Last episode: "You Win or You Die" Cause of death: Mauled by a wild boar
Gaping boar-wound aside, Robert's death hardly ranks anywhere near the series' grossest — but he warrants mentioning because his exit set the entire series in motion. He was the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Westeros.
Viserys Targaryen
Last episode: "A Golden Crown" Cause of death: Doused in molten gold
Viserys Targaryen, one of the slimiest characters in Game of Thrones' lengthy roster of creeps, will be forever remembered for the series' first truly epic death. After an entitled rant about his rights to the crown, Khal Drogo dumped a vat of boiling gold over his head. It probably wasn't what Viserys had in mind.
Khal Drogo
Last episode: "Fire and Blood" Cause of death: A combo of infection, blood magic gone awry and smothering
Things went downhill fast for poor Khal Drogo. After a cut to his shoulder became infected, a magical ceremony to revive the Dothraki king ended up turning him into a vegetable. And in what would prove to be the first of many Game of Thrones euthanizations, the Khaleesi put him out of his misery.
Ned Stark
Last episode: "Baelor" Cause of death: Beheaded by King Joffrey
A surprisingly clean slice, poor Ned Stark's decapitation was made infinitely more disgusting by Joffrey's classy decision to slap the head on a pike and use it as a home accent.
Mirri Maz Duur
Last episode: "Fire and Blood" Cause of death: Burned alive on Khal Drogo's funeral pyre
Do not mess with the Khaleesi. In what ended up being the first of many, many bad-ass moves, the newly widowed Daenerys Targaryen punished the deceitful wise woman who rendered her husband catatonic and killed her unborn son by tying her to Drogo's funeral pyre. But were it not for that reluctant sacrifice, we might never have gotten dragons. Thanks, Mirri!
Tortured Prisoner
Last episode: "Garden of Bones" Cause of death: A bucket of rats to the stomach
He may not have had a back story, but he'll never be forgotten. This nameless chump was one of the last victims of "The Tickler," the sadistic Harrenhal torturer who strapped metal buckets of rats to prisoners and heated said buckets until the rats burrowed free… into said prisoners' torsos.
Renly Baratheon
Last episode: "The Ghost of Harrenhal" Cause of death: Skewered by a shadow assassin
A villain that goes by many names — ghost baby, smoke monster, shadow assassin, to name a few — this guy crawled out of Melisandre's womb to eliminate Stannis Baratheon's brother — and one of the many threats to his throne.
Irri
Last episode: "The Old Gods and the New" Cause of death: Strangled by a sex tutor
The Khaleesi's right-hand gal was strangled in the great dragon-napping of season two, but all of the details of her fate do not reveal themselves in the episode. A deleted scene shows that it was actually Doreah, the prostitute-turned-handmaid, who did the deed — which makes us feel a lot better about her being locked in that vault to die.
Craster
Last episode: "And Now His Watch is Ended" Cause of death: Dagger-pounded in the throat
Though Craster probably deserved worse for all of the incest, baby-killing and lackluster hosting, that dagger through the throat and into the roof of the mouth still looked pretty rough — and in his own living room, no less!
Maester Luwin
Last episode: "Valar Morghulis" Cause of death: A spear to the stomach
Perhaps the saddest loss during the fall of Winterfell, Maester Luwin's death robbed the Starks of their last remaining father figure. After suffering for an unknown amount of time with a spear through his stomach, he enlisted Osha to be his Dr. Kevorkian.
Jeor Mormont
Last episode: "And Now His Watch is Ended" Cause of death: Stabbed in the back
The Night's Watch sure went to pot quickly. Mormont's own men turned on him after spending too much time north of the Wall, leading Rast to literally stab him in the back. Chaos ensued.
Kraznys mo Nakloz
Last episode: "And Now His Watch is Ended" Cause of death: Torched by an angry dragon
Another guy who really, really had it coming, misogynist slave-trader Kraznys mo Nakloz proved himself to be quite dim when he walked into the Khaleesi's "Sure, I'll sell you a dragon" trap. It was the first time viewers got to see a dragon take anybody out solo — and the last time we'll ever assume anybody doesn't know High Valyrian.
