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The Ultimate List Of Gossip Girl Deaths: Who Really Died, Who Faked It, And The Dark Secrets Of The Upper East Side

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The world of the Upper East Side is not just a stage for designer dresses and scandalous hookups; it’s a graveyard of secrets, lies, and, occasionally, people. As of the current date in December 2025, the most searched-for element of the original *Gossip Girl* series (2007-2012) remains the dramatic, often convoluted, and surprisingly dark plot lines surrounding character deaths. Unlike most teen dramas, *Gossip Girl* didn't shy away from murder, cover-ups, and the ultimate twist: a character who died only to return from the grave. The biggest question for fans new and old is always: which deaths were real, and which were just another scandalous lie?

This deep dive will explore the definitive list of major and minor character deaths across the six seasons of the original series, dissecting the true motives behind each demise and the lasting impact they had on the lives of Chuck Bass, Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, and the rest of the privileged Manhattan elite. The show’s willingness to kill off central figures, then resurrect them, and then kill them again, is a testament to its commitment to high-stakes, soap-opera drama.

The Definitive List of Major Character Deaths in the Original Gossip Girl

While the series focused on the core group of teenagers, the deaths that truly defined the show's later seasons were those of the parents and supporting figures, whose dark pasts were the foundation of the main characters' wealth and emotional turmoil. The most significant death, and the one that created the most drama, belongs to the patriarch of Bass Industries.

1. Bart Bass: The Man Who Died Twice (The Fake Death and The Real Demise)

The death of Bartholomew "Bart" Bass is arguably the most pivotal and complex death in the entire *Gossip Girl* universe, serving as a massive topical authority point for the series' darker themes. His demise was not a single event but a two-part saga that spanned multiple seasons and dramatically shaped Chuck Bass’s life.

  • The First "Death" (Season 2, Episode 13: "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"): Bart Bass is initially reported to have died in a tragic helicopter crash. This event immediately throws Chuck into a tailspin, forcing him to confront his complicated relationship with his father and inherit the vast wealth of Bass Industries. This sudden passing was a major catalyst for the Chuck and Blair relationship, as Blair Waldorf was one of the few people who could comfort him in his grief.
  • The Resurrection (Season 5, Episode 22: "Raiders of the Lost Art"): In one of the show's most shocking twists, Bart returns, revealing he had faked his death. The reason? He was on the verge of being exposed for a series of illegal activities, including purchasing oil from the Sudan and covering it up with massive purchases of legitimate art and artifacts. He paid off medical staff and went into hiding to protect himself from his enemies, leaving his son to mourn a lie.
  • The Real Death (Season 6, Episode 10: "The Revengers"): Bart's return only led to a final, fatal confrontation. After Bart threatens Blair and attempts to have Chuck killed, the two men meet on the roof of a building. In a struggle, Bart falls over the edge. Chuck, despite having the opportunity, hesitates to save him, and Bart plummets to his death. This second, definitive death leads to a dramatic cover-up, where Chuck and Blair quickly marry to invoke spousal privilege and avoid being forced to testify against one another for Bart's death.

Bart's true demise cemented the dark, dramatic tone of the final season and proved that no amount of wealth could truly protect the Upper East Siders from the consequences of their own actions. The fallout from the Bart Bass death haunted Chuck until the very end of the series.

The Forgotten Victims of Upper East Side Scandal

Beyond the Bass family drama, the show featured other deaths that were integral to major plot arcs, often linking back to the original group's parents and their morally ambiguous pasts. These deaths highlight the dangers and long-term consequences of the Manhattan elite's corporate and personal rivalries.

2. Avery Thrope: The Fire That Exposed a Cover-Up

The death of Avery Thrope is a crucial piece of the puzzle that explains Bart Bass's criminality and his second death. Avery was the wife of businessman Russell Thorpe and the mother of Raina Thorpe, a love interest for Chuck Bass in Season 4.

