10 Worst Ways TV Characters Were Written Out

The quasi-antagonist for the first few seasons of That ‘70s Show, Laurie Forman was the textbook golden child who can do no wrong in the eyes of her doting parents. Eric’s older sister, she was manipulative and cruel but ever-popular - a villain you love to hate.

Then she just disappeared in the middle of the third season. A hastily written explanation had her vanish to beauty school, but little was made of it. Later on, she returned for sporadic appearances in season five, but then she was gone again, before being recast - six years into the show’s run.

Unfortunately this one did not end well. Actor Lisa Robin Kelly had been struggling with substance abuse issues throughout her career, and being thrust into the limelight did not seem to help. She was understandably let go from the show, but now adrift, the actress only fell further, ultimately dying of intoxication in 2013.

While That ‘70s Show is in no way connected, Kelly’s death can make earlier episodes uncomfortable to watch - especially when the characters joke about the missing Laurie.