4. Han Solo
Han Solo is one of cinema's classic lovable rogues, and though his death would have been a real downer, that's sort of the point; if George Lucas wanted to imbue Return of the Jedi with some real gravitas, there would have been no better way than killing off the film's comic relief and making it clear that s*** just got real. When interviewed a few years ago, Harrison Ford himself said that even he suggested to Lucas that Solo die in the "final" Star Wars film, though Lucas, thinking of the merchandising fiasco, apparently couldn't envision "dead Han toys", which is really all you need to know about George Lucas. When it doesn't just suit the trajectory of the story but even the actor playing you - who has a sure financial interest in the character staying alive - wants the character dead, I think it's pretty clear what should happen.