Ros
Last episode: "The Climb" Cause of death: Used as a live target by King Joffrey
Off-screen deaths are among the saddest because they often deny closure, but nobody was really begging to watch our sociopathic Little Lord Fauntleroy play target practice with King's Landing's most-endearing prostitute. Ros may have been a creation of the series, but we loved her just the same.
White Walker
Last episode: "Second Sons" Cause of death: Explodes after being stabbed with a magic knife
The significance of this kill won't likely reveal itself for some time, but apparently there are magic knives that turn White Walkers into very easily smash-able ice. Discovering an Achilles' heel is what we in the snow-zombie business call "a gamechanger."
Talisa Maegyr
Last episode: "The Rains of Castamere" Cause of death: Repeatedly stabbed in the womb
In hindsight, poor Talisa probably shouldn't have named her unborn baby after Ned Stark. Her foreshadowing announcement somewhat lessened the shock when she was stabbed seven times in the womb — but only slightly. Those still upset over the double-murder-infanticide can take some comfort that she's still alive in the books.
Orell
Last episode: "The Rains of Castamere" Cause of death: Stabbed by Jon Snow
Orell, we hardly knew you. And just as you were stabbed by a justifiably disgruntled Jon Snow, you showed off your best asset: magically channeling bald eagles.
Robb Stark
Last episode: "The Rains of Castamere" Cause of death: Repeatedly skewered with arrows and stabbed
A countless number of bad decisions led to Robb Stark's death at the hands of betrayer Roose Bolton, but he will forever be commended for his ability to remain standing while his torso was filled with a dozen arrows.
Grey Wind
Last episode: "The Rains of Castamere" Cause of death: Skewered by a half-dozen arrows
Yes, they even killed the dog. Grey Wind, one of the dwindling number of direwolves assisting the dwindling number of Starks, was perhaps the saddest casualty of the Red Wedding. And he was against the whole Talisa marriage thing from the start.
Catelyn Stark
Last episode: "The Rains of Castamere" Cause of death: Throat slit
Poor, beleaguered Catelyn Stark. After losing her husband, being kept apart from her children and finding her father's dead body, she spent the better part of the last season as her son's prisoner. Sad as her fate might have been, she did get to take out one of the many homely women of the Twins before her own throat was slit. At least she went out like a boss.
Joffrey
Last episode: "The Lion and the Rose" Cause of death: Poisoned
Perhaps one of the show's most reviled characters, at his wedding feast King Joffrey met his maker when he drank a goblet of poisoned wine, given to him by Tyrion, to wash down some pie. Talk about a universally-celebrated death.
Last episode: "Mockingbird" Cause of death: A one-way trip through the moon door
Crazy to the end, it was Lysa's (Kate Dickie) obsession with Littlefinger — and not her unorthodox breastfeeding habits — that did her in. Lord Baelish sent her through the moon door to an unseen splatter below.
Oberyn Martell, The Red Viper
Last episode: "The Mountain and the Viper" Cause of death: Eyes gouged out, skull crushed and more or less obliterated
Hands down the most disgusting end ever met on Game of Thrones, the charming Dornish prince of handsomeness and pansexual orgies, OberynMartell (Pedro Pascal), was last seen with his pretty mug looking like a cantaloupe that fell off a fruit cart at the donkey parade (i.e. smushed). We could go into detail about how The Mountain did it, but why relive the horrible memory?
Unknown Night’s Watchman
Last episode: "The Watchers on the Wall" Cause of death: Skewered by a giant (literally) arrow
The battle at the Wall saw a lot of grizzly death, but did you catch that giant's whimsically big bow send a redwood-sized arrow through the poor Crow who thought he was well beyond the Wildlings' reach? Touché.
Ygritte
Last episode: "The Watchers on the Wall" Cause of death: Arrow to the heart
As much a victim of bad timing as she was of Olly's kid-sized bow-and-arrow, Ygritte (Rose Leslie) got one last look at Jon Snow before she met what seemed like a foregone demise. It was one of the more bloodless fatalities in Game of Thrones' history, but the real horror was to our emotions.
Shae
Last episode: "The Children" Cause of death: Choked by a necklace/her own bad decisions
The layers of hurt kept on coming with Shae (SibelKekilli). First she betrayed Tyrion during his trial — perjury is frowned upon, even in King's Landing — then she hooked up with his dad on the eve of his planned execution. An awkward tussle ended with the imp strangling his former flame with her own necklace, guaranteeing at least two seasons as the most emo character on the show.
