Do you feel bad for the actor when their character is killed off of a TV show?   

Experienced TV actors know that their jobs are temporary. Even if they don't get killed off, shows eventually end. Sometimes they know, going into a show, that their will be killed off, so that's the choice they make. And sometimes characters are killed off because an actor wants to leave a show for some reason.

Being unemployed is a bummer. It doesn't matter if you are a factory worker or an actor. The difference being that you connect with the actor on many different levels. They provide you with entertainment and you feel as if you know them through the media coverage. But, they are human like the rest of us. Many actors who cannot find work will find employment in another field or go back to school.

Actually I do, yeah. Being a huge Joss Whedon fan, I should be used to seeing people get killed off, but still I feel bad for the actors! Like Tara in Buffy...I was too busy wondering what Amber Benson was going to do without having buffy to being in a steady paycheck. Don't even get me started on the movie Serenity.

I guess as an outsider it seems like the person is getting fired, but really I know it's just a different type of industry, where "job" are not as permenant. I also feel bad when actors I like have their shows cancled, or the pilot is not picked up. I guess I'm just a big softy ;-)

Sometimes I do. But, I don't know the whole story as to why their charactors get killed off. It could be that the actor, him or herself, wants to leave. It also could be that they have personal problems or aren't doing a good job.

Often, if it's just because the charactor isn't working out, the actor will get another job within the network, or find other work quickly.

LOL No I really dont. They are always finding new acting jobs so I usually figure they already have another one lined out. So no I dont feel bad for them.

I think when you personally know the actor, then your going to feel bad and this could happen in any line of work. Many actors live near me and I see and talk to them, so am more concerned about their job than other people might be that have never meet them. The original poster mentioned Michael, who is a nice guy and hopefully he will find a new acting position quickly.

I do feel sorry for them sometimes and I get upset myself that they killed off a character I really liked. They killed off a few really good actors on Lost that I wasn't too happy about.

For me it depends on the actor and the character. I've had some where if I really don't like the character I don't think about them again. Also if they are a lousy actor, and we've all seen those, I figure they were lucky to get that one and if they get another I'd be surprised. Then there are some that I really like, both actors and characters and when the character is killed off or the show ends I wonder what they will do without it. Will they get another role, will I see them in another show or movie? Usually when I do see them again I'm really glad.

I am not much a TV watcher but yes I feel the same with actors in the movies. If they are villains then I kind of wish they got killed by the hero, but if they are the hero's friends then I feel bad if they got killed.
I think TV actors got killed off quite frequent since they are on there continuously and so people quickly get bored of them and the producers need new faces and ideas.