friend is getting too old. Without a unique name of his own, New Brian is very happy, which means it's his own fault for being very happy. While his popularity causes old Brian to leave, Stewie isn't all that pissed off. He tries to get New Brian to leave, which causes the dog to fight back, revealing that he did some awful things to Stewie's bear, Rupert. That was a bridge too far, as Stewie was seen dragging his body on the pavement. There is only one Brian, and that is Brian.

#15: Derek Wilcox

"And then there were fewer"

There are several characters that are permanently eliminated in the murder mystery episode. While introductory characters like Stephanie and Priscilla weren't huge losses, Derek probably deserved better. While it was admittedly a little boring, Derek at least gave Brian's ex Jillian, who he married a few seasons earlier, a proper card. But I should have known better that I'm a tertiary character with a murderer in the house. In an attempt to contact outside help, Derek takes his phone to the outside porch for a signal. Trouble is, the killer, later revealed to be Diane Simmons, follows him and awards him a Golden Globe. Gillian is devastated and Diane even has the nerve to comfort her at this point.

#14: Pearl Burton

“Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows”

Calling Pearl a main character is a bit of a stretch, given that she only appears in one episode, but she still packs quite a punch, at least for Brian. An unusual old lady whom Brian is forced to spend time with for community service, Brian warms to her after learning about her past as a singer. The pair strike up a friendship and Brian convinces the agoraphobic Pearl to move out of her house. Tragically, Pearl is almost immediately hit by a truck. While in the hospital, Brian uses a virtual headset to show the two of them living a possible life together. It's a very sweet relationship that ends too soon.

#13: Jonathan Wendt

"Sir Saturday Sir"

Mr. Jonathan Weed was Peter Griffin's boss during the early seasons of the show when he worked in a toy factory. After Peter worries that he won't continue his career there, he invites Mr. Wind over for dinner. His mustachioed superior is really won over at dinner and even promotes Peter. However, the shock causes Brian to choke on his food. After the food is ejected from Brian's mouth, it lands in Mr. Wind's mouth, causing him to choke to death. However, this is more of a comic than a tragic death. And Mr. Weed's death opened up an opportunity for Peter to try various other jobs.

#12: Thelma Griffin

"Mom is the word"

Here we have another example of a character being laid to rest after his voice actor did the same. The incomparable Phyllis Diller voiced Peter's mother, Thelma, for three episodes in the mid-to-late 2000s. Thelma, by all accounts, was a heavy-smoking, gambling girl, and she clearly passed on a lot of traits to her. . A few years after Diller's death in 2012, "Family Guy" addressed her absence by revealing that Thelma died of a stroke. While we didn't get enough of Diller as Thelma, we'll always remember the episode where the latter meets Tom Tucker, leading to a very strange step-dad situation.

#11: Doug

"The candidate"

The most recent entry on this list, Doug served as Stewie's preschool rival from Season 17 to Season 21. Voiced by Chris Parnell of "Rick and Morty" fame, Doug was cocky, privileged, and over the top. of all, insufferable. He was constantly looking to rub Stewie's nose in whatever it was, whether it was his connections or his bachelorhood. Things culminate in "The Candidate," where the two rivals run for Class Snack Captain. The episode otherwise proceeds as usual, with Doug and Stewie tarnishing each other's reputations. The epilogue then reveals that Stewie won the election due to stronger voters. Oh, and one more reason...

#10: James Woods

"And then there were fewer"

Yes, James Woods is an actor in real life, but he also voiced a version of himself on the show for many years. Although, an exaggerated and hideous version of himself. We probably don't need to fill you in on the details, as Woods' appearances making life unbearable for the Griffin family became some of the most memorable episodes, but his sins come back to bite him in the murder mystery episode. The main target, Woods, is eventually stabbed to death by his old flame, Diane. However, being a cartoon, it inexplicably came back to life a season later. Due to Woods' real-life controversies, the show has apparently cut ties, so it's doubtful his animated self will ever appear again.

#9: Bertram

"The Big Bang theory"

Stewie may hate his mother the most, but he has another mortal enemy in the family: his half-brother, Bertram. Just as brilliant as Stewie and arguably more vindictive, Bertram Butts comes to Stewie on several occasions. In their final meeting, Bertram attempts to erase Stewie from existence by killing his ancestor, Leonardo DaVinci. The pair's final battle in Renaissance Italy is fun, with an aerial battle using DaVinci's flying machines. However, Stewie finally finishes off Bertram with an arrow to the head and a terrible pun. However, the real tragedy is that we will never see these two wits again.