  • The Circumstances: Avery died years before the main events of the show in a fire at a building owned by Bart Bass.
  • The Truth: The investigation reveals that Avery's husband, Russell Thorpe, was the one who accidentally caused the fire that killed her, though he initially blamed Bart. Bart Bass, ever the opportunist, helped Russell cover up the truth in exchange for Russell's silence on Bart's other illegal business dealings. The cover-up of Avery Thrope's death was a major entity in the show's later seasons, providing a chilling look at the lengths the powerful would go to protect their empires.

The emotional weight of Avery's death, and the subsequent cover-up, fueled the rivalry between Chuck and Russell Thorpe, showing how the sins of the father are passed down to the son. This plot line also introduced Raina Thorpe, one of the few characters to truly challenge Chuck's emotional defenses.

3. The Minor Tragedies: Sweetie and Other Casualties

While the major plot points revolved around the Bass and Thorpe families, the show occasionally featured minor, often darkly humorous, deaths that further established the bizarre reality of the Upper East Side.

  • Sweetie: A lesser-known death is that of Sweetie, a pet monkey belonging to a character named Tiphany (Vanessa Abrams' temporary roommate). Sweetie, described as a "little monkey accustomed to luxury," tragically dies after being exposed to a less-than-opulent environment, a satirical nod to the decadence of the main characters.
  • The Security Guard: A security guard attempting to save Avery Thrope also died in the fire, a nameless casualty of the ruthless corporate war between Bart Bass and Russell Thorpe.

These minor deaths, though not central to the main drama, add layers of topical authority by demonstrating that the Upper East Side's power plays have consequences that extend to everyone, even the most insignificant characters and creatures.

The Biggest Fake-Outs: Characters Who Were Supposedly Dead

The only thing more dramatic than a death on *Gossip Girl* is a character returning from the dead. Bart Bass's fake death is the most famous, but another major character was believed to be dead for years, creating a massive emotional block for a main character.

The Elizabeth Fisher Twist: Chuck Bass's Mother

For years, Chuck Bass believed his mother, Elizabeth Fisher, had died in a plane crash in the Andes when he was just six years old. This belief was a source of Chuck's deep-seated emotional issues and his troubled relationship with Bart.

  • The Revelation: In Season 3, a mysterious woman named Elizabeth Fisher shows up in Chuck's life. It is eventually revealed that she is his biological mother.
  • The Reason for the Lie: Bart Bass had paid Elizabeth to disappear and tell Chuck she was dead, as he wanted to raise his son alone but she did not want the baby.

This plot twist, though not a death, is intrinsically linked to the theme of death and deception in the series. It highlights how the powerful parents of the Upper East Side manipulate the truth, even about life and death, to maintain control over their children and their own reputations.

The Gossip Girl Reboot and The Lack of Death

The standalone sequel series, *Gossip Girl* (2021-2023) on HBO Max, took a notably different approach to its storytelling, focusing more on social media culture, political correctness, and the dynamics of a new generation of privileged teens. One of the most striking differences between the original series and the reboot is the comparative lack of violence and death.

While the reboot featured plenty of backstabbing, scandal, and emotional drama, it notably avoided the high-stakes, life-or-death scenarios that defined the original series' most shocking moments. There were no major character deaths in the HBO Max reboot, a decision that some critics and fans felt made the newer series feel less dangerous and consequential than its predecessor. The drama remained high, but the ultimate price—a character's life—was never paid, making the original series' willingness to kill off characters a unique and defining feature.

Ultimately, the deaths in *Gossip Girl* are more than just plot devices; they are a commentary on the corrosive nature of extreme wealth and power. From the two-part, dramatic demise of Bart Bass to the tragic, unseen death of Avery Thrope, every casualty serves as a reminder that in the world of the Manhattan elite, the only thing more dangerous than being Gossip Girl is getting in the way of a Bass or a van der Woodsen.

The Ultimate List of Gossip Girl Deaths: Who Really Died, Who Faked It, and The Dark Secrets of the Upper East Side
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