Tywin Lannister
Last episode: "The Children" Cause of death: Two arrows to the chest… on the toilet
The Elvis of King's Landing, the Hand of the King (Charles Dance) died on the royal commode — and at the hand of his own son. Tyrion could handle the decades of resentment, being framed for murder and even an execution sentence, but hooking up with his ex-girlfriend/prostitute proved too much. He killed his father over the pot, leaving Westeros with one less antagonist.
Mance Rayder
Last episode: "The Wars to Come" Cause of death: Shot through the heart, and Snow's to blame
The King Beyond the Wall (Ciaran Hinds), refusing to bend the knee to StannisBaratheon, put on a brave face and accepted his fate being burned alive by Melisandre. ("It's a bad way to go," he muttered, clicking his tongue, earlier in the episode.) Mance's flame-scorched screams of pain were eventually stopped by Jon Snow, who respected his foe enough to give him the gift of mercy via an arrow through the heart.
Janos Slynt
Last episode: "High Sparrow" Cause of death: Decapitated by Jon Snow
Several seasons ago, the former City Watch commander of King's Landing (Dominic Carter) was one of the key parties responsible for Eddard Stark's execution. Years later, he found himself at the Wall, serving Ned's bastard son, Lord Commander Snow. The sniveling Slynt crossed Jon one too many times, resulting in his own beheading at Snow's hands. That's one way to come full circle.
Barristan Selmy
Last episode: "Sons of the Harpy" Cause of death: Killed in a street fight
Known throughout the Seven Kingdoms as one of the most legendary swordsmen in Westeros history, Barristan the Bold (Ian McElhinney) was destined to die with his weapon in hand — and so he did in season five, stabbed multiple times by the Meereen assassins known as the Sons of the Harpy. True to his reputation, however, Barristan did not go down without swinging, taking several Sons to the grave with him.
A Handful of Pit Fighters
Last episode: "The Gift" Cause of death: Slaughtered by JorahMormont
Jorah (Iain Glen), the exiled son of the late Lord Commander JeorMormont, doesn't boast a bear as his House sigil without a reason. Sold into slavery, afflicted with a potentially terminal illness called Greyscale, and hopeful for redemption in the eyes of his sweet Khaleesi, Jorah picked up his sword and eviscerated numerous pit fighters during a demonstration for Daenerys, revealing himself once all the bodies hit the floor. Sadly for Jorah, she was more impressed with his companion Tyrion than Jorah himself.
Aemon Targaryen
Last episode: "The Gift" Cause of death: The inevitable cost of living
It was not a beheading, nor an epic betrayal of any kind, that finally ended the life of the wise, blind maester of the Night's Watch. Unlike most characters on Thrones, Aemon (Peter Vaughan) was allowed to slip off into the darkness due to nothing more than old age. The "gruesome" part of his death came courtesy of all the ugly crying viewers suffered as this pure-hearted soul departed the world of ice and fire.
So Many Wildlings
Last episode: "Hardhome" Cause of death: The unstoppable forces of the Night's King
Those who have yet to heed House Stark's words about the impending winter would be wise to look into the slaughter at Hardhome, a wildling outpost north of the Wall, where virtually every man, woman and child in the village died gruesomely at the hands of the Night's King and his White Walker army. Doubters in Westeros will get their chance to believe when the torn-apart corpses of Hardhome inevitably invade the realm.
Karsi
Last episode: "Hardhome" Cause of death: Mutilated by zombie children
The wildling warrior Karsi (BirgitteHjort Sorenson) deserves special mention among the "Hardhome" fallen. She did not need more than one episode to make an enormous impact on Thrones viewers, standing out as a fierce fighter willing to die for her children. Unfortunately, she did exactly that, frozen in fear at the sight of some zombified younglings, and subsequently torn limb from limb.
White Walker
Last episode: "Hardhome" Cause of death: Obliterated by Jon Snow
In the heat of the battle at Hardhome, there was some small measure of hope: Jon Snow, battling a White Walker who boasted all the ice-cold swagger of a Terminator, swung his sword Longclaw in desperation, turning the Walker into a pile of snowy slush on impact. Moral of the story? Valyrian Steel turns White Walkers to ice. Good to know.
