The Walking Dead: 8 Characters Who Died Too Soon

It's not easy being the show's moral compass, and the first one to prove that fact was Dale. Over the course of the show's first two seasons, Dale provided the show with a big, beating heart, his desire for everyone to retain their humanity noble even if it was inevitable things had to change if they were to survive.

As comic readers know, Dale lasted a lot longer than his live-action counterpart, and he probably would have on the show, too, had Frank Darabont's departure from the show not caused Dale's actor, Jeffrey DeMunn, to want to quit. Gossip says that DeMunn later changed his mind, but it was already too late, and the character was effectively written off the show, dying a sudden, brutal death out in the fields of Hershel's farm.

It was a huge blow to the group and to fans of the character, but it felt far too premature. Had he lived, he most likely still wouldn't be around today anyway, but it would've been great to see his ideals and personality evolve when at the prison, faced with The Governor, and beyond. Sadly, though, like all the characters on this list, we'll only ever be able to wonder about what could've been.

Agree with these picks, or do you have another character in mind? Let us know down in the comments.