Who Died in ’13 Reasons Why’? Major Character Deaths Explained

Warning: Spoilers ahead. Watching 13 Reasons Why was a wild ride. The Netflix show, which starred Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Timothy Granaderos, Ross Butler, Devin Druid, Miles Heizer, Justin Prentice, Brandon Flynn, Alisha Boe and Christian Navarro, was filled with twists and turns that left fans on the edge of their seats until the end.

But between the love stories and high school antics, there were a few major character deaths throughout the show’s four seasons. 13 Reasons Why premiered via Netflix in March 2017 and came to an end in June 2020. During the show’s final episode, viewers said goodbye to fan-favorite character Justin Foley following a battle with AIDS. The teen had contracted HIV when he lived on the streets amid his drug addiction.

“We read that first script, and we saw that there was the funeral. I think I literally raced to [showrunner] Brian [Yorkey] right after the first table read and was like, ‘It’s Justin, isn’t it?,’” Brandon, who played Justin, recalled to Entertainment Weekly in June 2020. “Then it was in the middle of shooting that Brian and I went to dinner. I kind of knew when he texted me about dinner, and sure enough, we sat at the table and he’s like, ‘We’re gonna put Justin to rest.’ We both sat there somberly for a second, and then, we just delved into the storyline and what they had devised and what I could bring to the table.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the actor explained, “Frailty was a really big physical element that I wanted to hit, feeling really tiny in this already small bed. And then it was about, what would it be like to have all these people who have meant the world to you, who have changed your life, to be sitting in the room with you? This whole season, Justin was trying to be so strong for people. Then, when he asks Clay, ‘Will you hold my hand bro?’ Justin really doesn’t know what the f–k is going to happen.”

Throughout the duration of the series, fans watched more than just Justin pass. Scroll through our gallery to take a look back at all the characters died on 13 Reasons Why.

If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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