#8: Francisco Griffin

"The two fathers of Peter"

Francis Griffin is Peter's chronically eccentric Irish father. Very critical of his son and his family, Francis arrives at Meg's birthday party in his final episode. In a freak accident, Peter falls down the stairs while riding a unicycle and crushes his father, killing him. While we learn later in the episode that Francis was actually Peter's stepfather, it doesn't negate how traumatic the event is. Franix may not have been the kindest person, but he raised Peter, and if it had been anyone else, it could have destroyed him.

#7: Muriel Goldman

"And then there were fewer"

Diane's body count continues to pile up and we haven't caught up with her yet! The wife of local pharmacist Mort Goldman, Muriel isn't much nicer, making her a prime candidate for the pit. In the murder mystery episode, suspicion finally falls on her, leading her to run away and run alone. Unfortunately, she ends up seeing too much, causing Diane to silence her for good. Her death isn't much of a loss to anyone, least of all Mort himself, but there's only one thing he truly values, and it sure as hell wasn't her. However, it should be mentioned that, more than many characters who have died, it has been mentioned quite a bit since then.

#6: Horatio

"Save the Clam"

The original bartender at Peter and friends' local bar, the Drunken Clam, Horace didn't have the biggest personality in town, but he... served... beer... a lot. The guy wasn't very memorable, okay? But his death was! When the Drunken Clam patrons play a game against Goldman's Pharmacy, the opposing team brings in Jerome, a copycat. Jerome hits Horace's pitch so hard it kills the bartender! The boys don't have much to say at Horace's funeral, though not for lack of emotion on Quagmire's part, but they are very upset that the Clam is almost closed. Fortunately for them, Jerome makes amends by buying the bar.

#5: Diana Simmons

"And then there were fewer"

Yes, and now we finally come to the mastermind behind the whole aforementioned killing spree, Quahog Channel 5 news anchor Diane Simmons. Her attempts to get back at James Woods for leaving her for a younger woman turned into more murders to cover up her original murder. And just as she looks ready to do the same to Lois, Diane is shot from afar - by Stewie! If anyone is going to kill Lois, it's him! Diane's fall from grace is sad and was a fun part of the show's extensive cast.

#4: Rupert

"Bear Bites Dog"

Rupert is Stewie's favorite teddy bear and probably his best friend, as well as Brian, even if he can't talk to him. Unfortunately, Brian is jealous of Stewie's time with Rupert and drunkenly rips the bear to pieces. Stewie is understandably heartbroken, which leads the two of them to climb a mountain in Vermont to lay Rupert's ashes to rest. The duo's eulogy for the dead stuffed animal is surprisingly moving. And as Brian buys Stewie a new bear on the way home, the original watches them from the afterlife...along with Paul Walker.

#3: Brian Griffin

"Life of Brian"

Speaking of the Griffin family dog, Brian also died during the show...several times in fact. However, our choice is the one most of us thought we would be stuck with. After Stewie destroys his time machine, he and Brian play street hockey. Tragically, Brian is hit by a car. He has time for one last goodbye to the Griffin family before he dies. Although Brian remains dead for a few episodes, Stewie finds a way to prevent his death and save him soon after. While this is arguably the most emotional death on screen (his goodbyes still choke us up), the fact that it's not permanent keeps it from being as impactful as it could have been.

#2: Angela

"Pawtucket Pete"

Angela, another of Peter's bosses, was his supervisor at the Pawtucket Brewery. Although she was generally unhappy with his performance, she had a soft spot for him… a little too much, actually. Angela met an untimely end as her voice actress, the late Carrie Fisher, died in real life. Presumably dying from swimming too soon after eating, Peter delivers Angela's eulogy. Although he begins the talk by belting out various comedy theme songs, he ends it with a deeply moving tribute to Fisher herself. It's a shame Peter delivered it to the wrong funeral.

#1: Alcald Adam West

Adam West High School

A staple of the show for many years, Adam West played a more eccentric version of himself on "Family Guy." Like our last entry, when the actor passed away, so did the character. To honor his memory, the characters pay tribute to him in various ways, from a video montage made by Peter to renaming the high school after him. However, it is a shame that no one went to his funeral. However, the guy doesn't seem to hold a grudge, as his ghost appears to save Brian and Quagmire from falling off a cliff. Rest in peace, crazy, weirdo.