Few shows have featured as many on-screen deaths as The Vampire Diaries. During its eight seasons, nearly every main character died. A lot of them didn't end up being permanent because dealing with the supernatural the way The Vampire Diaries did allow them to play loosely with these things.
Even with most deaths being undone, they still carried a lot of emotional weight. Sometimes it was because a beloved character was gone, other times it was the impact it had on those closest to them, and other times it was because of some heroic act. Whatever the reason, we've narrowed it down to the ten deaths we feel were the most heartbreaking.
Updated on April 27th, 2021 by Gabriela Silva: The Vampire Diaries was a beloved show that amassed a huge fanbase for its vampire storyline. Fans were enamored by its main and ing characters throughout its 8 seasons on the air. Being so attached from episode to episode meant that certain character deaths hit hard. These Vampire Diaries deaths were so heartbreaking they had fans reaching for the tissue box.
Updated on June 20th, 2022 by Kevin Pantoja: The news that the spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, Legacies, is ending means that it could be the conclusion of the entire franchise. However, there is word that more shows are in the pipeline, so the future could be bright. Looking back at Legacies, it was more lighthearted at times than its predecessors, certainly not featuring the crushing deaths that the original series did. The Vampire Diaries broke the hearts of fans everywhere with some of the character deaths.
Nora & Mary Louise
These deaths weren't 100% heartbreaking but it still was because of Nora and Mary Louise's relationship. Out of all the characters in the show, Nora and Mary Louise had the longest relationship as both of them were vampires who started having feelings for one another in the 1880s.
Nora and Mary Louise's love had to keep hidden as it was forbidden. In modern times, they were finally able to be together openly. Their story turns complex when captured by the Armory and marked by Rayna. Rayna plans to kill every vampire and in an effort to stop her, Nora and Mary Louise sacrifice themselves.
Sheila Bennett
Sheila Bennett was a ing character in the first couple of seasons of the show. She's the one who comes to help Bonnie realize her powers. As Bonnie's grandmother and a powerful witch, Sheila was a force to be reckoned with.
Sheila being a powerful witch helps Damon and Stefan in "Fool Me Once." Damon, Stefan, Bonnie, and Elena need to open the tomb to get to Katherine. To do so requires immense magic. Bonnie and Sheila use everything they have. Afterward, Sheila looks drained and rests in her room. Bonnie soon finds that Sheila ed away from using too much magic.
Tyler Lockwood
Tyler was a character that fans initially disliked when the show first started as he was cocky, self-centered, and a bully. Over time, Tyler battles his own demons when acting the Lockwood werewolf gene. As the show progressed, Tyler left Mystic Falls and started working for the Armory.
In "You Decided That I Was Worth Saving," Damon is under the control of Sybil and runs into Tyler. He tries to reason with Damon and turn good again. It all proves useless as Damon kills Tyler for good, which would've been sadder under different circumstances.
Jo Laughlin
Fans were gutted to see how Jo would end her story in The Vampire Diaries. Alaric has come a long way since the beginning of the show and many fans believe he would finally get his happy ending with Jo. Jo's story in the show was complex as she was part of the Gemini coven and has a twin brother named Kai.
Kai became the most notorious and evil villain on the show. On Jo and Alaric's wedding day, Kai returns to kill his family and destroy the coven. Kai stabs Jo resulting in her death. Fans were on edge about Jo's pregnancy until learning that the coven used their powers to transfer her twins to Caroline's womb.
Carol Lockwood
Though Carol Lockwood was never the main character, her death still carried a lot of weight with the viewers. Mother to werewolf Tyler, Carol was one of the first humans we see who is aware of the existence of vampires and though she was something of a villain early on, she grew into a loving mother figure.
What made her death so sad was the circumstances surrounding it. Carol was murdered in cold blood by Klaus as revenge when he found out about Tyler's plan to kill him. The sight of a blood-covered Klaus drowning Carol as snow falls around them set to a chilling rendition of "O Holy Night" is haunting. Not a merry Christmas at all.
Lexi Branson
Not often does a character make their debut in an episode, die by the end of it, and leave so many fans so crushed. That, however, was the case for Lexi Branson. In the eighth episode of the series, "162 Candles," we first see Lexi. She's Stefan Salvatore's best friend who shows up to celebrate his birthday.
At the time, he was plotting behind Stefan's back. One of Damon's dastardly moves involves him staking Lexi in order to look like a hero in front of the humans of Mystic Falls. Fans grew to love the bond between Lexi and Stefan quickly, so losing her so promptly was devastating. She remained a fan favorite and appeared in a handful of episodes until the show ended.
Elizabeth Forbes
Like Carol Lockwood, Liz Forbes was an adult character who remained human throughout the series. The way she comes to accept her daughter Caroline as a vampire showed a lot of growth, and her friendship with Damon was one filled with sweet moments.
It wasn't anything supernatural that ended Liz's life. Instead, she ed away from cancer during season 6. Caroline losing her loving mother was enough to make this a heartbreaker, but the flashbacks of their relationship shown as her life ended caused the waterworks to start for many viewers.
Anna
Season one strikes again. Jeremy Gilbert starts dating Anna, and the two immediately became a favorite couple. Even when we find out that Anna is a vampire who knew Katherine back in the 1800s, we still can't help but like her. The whole reason she helps to open the tomb of vampires is to get her mother out and not to hurt anyone.
Her death came as a result of her trying to protect Jeremy. John Gilbert sets off his device that hurts vampires, and she gets incapacitated by vervain. From there, John stakes her helpless body in front of Damon. It marked another considerable loss for Jeremy, who had already been through so much in just about 20 episodes.
Rose
Rose is another in a long line of characters who made a significant impact in a short time. Played by Lauren Cohan long before her days on Rose formed a bond with Damon Salvatore as she helped him uncover information about the Originals.
Rose becomes the first vampire to suffer from a werewolf bite, showing viewers how serious of a threat they are. Her suffering is lessened when Damon helps give her a warm dream. The two share a conversation before he stakes her as a mercy kill. The scene is as beautiful and heart-wrenching as they come.
Jeremy Gilbert
Death is often not permanent on The Vampire Diaries, and Jeremy Gilbert is a prime example of that. However, this season four death still hurt a ton. He and his sister Elena had lost countless friends and family throughout the show, but they always had each other. That all changed when Silas came into play.
On the mission to find the world's first immortal, Katherine masqueraded as Elena to trick Jeremy. She fed him to Silas, who snapped his neck. Jeremy's dead body was sad on its own, but when you add in the reaction Elena had when she found out, it becomes genuinely devastating.