Several Sons of the Harpy
Last episode: "The Dance of Dragons" Cause of death: Incinerated by dragon fire
Note to all future opponents of DaenerysTargaryen, rightful queen of Westeros and mother of dragons: In the words of Walter White, "Tread lightly." Crossing Dany means crossing her ferocious dragon Drogon, a lesson learned by several Sons of the Harpy who attempted to assassinate the current Queen of Meereen during a great gladiatorial game.
Shireen Baratheon
Last episode: "The Dance of Dragons" Cause of death: Burned at the stake by her own father
Just when it looked like StannisBaratheon was about to receive the Father of the Year award, he went ahead and ordered the unthinkable execution of his own daughter, Shireen (Kerry Ingram), as a desperate but "necessary" sacrifice to the Lord of Light ahead of a great battle against Ramsay Bolton. Few deaths in Thrones lore were harder to watch than this one, as Shireen writhed and wailed in the heat of irrepressible fire.
Stannis Baratheon
Last episode: "Mother's Mercy" Cause of death: A little bit of karma, a whole lot of Brienne of Tarth's justice
After losing in battle against the Boltons and realizing he sacrificed his own daughter for nothing, Stannis (Stephen Dillane) finally accepted defeat, slumped against a tree with life-threatening injuries. In the woods, he encountered Brienne, still vengeful toward Stannis for killing his brother and her sworn lord Renly via shadow magic many moons ago. He told Brienne to "do [her] duty," and the Beauty complied, burying her sword in Stannis' face.
Myrcella Baratheon
Last episode: "Mother's Mercy" Cause of death: Poisoned by the Sand Snakes
After spending an entire season trying to rescue his illegitimate daughter Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) from Dorne, Jaime Lannister watched helplessly as she crumpled in front of him, succumbing to a poisoned kiss from the wicked Ellaria Sand. Too bad Myrcella didn't get Chris O'Donnell's memo from Batman and Robin to always wear rubber lips when kissing poisonous women.
Meryn Trant
Last episode: "Mother's Mercy" Cause of death: Assassinated by Arya Stark
Given all the men, women and children he maimed in his time as a member of the Kingsguard, SerMeryn (Ian Beattie) never would have imagined that killing a water-dancing swordsman named SyrioForel would be his undoing several years later. But his actions in season one fueled Arya's drive for vengeance every episode since, and at long last, in the season five finale, she crossed Meryn's name off her list, in one of the single most disgusting acts of violence the show has ever seen.
Myranda
Last episode: "Mother's Mercy" Cause of death: Pushed off a castle wall
Ramsay Bolton's twisted lover Myranda (Charlotte Hope) — who is, in all actuality, much more of a Samantha — finally pushed her demented desires too far, threatening to torture and mutilate Sansa Stark for attempting to escape Winterfell. Theon in turn literally pushed Myranda over the side of Winterfell, ending her life with a sickening crunch.
Jon Snow
Last episode: "Mother's Mercy" Cause of death: Stabbed and betrayed by his Brothers in Black
It was the most jaw-dropping and heart-stopping death since the Red Wedding, the one that broke the Thrones fandom in half. Is Jon Snow (Kit Harington) actually dead? Viewers were left asking that question over and over in the year between the end of season five and the beginning of season six. However, after months of fervent online speculation and vehement denials from all involved in the series, it took just three episodes into season six for Jon to rise from the dead and put all that to bed once and for all.
Doran Martell
Last episode: "The Red Woman" Cause of death: Stabbed in the heart
Season six began with a huge shock for book readers: Prince Doran and his closest advisors, murdered and betrayed by the Sand Snakes. Seeing as he's a big player in George R.R. Martin's series, Doran's death was not noteworthy in its goriness, but unforgettable in its brutality to book-first fans.
Trystane Martell
Last episode: "The Red Woman" Cause of death: Stabbed in the face
Less shocking because of book knowledge, and more so because of the sudden appearance of a spear sticking out of his face. It was a page out of the Indiana Jones playbook (why bring a sword to a gunfight?), punctuated with harsh words from Nymeria to her fellow Sand Snake: "You're such a greedy bitch!"
