17 notable 'Grey's Anatomy' character deaths, ranked from least to most tragic

ABC

• The long-running medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" is known for killing off a lot of beloved characters.
• Over the past 15 seasons, viewers have watched both doctors and patients die in a variety of ways.
• Some of the saddest character deaths happened over a few episodes and others occurred quite unexpectedly. 
• Warning: Major "Grey's Anatomy" spoilers ahead.
• Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.

After 15 seasons, the long-running medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" has lost a lot of characters.

Longtime fans of the show know that showrunner Shonda Rhimes has never been afraid to write off a character, whether it be a case-of-the-week patient or a leading doctor. And it's not just that these characters die, it's that they oftentimes pass in devastating, tragic ways that leave viewers heartbroken.

Here is a ranking of some of the most tragic deaths on "Grey's Anatomy." Although the show has many character deaths, this list focuses on some of the most major and memorable ones.

17. Ellis Grey's death set Meredith free.

ABC

Meredith's mom Ellis was always harsh on her daughter, so it seemed like Ellis' death allowed Meredith to move on and live her life without judgment.

Although it was sweet that Ellis' parting words to her daughter were, "You are anything but ordinary," it was too little too late to make this death overly heartbreaking for viewers.

16. Harold O'Malley was just a good guy who couldn't catch a break.

ABC

George O'Malley's dad's death was particularly upsetting because of how it impacted George. The scene in which George is begging his dad, who is on life support, to keep fighting is quite a tear-jerker. 

15. Susan Grey didn't deserve the death she got.

ABC

Thatcher Grey's wife and Meredith's stepmom, Susan Grey, died from some complications that resulted from a procedure that was meant to help her with a long-lasting case of the hiccups. The hiccups. Needless to say, her death was surprising and she shouldn't have gone like that. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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