Every Major Buffy the Vampire Slayer Character Death (& How 3 Of Them Came Back)

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The TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer was known for unexpectedly killing off important characters, though the core group of friends – the Scooby Gang – all made it to the series finale. Even Buffy herself ‘died’ multiple times, only to be brought back to life. Throughout the show and its spin-off Angel, a total of eleven major characters met their end in the Buffyverse. Some of these deaths were reversed, with three characters being resurrected. Each loss affected viewers differently, with some being more impactful than others.

As a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I’ve always been fascinated – and heartbroken – by the characters we lost throughout the series. I put together a rundown of every major character who met their end, and I also detail how three of them were surprisingly brought back to life. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, emotionally, but definitely interesting for any dedicated Buff!

10) Wesley & Cordelia

Wesley Wyndham-Pryce and Cordelia Chase share a unique fate: they’re the only major characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer who didn’t die during the original series, but instead passed away on its spin-off, Angel. Wesley wasn’t a significant character in Buffy for very long. He joined in Season 3 as a replacement for Giles, Buffy’s Watcher, and was often portrayed as a rigid and uninteresting figure, frequently played for laughs.

I always thought Angel’s journey was amazing! He really went through one of the best changes in the whole Buffy series, and it was so powerful to see him die a hero in the final battle. And Cordelia! She started out as a total queen bee in high school, but she grew into such a strong friend. When she moved over to Angel, she became even more vital in the fight against evil. Honestly, her death was heartbreaking – that possession in Season 4 led to a coma, and she never recovered. It was just awful.

9) Jonathan Levinson

Jonathan Levinson’s death on Buffy the Vampire Slayer felt complicated. While he contributed to Tara’s death – a pivotal moment that drove Willow to darkness – he was more relatable than the other villains in the Trio and deserved a chance to make amends. He’d been a part of the show for a while, even appearing as a minor character in earlier seasons.

Becoming a villain with the Trio was a difficult period for those who cared about him. He started to make amends after Willow was rescued and he returned to Sunnydale to fight alongside Buffy. It was heartbreaking when he revealed that he’d finally overcome the pain from being bullied and genuinely cared for his former students – just before Andrew betrayed him and killed a friend in an attempt to unleash a powerful evil.

8) Kendra Young

When Buffy Summers briefly died, it awakened another Slayer named Kendra Young in Jamaica. Kendra was very different from Buffy; while Buffy balanced slaying monsters with friends and school, Kendra was completely focused on her duty. This contrast highlighted what Buffy could have been like, and created tension when Kendra discovered Buffy wasn’t truly gone.

As a huge Buffy fan, it was really tragic watching Kendra’s story unfold. She quickly became a solid ally to the Scooby Gang, fighting alongside them against some seriously scary vampires like Spike and Drusilla. But, helping them is ultimately what led to her death. It all went down when Drusilla and her crew targeted Angel, and Kendra stepped in to protect him. Drusilla, being the ruthless villain she is, hypnotized Kendra and then… well, she slit her throat. It was shocking, especially considering Kendra had only been a Slayer for about a year. A really sad moment in the series, honestly.

7) Spike

Spike initially appeared in Sunnydale as a villain with his partner, Drusilla, intending to create chaos. Though originally meant to be a short-lived character, he became incredibly popular with viewers. The network insisted that Joss Whedon, the show’s creator, bring him back, which James Marsters (the actor who played Spike) said Whedon wasn’t thrilled about. Over time, Spike’s complex backstory with Angel was revealed, and he eventually turned into a heroic figure when he regained his soul.

Spike and Buffy had a complicated romantic relationship that many fans debated. He remained a key character throughout the series, ultimately assisting Buffy in her final battle against the First Evil and working to prevent the Hellmouth from opening. In a selfless act, Spike sacrificed himself to close the Hellmouth and save Buffy and the other Slayers. Surprisingly, he didn’t stay gone for long. He reappeared as a spirit on the show Angel, eventually regaining his physical form and aiding Angel in the concluding fight in Los Angeles.

