10 Great Movie Characters Who Die At The Beginning

Mufasa's death in the 1994 film The Lion King became infamous for (no pun intended) scarring nearly every child who ever saw the movie. The character makes such a large impact that it's hard not to be scarred by his death, even as an adult.

Mufasa, Simba's father, is voiced by the incomparable James Earl Jones. He quickly proves himself to be a just king and kind father. He is protective of Simba, and firm with him when he steps out of line and visiting the Elephant Graveyard, in doing so disobeying Mufasa and endangering himself. It is evident that, so long as Mufasa is around, Simba will be safe.

Of course, Mufasa is then shortly killed by his younger brother Scar in an attempt to take the throne. Scar knocks Mufasa into a stampede of wildebeests where he is trampled to death. If his fall was not painful enough, seeing Simba paw helplessly at his father's corpse is heartbreaking.

Mufasa returns to Simba in a vision later on in the film, reminding his son, and the audience, the he'll always be with Simba.