[[quoteright:230:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Zegna-Mauve-Dress-Shirt_FD253EC0.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:230:Take note, security officers: You can get these at Wal-Mart.]]

->''"It's not as bad as a red [shirt], but a bit worse than a blue [shirt]. Sort of a mauve, but I didn't want to say mauve..."''
->- Holly, ''RedDwarf''

->'''Dr. Girlfriend:''' Is there a reason you always use [[ThoseTwoGuys #21 and #24]]?\\
'''The Monarch:''' I know it sounds crazy, but they both have that rare blend of "expendable" and "invulnerable" that makes for a perfect henchman.
-->~''TheVentureBrothers''

Nobody in their right mind wants to be a RedShirt -- it's death sentence even the most GenreBlind can spot a mile away. It's been [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] to [[DeadHorseTrope death]] and [[UndeadHorseTrope back]], but it remains a very real trope with very real danger for the [[FacelessGoons nameless fictional people]] under its thrall. So, if you're saddled with this Red Death what can you do? Change the color of your shirt!

In ''StarTrek'', "Blue Shirts" were for science personnel and "Gold Shirts" were command staff; both had a much better life expectancy mostly due to rarely being sent on away team missions, the latter more so. The opening quote is a play on this, noting that the character is less vulnerable than a redshirt, but more so than blue.

Chromatic issues aside, the MauveShirt is a former RedShirt who has managed to get enough [[CharacterDevelopment screen time]] and lines to make him stand out from the rank and file, but not enough to be part of the main cast. It can also be accomplished by showing [[FatalFamilyPhoto pictures]] of a [[IHaveAFamily spouse or baby]] (Be careful with that, as it's TemptingFate all by itself), personal quirks, or just plain old [[NominalImportance giving them a name]] (whole or in part). The advantage to this is that they're less likely to be killed senselessly, because [[RuleOfEmpathy the audience cares for them]] and it would hit harder than some faceless redshirt no one cares about. The downside is that, since their death would now have more emotional impact, they are ''[[RetIrony more]]'' likely to be KilledOffForReal to prove how bad the [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil new villain is]]. If they're successful enough, they just might graduate from MauveShirt and become a "Gold Shirt" as part of the [[{{Ensembles}} supporting cast]] or even the main cast.

Now this character can live, but not really get the PlotArmor that major characters have. Also, shows where AnyoneCanDie ''love'' to kill off these characters -- we're getting to know this guy, [[DeadStarWalking he must be important,]] then boom! He's dead, and the [[StatusQuoIsGod status quo remains safely in power]]. See also HeroOfAnotherStory for a character starting as a MauveShirt. Compare EnsembleDarkhorse.

For the villain equivalent, see MookPromotion.

This is still a DeathTrope, so expect spoilers.