6) Jenny Calendar

Jenny Calendar, though only appearing briefly in the series, played a crucial role in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her death deeply affected the core group of friends, known as the Scooby Gang, causing significant internal conflict. As a teacher at Sunnydale High, Jenny developed a relationship with Giles. Unbeknownst to everyone, she was also part of the Kalderash Romani tribe – the very people who originally cursed Angel with a soul – and was tasked with monitoring him.

Angel’s brief happiness with Buffy triggered a devastating turn of events, ultimately leading to her pain and Jenny’s death. When Angel experienced joy after their time together, it lifted the curse that kept his evil side in check. He transformed back into Angelus, a soulless vampire, and resumed his murderous activities with Spike and Drusilla, specifically targeting Buffy. Angelus cruelly killed Jenny and left her body for Giles to discover, intending to inflict maximum emotional pain. This act fueled an intense and lasting hatred in Giles, who never fully forgave Angel, even after he regained his soul.

5) Anya Jenkins

Many fans consider Anya Jenkins’ death on Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be the most disappointing. Anya began as a powerful, ancient vengeance demon, but lost her powers when a different version of Giles took them away, forcing her to live as a human. She later found love with Xander and became a valued member of the group of friends known as the Scooby Gang.

Anya survived until the very end of the series, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected when she died in the finale. However, her death felt surprisingly insignificant – she was quickly killed from behind by one of the Harbingers of Death. While Andrew managed to avenge her by defeating the Harbinger, Xander couldn’t find her body after the battle. Compared to the other major characters who died, Anya’s death felt undeserved and lacked the emotional weight it deserved.

4) Tara Maclay

Tara Maclay’s death was devastating, and it nearly led to the destruction of Willow and the world. While Willow had meaningful connections with others, like her friendship with Xander and her relationship with Oz, she only truly seemed happy after coming out and dating Tara. Sadly, that happiness was short-lived.

Anya and Willow were together when Warren Mears attacked Buffy at the house, firing a gun. A stray bullet hit Anya, killing her instantly. This devastated Willow, causing her to become consumed by dark magic and seek revenge, even threatening to destroy the world. Even apart from this dramatic turn, Anya’s death remains one of the most surprising and heartbreaking moments in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

3) Joyce Summers

The death of Joyce Summers remains the most devastating moment in the series. She passed away at home, alone on the couch, from a brain aneurysm. The scene was particularly impactful because Buffy discovered her mother’s body when she first arrived home in the episode “The Body.” Buffy’s quiet and heartbroken utterance of “Mommy” is widely considered the most emotionally resonant moment of the entire show.

Many characters have died throughout the run of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and fans are hoping some might return in the upcoming reboot. However, of all the characters, Joyce Summers should definitely remain deceased, due to the emotional impact and significance of the episode surrounding her death.

2) Angel

Angel was Buffy’s primary love interest during the first two seasons of the show. He was an unusual vampire – he had a soul, which meant he was destined to live forever as a human. Falling in love with Buffy made him question if this was truly a curse. However, his soul came with a catch: experiencing genuine happiness would cause him to lose it. This happened after he and Buffy became intimate.

Angelus transformed back into a dangerous, evil vampire, becoming the show’s biggest threat. Buffy was torn between wanting to save him and needing to stop Acathla, a powerful demon Angelus had unleashed. Willow managed to restore Angel’s soul, but immediately afterward, Buffy realized only the person who originally summoned the demon could defeat it. With no other option, she tragically killed Angel, sending him to Hell. He later returned to life when he was freed from Hell.

1) Buffy Summers (Twice)

It might seem strange in a show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer that the hero, Buffy Summers, would die at all, but she actually died twice throughout the series. As the Chosen One – a Slayer destined to protect the world from vampires, demons, and other creatures – Buffy faced incredible challenges. The first season centered around a battle with a powerful villain called The Master, and an ancient prophecy foretold that if the Slayer died, The Master would be free to dominate the world.

The Master thought he was invincible after killing Buffy, believing no one else could stop him from taking over the world. But Xander managed to bring her back to life with CPR, which actually set the stage for her to fulfill her destiny and defeat The Master. Sadly, Buffy died again in Season 5 and found peace in Heaven. However, her friend Willow wasn’t ready to let her go and used magic to bring her back to life, giving Buffy a second chance at happiness.

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2026-02-22 21:14