The 7 Most Heartbreaking Moments In Sitcom History

Most people watch sitcoms for one primary reason: To laugh.

Seeking a momentary sense of warmth and comfort that comes with 30 minutes of comedic television, viewers regularly connect with a sitcom’s feel-good nature, sympathetic characters, and carefully curated comedic subject matter, making it the perfect viewing experience to wrap up one’s day.

While most people watch sitcoms to chuckle, smile, and experience a general light-hearted episodic narrative, some beloved comedy series sometimes draw on a more sensitive topic in the course of its series’ run. From the unexpected death of a main character to surprisingly realistic battles with guilt, depression, and parental abandonment, here are some of the most soul-crushing moments we’ve ever seen on a sitcom.

Rabies-Related Deaths (Scrubs)

You know things are dire when Dr. Cox adopts a serious tone of voice in lieu of his usual, dry-witted sarcasm. Shedding his prickly exterior in a momentary display of his sensitivity, Cox suffers a full-blown breakdown in Scrubs’ fifth season, owing to an unlikely mistake that causes three patients to lose their lives from rabies-tainted organ transplants. A dark moment in Scrubs’ lengthy production history, it’s all the more difficult watching a man as decisive and in control of his emotions as Cox suddenly lose control.

Howard’s Mom Dies (The Big Bang Theory)

It’s amazing how you can grow to love a character you’ve never even seen. Though she spent the first eight seasons of The Big Bang Theory as an off-screen character, Mrs. Wolowitz became a well-loved personality among fans of the series, many of whom routinely chuckled at her nasally voice, constant shouting, and bizarrely close relationship with her adult son/roommate, Howard. 

With the tragic passing of Mrs. Wolowitz’s voice actor, Carol Ann Susi, in 2014, The Big Bang Theory’s showrunners decided to write the character off the series, with Howard later learning that his mother had died peacefully in her sleep while visiting family. A heartfelt way to bid farewell to Susi and her fan-favorite character, it’s also one of the rare moments in The Big Bang Theory where the mood became completely somber, leading everyone to comfort Howard in his hour of need.

Archie Remembers Edith (Archie Bunker’s Place)

Deep down, everyone fears losing someone close to them, especially when you’ve spent a bulk of your lifetime with that special person faithfully by your side. Whether looking at a close friend, a supportive sibling, a caring parent, or a doting romantic partner, an unexpected loss can literally take our breath away, forcing us to adjust to an uncertain new normalcy we simply don’t want to adapt to. 

With that in mind, Edith’s off-screen death in All in the Family’s sequel series, Archie Bunker’s Place, tends to hit harder than audiences could have ever anticipated. Grappling with the loss of his lifelong love while addressing her slipper, viewers witness a side of Archie they’d never seen before: a relatable, heartfelt man wracked by grief, insisting Edith shouldn’t have left without giving him one more chance to say “I love you.” As anyone who has lost a family member can tell you, it’s a sentiment we can all certainly sympathize with.

Marshall Learns About His Dad (How I Met Your Mother)

There’s nothing like the pain that comes from learning about the death of a loved one. Portraying this tragic phenomena in a nuanced and realistic fashion, How I Met Your Mother’s Season 6 episode “Bad News” finds Marshall bracing for the results of his fertility test. Spending the bulk of the episode dreading the call from his doctor, Marshall instead finds out that his test has yielded positive results, allowing him and Lily to continue on with their plans to have a baby together. 

Unfortunately, Marshall’s good news is soon undermined by Lily’s arrival, his wife promptly informing him that his father has suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after their last conversation. Devastated by the news, a mourning Marshall weeps into Lily’s arms, meekly telling his spouse, “I’m not ready for this.” Neither were we, Marshall. Neither were we.

Will’s Father Abandons Him Again (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Giving audiences a glimpse of his eminent potential as a dramatic actor, Will Smith handed in the performance of a lifetime with his role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. While audiences quickly fell in love with Smith’s comedic timing, they also witnessed the actor’s more emotional range with Fresh Prince’s Season 4 episode, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse.” Reuniting with his neglectful father after 14 years apart, Will once again contends with heartache when his dad announces his intent to leave his son at the very end of the episode.

Launching into an impassioned rant about his self-reliance, viewers slowly witness Will’s tough-shelled exterior fall apart before our very eyes. By the time a teary-eyed Will asks Uncle Phil, “How come he don’t want me, man?”, audiences have no choice but to guffaw aloud at the unfairness of Will’s treatment, as well as the long-term effects his father’s abandonment has had on his young psyche.

Hawkeye Relives a Tragic Death (M*A*S*H)

Given its historical basis in the Korean War, M*A*S*H often veered towards more serious subject matter in the course of its 11 seasons on CBS. With every thoughtful discussion of war and the effects it has on the individual soldier, M*A*S*H never failed to elicit a sharp reaction from viewers at home. Such is especially true for the series’ finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” an episode that sees Hawkeye confronting a traumatic incident involving a mother deliberately smothering her newborn baby. A moment that’s every bit as shocking now as it was in 1982, it’s an episode guaranteed to leave an impression on audiences to this day, tugging on our heartstrings and dropping our jaws over 40 years later.

Seymour Waits For Fry (Futurama)

It says volumes that the mere mention of Seymour’s name is enough to garner a sob from dedicated Futurama fans. The loyal 20th century canine companion to Fry, Seymour was left behind by his master’s unplanned entry into cryogenic preservation on the last day of 1999. Awaiting his owner’s return, Seymour spends the remainder of his life faithfully seated outside Panucci’s Pizza, braving extreme weather, tedious boredom, and the physical toll that comes with the passage of time in the hopes of seeing Fry again. The ultimate illustration of a dog’s attachment to its human family members, it’s a scene capable of making even the most hard-hearted viewers double over in pain for days on end.