Roose Bolton
Last episode: "Home" Cause of death: Stabbed in the heart
The Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North died quietly, stabbed through the heart by his own flesh and blood. Ramsay betraying Roose wasn't the bloodiest affair in Thrones history, not by a long shot. But it's nevertheless poetic in its connection to Roose's most infamous and heinous act: stabbing Robb Stark through the heart at the Red Wedding.
The Night’s Watch Mutineers
Last episode: "Oathbreaker" Cause of death: Hanged
Alliser Thorne, Olly and the others who betrayed and stabbed Jon Snow were in for a rude awakening upon the Lord Commander's return from the dead — and unfortunately for them, they didn't share their murder victim's unique ability to walk back into the land of the living. Their hanging corpses were a monument to a changed Jon Snow, a man who could no longer serve on the Night's Watch.
Walda Frey
Last episode: "Home" Cause of death: Eaten by dogs
While Game of Thrones shies away from showing the action visually, it's the sound of Walda and her infant's deaths that still provide nightmare fuel several episodes later. The buildup to House Bolton's hounds being set loose on Ramsay's innocent victims, paired with the noises of them being ripped to shreds, will haunt fans for years.
Balon Greyjoy
Last episode: "Home" Cause of death: Thrown off a bridge
Few characters have entered Game of Thrones with greater style than EuronGreyjoy. The mischievous pirate and aspiring Lord of the Iron Islands makes his first bid for the Salt Throne by killing the man currently occupying the seat: Balon, his own brother. The whipping wind of the scene makes this one of the most memorable murders of the whole show, let alone season six.
Osha
Last episode: "Book of the Stranger" Cause of death: Stabbed in the neck
Add another body to Ramsay Bolton's growing tally, this time in the form of season one veteran Osha the wildling. Her traditional tactic of disarming her enemy through seduction didn't exactly work on Ramsay, all too aware of her maneuvers thanks to years of torturing TheonGreyjoy.
Khal Moro
Last episode: "Book of the Stranger" Cause of death: Burned alive
DaenerysTargaryen can't go more than a season or two without utterly blindsiding her enemies with a shocking display of firepower. Season six was no exception, as she burned her way out of KhalMoro's oppressive grasp, cementing her own status as the new leader of the Dothraki people.
The Three-Eyed Raven and Friends
Last episode: "The Door" Cause of death: Killed by the White Walkers' army
There's no surer sign that winter has arrived on Game of Thrones than the end of Summer, Bran Stark's trusty dire wolf. He's far from the only murder victim of the White Walker invasion on the Three-Eyed Raven's lair, resulting in the death of the sage himself, as well as the remaining Children of the Forest.
Hodor
Last episode: "The Door" Cause of death: Eviscerated by wights, mind shattered across time
Although he dies in the same sequence as Summer and the Raven, the guardian formerly known as Wylis requires special mention due to its emotionally crippling nature. In a combination of bravery and time-travel terror, Hodor vows to "hold the door" for his entire life, sacrificing himself so that his companions Bran and Meera can safely escape the White Walkers. It's not just the most devastating death of season six, but absolutely in the conversation for most devastating deaths of the whole show — Ned Stark and Red Wedding victims included.
Brother Ray
Last episode: "The Broken Man" Cause of death: Hanged
Straight out of Deadwood and into Westeros, the erstwhile Al Swearengen traded in his guns and booze (but not his vulgarity) for a life of peace and love. And what did he get when all was said and done? The death of his entire pious flock and a noose around his own neck. No one is safe on Game of Thrones, not even noted HBO veterans.
Lady Crane
Last episode: "No One" Cause of death: Assassinated
No good deed goes unpunished on Game of Thrones, and for the greatest thespian in Izembaro's traveling theater group, the punishment for nursing Arya Stark back to health was nothing short of death itself — a literally twisted end, as she was last seen turned into a veritable human pretzel thanks to the Waif.
Lemoncloak and His Posse
Last episode: "No One" Cause of death: Hanged
Brother Ray's body wasn't cold for more than an episode before SandorClegane sought vengeance against his killers, hacking and slashing them apart with nothing more than an axe and a grudge. He begrudgingly hanged the final two killers, though he would have much preferred gutting the men; but the times have changed since viewers last saw the Hound, if only a little bit.
