Not sure if this counts...

No love for Coach? Granted his character wasn't killed off per se, but still the way his passing was handled on the show was excellent.

Wallace.

Joe Coffee from HSB

Lem's death was shocking in it's execution and had my jaw on the floor. The phrase "Family Meeting" still makes me shiver, that's why it won out in my vote.

Gary Shepherd on thirtysomething

the funeral opening titles sequence on the subsequent episode was just a kick in the gut, too.

This.

Sometimes, when I get home from work, I'll call out "Family Meeting" after walking through the door. The wife gets pissed off every time.

yeah I remember that one as well.

I have no emotional ties to the character, but Omar Epp's exit from ER still amazes me to this day.

There have been so many...

Most recently, the ending of Saving Grace had a real profound effect on me and I thought about it for weeks.

Other honorable mentions:

Edith Bunker on Archie Bunker's Place

Jimmy Smits' character on NYPD Blue, some of the best television I've ever seen, in the episodes leading to his death.

Lem from the Shield. This was shocking to me and I didn't expect it.

Six Feet Under Finale.

Leo on West Wing and Buffy's mom on Buffy.

Along those same lines where the show dealt with the character's death because the actor had died.

But Armus (the tar monster) didn't die ...

Oh, you mean Lt. Yar?

I was moved by her death as well. I believed I jumped off the couch, pumped my fist in the air, and yelled "Alright! Way to go, monster!"

For me I gotta go with the death of analog TV. Sure the audio/video quality is shit, but at least in good weather or bad weather you get non-stop, non-interrupted signal. You still get audio/video going, whereas digital signal fucking craps out. You either get all or nothing. There are people living outside of the metro area, give me back my crappy analog TV.

Without a doubt...
I cried buckets.

The only good Lt. Yar moment was when she banged fully functional Data.

As much as Yar sucked (Data was fully functional), I have to say killing her off did give TNG a bit of weight it was lacking before that point. I wouldn't say it had any effect on me in terms of mourning her, though.

The Wire



and of course Dexter

I loved how they paid homage to him in the very last ep, with Sam adjusting the photo of Geronimo before he left the bar. Nothing was said, but the message was loud and clear.

Surprised everybody's mentioning the Dexter one. It was spoiled way ahead of time thanks to the performer who was involved's constant mentioning of the "BIG TWIST COMING OMFG" at every possible opportunity.

I definitely recall Bobby Simone's death on NYPD Blue, but I didn't really get into NYPD Blue until Rick Schroder joined the show. From what I recall the whole arc with him developing breathing problems on the job and eventually being hospitalized and undergoing a heart transplant was some of the most dramatic late 1990's TV I remember. It was also sad that he and Diane never had a family.

I'll have to say Kenny from South Park!!!

Who here doesn't get upset when someone throws down a glass bowl and yells, "Damn! Damn! DAMN!"