The Vampire Diaries featured centuries-old vampires, formidable witches, fearsome werewolves, and powerful hybrids, so it was no surprise when characters started dying left and right and exiting the television show. Of course, minor characters were typically the ones to die or leave Mystic Falls. But now and then, a central figure in the CW supernatural teen drama series would depart, leaving fans confused as to why the actor was leaving the show.