10 The Simpsons Characters Who Were KILLED OFF!
4. Bleeding Gums Murphy
Bleeding Gums Murphy never really felt like a major character when he first appeared back in the so-so "Moaning Lisa" episode of season one, but over the years he would pop up in the background again and again, only never receiving the spotlight he once enjoyed.
It was an odd choice, then, to dedicate a whole episode of the show to killing the character off, especially when other characters of a similar stature or even higher up the pecking order would either be given a few fleeting moments, or simply written out of the show with no fanfare.
Perhaps it was Bleeding Gums' relationship with Lisa that made the writing team give the character such a heartfelt send-off, and although we never actually find out how he succumbs, we do know that he leaves this world happier for having been able to share his final moments with his biggest supporter.