The Waif
Last episode: "No One" Cause of death: Killed off screen by Arya
The Waif's killing spree was short-lived, as Arya Stark lured her into an unlit corner of the Braavosi underground, slaying her in the darkness. How exactly did Arya beat her? Who knows, and frankly, who cares? The Waif's severed and bloodied face hanging up inside the House of Black and White is all the visual information we need.
The Slaver Army
Last episode: "Battle of the Bastards" Cause of death: Dragon fire
These men picked the wrong ship, the wrong day, and the wrong cause. Ambushing Meereen with the goal of enslaving the city's citizens might have seemed like a strong idea on paper, but that's only if the dragons aren't around — and unfortunately for the denizens of this particular ship, there most definitely be dragons.
The Masters
Last episode: "Battle of the Bastards" Cause of death: Slashed throats
"It always does seem abstract, other people dying." TyrionLannister knows how to twist the knife, but not quite as well as Grey Worm, who slits the throats of two of the three main Masters with one deft move. YezzanzoQaggaz walks away as the lone survivor, scared beyond belief, as Tyrion warns him to report back to his cohorts and "remind them what happened when DaenerysStormborn and her dragons came to Meereen."
Rickon Stark
Last episode: "Battle of the Bastards" Cause of death: Shot through the heart
Eddard and Catelyn Stark's youngest son is dead, adding to the growing pile of Stark corpses throughout Thrones' run. Really, he stood very little chance from the moment he became Ramsay Bolton's captive, with even Sansa remarking that Rickon's time was limited at best. But who would have predicted Rickon would die by becoming target practice?
The Northerners
Last episode: "Battle of the Bastards" Cause of death: Various forms of violence
Rickon's death paves the way for one of the single most expansive and unsettling battles in the show's history, covering so many men in blood, guts, grime and gore. The sheer scale and scope of the battlefield's many corpses is only more pronounced when Jon Snow emerges from an ocean of bodies, gasping for air.
Wun Wun the Giant
Last episode: "Battle of the Bastards" Cause of death: Shot through the eye
As if losing one beloved giant in Hodor wasn't enough, season six killed off its other hulking hero: WunWun, riddled with spears and arrows thanks to his colossal efforts in reclaiming Winterfell for Jon Snow. He didn't even get to say goodbye before sustaining an arrow to the eye. Though WunWun is done done, his legacy will live on through the surviving members of House Stark and the Free Folk.
Ramsay Bolton
Last episode: "Battle of the Bastards" Cause of death: Eaten by his own dogs
It's a cold day in Dorne when the bad guys actually lose on Game of Thrones, but ring those bells: the Bastard of Bolton is truly dead and gone, ripped to ribbons by his own hungry dogs. It's an uproarious moment for Sansa Stark as she claims her first victim in the form of her greatest abuser, and a massive victory for viewers as well. Never has the phrase "good dog" been more appropriate.
The Wildfire Victims
Last episode: "The Winds of Winter" Cause of death: Explosive wildfire
CerseiLannister only knows one way how to thwart her enemies, and that's full-tilt murder. The season six finale begins with Cersei incinerating more than half of the King's Landing cast: the High Sparrow, Margaery Tyrell, LancelLannister and more. Elsewhere, Grand MaesterPycelle gets stabbed to death, and Tommen commits suicide out of grief. All in all, one of the bloodiest days in Game of Thrones history.
Walder Frey
Last episode: "The Winds of Winter" Cause of death: Throat slit
"They're here, my lord." Welcome back to Westeros, Arya Stark. There's no better way to celebrate than by killing off Walder Frey's evil offspring, turning them into a minced meat pie, feeding them to Walder himself, then slitting the man's throat. Consider the Red Wedding officially avenged.
Lyanna Stark
Last episode: "The Winds of Winter" Cause of death: Dies in childbirth
Though she's been dead for years, Game of Thrones viewers only witnessed Lyanna Stark's final moments in the season six finale — and while the moment was filled with horror, it also came alongside a major jaw-dropping reveal: She's Jon Snow's actual mother, and Jon's actual father is RhaegarTargaryen… which makes Daenerys' Jon's aunt. Confused? Wait for season seven, and everything will clear right up.