10 Most Important Minor Character Deaths In The MCU

Since the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise has seen the death of many minor characters, and some of them have proved hugely important within the context of the franchise’s ongoing narrative. Across the many movies and TV shows of the MCU, the franchise has introduced countless minor characters who serve to enrich the fabric of the shared universe. Many of the characters in question are inconsequential in the grand scheme of the MCU’s story, but there are actually many occasions on which they have proven far more important than they initially seemed.

Sadly, the level of high-stakes action occurring in the MCU means that many minor characters are often killed. In death, though, these characters often become far more important, heavily influencing major events within the MCU’s movie timeline in their absence. Though the franchise only briefly shows many of these characters, their deaths actually have huge ramifications within the wider franchise due to how other characters react to their loss. It’s just one example of how rich the narrative of the MCU really is, with even the smallest of characters playing a potentially pivotal role in the franchise. Here are the MCU’s 10 most important minor character deaths.

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10 Charlie Spencer Set The MCU In Motion

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

The beginning of Captain America: Civil War sees the continuation of plots threads begun in previous Avengers movies, with the Sokovia Accords being introduced after the events of Age of Ultron. Charlie Spencer’s mother appears and tells Tony Stark that she holds the Avengers responsible for his death in Sokovia. The interaction has a huge effect on Stark, informing his stance on the Accords and pitting him against Captain America. Despite never being seen in the MCU while alive, Charlie Spencer’s death actually precipitated the disbanding of the Avengers and therefore had a massive impact on the many movies of the MCU.

9 Akihiko Is Crucial For Hawkeye’s Ronin Story

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Within the massive cast of Avengers: Endgame, Hiroyuki Sanada’s Yakuza boss Akihiko is far from the most important character in the Infinity Saga’s closing chapter. However, his death does have massive significance to the MCU, particularly where it pertains to the character of Hawkeye. Akihiko’s death by Clint Barton’s hand – then operating under the name Ronin – demonstrates how far the Avenger has fallen since his teammates were defeated by Thanos and his entire family was snapped out of existence. Though Akihiko doesn’t play a large part in the film, he’s a far more important figure than he appears.

8 The Maximoffs Are A Heartwrenching Origin For Scarlet Witch’s Story

WandaVision (2021)

Wanda and Pietro Maximoff may be notable characters within the MCU, but their parents are not. However, the death of the Maximoff twins’ mother and father is actually the driving force behind their entire MCU story. WandaVision shows exactly how much Wanda was affected by her parents’ death, and how it caused her to initially fight against the Avengers in Age of Ultron. Were it not for the tragic deaths of the Maximoff parents, Wanda and Pietro never would have joined the Avengers, and Wanda may never have become the Scarlet Witch in the MCU.

7 Dr Ho Yinsen Made Tony Stark Iron Man

Iron Man (2008)

One of the first minor characters to die in the MCU, Dr. Ho Yinsen was Tony Stark’s fellow captive when he was kidnapped by the Ten Rings. Yinsen’s importance in the franchise is self-explanatory: he saved Stark’s life several times over and helped him create two of his most important inventions. However, Yinsen’s death is also of huge importance to the MCU, because it cemented Stark’s realization that he should use his scientific mind for the betterment of humanity, ultimately putting him on the path to becoming one Earth’s most powerful heroes.

6 Battlestar’s Death Resulted In One Of The MCU’s Most Brutal Scenes

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021)

One seemingly inconsequential addition to the cast of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was Lemar Hoskins, later dubbed Battlestar, the sidekick to John Walker’s Captain America. While serving as Battlestar alongside the new Captain America, Hoskins was killed by the Flag Smashers. His death sent the already emotionally unstable John Walker into a frenzy, causing him to brutally and publicly kill a Flag Smasher with his shield. In this, Battlestar’s death caused John Walker’s fall from grace and Sam Wilson’s ultimate decision to adopt the mantle of Captain America.

5 Zemo’s Family Created One Of The MCU’s Most Crucial Villains

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Though he isn’t revealed as the true villain of Captain America: Civil War until relatively late in the movie, Baron Helmut Zemo is actually a major MCU antagonist. However, it’s the death of his family that put him there, making his unseen wife, son, and father particularly important within the grand scheme of the franchise. Zemo’s family died during the Battle of Sokovia, prompting him to plot against the Avengers and hijack Bucky’s programming in order to better tear them apart.

4 Drax’s Wife & Daughter Made His Quest For Revenge Against Thanos

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Thanks to his role in Guardians of the Galaxy, Drax the Destroyer is one of the MCU’s most consistently funny characters. However, his backstory is actually particularly tragic, as it’s founded in the death of his family. Drax’s wife and daughter are killed by Ronan the Accuser, and though they are never shown, it’s their deaths that prompt Drax’s quest for revenge and eventual role within the Guardians. Ultimately, the death of Drax’s family led him to fight with the Avengers to stop Thanos, making them incredibly important in the MCU.

3 Lylla & Rocket’s Friends Proved How Evil The High Evolutionary Really Was

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Of the additions to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s cast, Rocket’s friends introduced via flashbacks were perhaps its most impactful. The group of High Evolutionary’s experiments included Rocket, Teefs, Floor, and Lylla, with the latter becoming especially close with Rocket. When Lylla and the others are killed by the High Evolutionary, it sends Rocket into a frenzy, meaning that the death of Rocket’s friends ultimately led to his escape and the High Evolutionary’s quest for revenge against him. In that, Lylla’s death – as well as the deaths of Floor and Teefs, despite them being arguably even smaller side character – is some of the most important for relatively minor supporting characters.

2 Heinrich Schäfer’s Death Allowed Loki To Use The Tesseract

The Avengers (2012)

Heinrich Schäfer isn’t a name that holds a great deal of weight within the MCU, but his death actually holds massive importance to the franchise. Schäfer is the man killed by Loki early in The Avengers whose eyeball allows him access to the materials required to harness the power of the Tesseract. Heinrich Schäfer’s death is what enables Loki to bring the Chitauri to New York, and so leads to many of the MCU’s biggest storylines involving the city, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Hawkeye. It also indirectly led to Loki’s hero turn and his transformation into the MCU’s God of Stories, making Heinrich Schäfer particularly important.

1 Crossbones’s Death Broke Up The Avengers & Helped Make Wanda A Villain

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Though Crossbones may not be a particularly important MCU villain, his death in Captain America: Civil War is actually remarkably impactful. The fallout from Crossbones’ attack in Lagos directly leads to the Sokovia Accords and the disbandment of the Avengers. It then later precipitated Wanda Maximoff’s own descent into villainy by showcasing how dangerous her powers could be and altering her character arc. Crossbones certainly wasn’t a major antagonist during his lifetime, but in his death, he became one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most important figures.