Compare RedHerringShirt.
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

*Barely touched on in {{Gundam Seed}}, early on in the series, when the Archangel lands at an Alliance fortress, one soldier is heard mentioning that his mother's illness is getting worse. The fortress gets blown to oblivion.
** In {{Gundam 00}} there's Joshua. He's shown as reckless and undermining and he breaks off from Graham's assault force to attack Lockon, who promptly blows him up just in time.
** For a living version, Shiho Hahnenfuss. Started as a sidestory character, eventually got brief cameos on the show... but never spoke outside of video games and never does anything in the actual series. She still scored surprisingly high on popularity polls for a while, and even got at least one figurine of herself.
* Daysia Barry in DGrayMan makes a flashy appearance on the scene. He's likeable, has cool powers, a great backstory, a unique character design, a ''name...'' then he meets[[spoiler: Tyki Mikk.]]
* ''LastExile'' has Mullin Shetland, a member of the RedShirtArmy who is slowly built up and even gets a [[LoveInterests Love Interest]]. He has beat the odds and not died in the incredibly deadly Napoleonic style battles he's been in. He manages to survive 19 battles (the 20th promoting him out of the firing line) and even falls in love with a former enemy soldier when, predictably, he is shot in the final episode's boarding actions, wringing it for so much grief it's almost a ShaggyDogStory. [[spoiler: Subverted because he's seen giving a child (son?) a piggyback ride on Earth during the [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue epilogue]] of the final episode.]]
* The plot of ''MobileSuitGundam'' and many other Universal Century stories are paved with the corpses of Mauve Shirts.
** This is very true, but, to This Troper, one UC character stands out as flamboyantly mauve: Lt. Apolly Bay of the [[{{The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified}} AEUG]] in {{Zeta Gundam}}, who makes it through [[spoiler:almost]] the entire show from his introduction in the beginning of the series without establishing solid personality characteristics. Lt. Apolly is in at least half of the episodes, a named character almost always with a speaking role, yet the poor guy is complete wallpaper. He's the one who gets to say "It's a kid!" and spoil Mineva Zabi's majestic entrance, yet he has no personality whatsoever. It's hard to imagine a mauver shirt.
* ''{{Saikano}}'', being a horrifyingly sadistic KillEmAll series, will often build up characters just to kill them off horribly in the war segments.
*''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' does this with [[spoiler:Gimmy and Darry.]] Where entire ''waves'' of the Redshirt Mecha brigades they are a part of are getting blown away around them, invariably they are the only ones who survive... [[spoiler:until the last time, when two other Mauve Shirts get blown away saving them.]]
* While inmates in ''DeadLeaves'' are often killed off randomly and rapidly, Chinko Drill actually survived a lot, like repeatedly attacking 777 and just bouncing off. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, he's not so lucky when the drill gets ''stuck'' in said guard's neck]].
*Inoue from ''CodeGeass''. [[spoiler:Stuck around as one of Zero's nameless lieutenants for the majority of the first season before getting blown up at the hands of an enemy {{mook}}'s mech. Named by another one of Lelouch's nameless lieutenants right after that.]]
*''FullmetalAlchemist'' has the chimeras who follow Greed being like this. All are likable anti-villains with distinct personalities and it's a real punch in the gut that all of them get killed off [[spoiler: arguably, it is even more wrenching in the manga, where Bradley kills most of them right in front of Greed and later, "Greedling" kills the only survivor during the period where he didn't have his memories. WhatHaveIDone? follows immediately afterward]]
**[[spoiler: Maes Hughes]] is also another possible example of this, due to the fact that as soon as he discovered that [[spoiler: Bradley was a Homunculus]], he was killed shortly thereafter. Also falls under this category because he always [[spoiler: shows off the pictures of his daughter.]]
* Hayate Gekko from ''{{Naruto}}'' is a great example, dying soon after his introduction, but not so soon that he couldn't be voted as one of the series' 10 most popular characters at least once. His appearance also fits, as he wears a standard Chunin uniform with barely enough modification to be unique.
* Daisuke Saiki from {{X 1999}}. Not a Dragon of the Heaven (only nephew to one of them, Aoki) and not very accepting of Kamui at the beginning, but still a devoted ally that has a BodyguardCrush on Hinoto and dodges death more than once. [[spoiler: Until Fuuma fulfills his wish to die protecting Hinoto. [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath Very]] [[OffWithHisHead messily]].]]
* About 90% of the cast of {{Bokurano}}.
* In the Chapter Black saga of ''YuYuHakusho'', four fledgling psychics join the heroes. One of them gets [[CurbStompBattle curbstomped]] by Docter and is hosptalized for the rest of the arc, and another gets ''eaten'' by Gourmet.
* In {{Ginga Densetsu Weed}}, we meet Jerome and his pack. They're off hunting down the Kaibutsu, an experiment that has broken out of the lab he was created in. We learn the pack's names (Noss, Robert, Rocca, and Hoiler) and we think that they're going to be main characters too. Surprise surprise, all of them are killed off in the space of two episodes, Noss by ambush and the rest while fighting to give Jerome a chance to kill the Kaibutsu.
* In ShinMazinger, Boss claims "We're here to get blown up but somehow never die!"

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Due to seventy-plus years of history, the number of superheroes and supervillains availible to DCComics has made it so that every DC superhero or supervillain who does not have an ongoing title - and some of those who do, given their willingness to turn everyone and their dog into a LegacyCharacter - is one of these. Being in a SharedUniverse really helps this.
* Similarly, everyone in the MarvelUniverse with a name and a superpower can be killed, though they do not have as much history as DC. The X-Men are particularly notable because they are so easy to create.
** In the ''Marvel Adventures: Avengers'' line, HYDRA {{Mook}} Carl has become one of these thanks to a running gag that he causes a lot of accidents that screw up HYDRA and any other group he joins.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''GalaxyQuest'' Guy Fleegman parodied this because of being a RedShirt in the original show, but bootstrapped himself to Mauve and eventually to main cast thanks to his [[GenreSavvy paranoia]] and personality. And because he was lucky enough to be in a show that liked to subvert the classic tropes.
** Amusingly, in the film's finale, he's the one character in the shooting spree [[spoiler: before Omega 13 is activated and they enter a TimeWarp]] that ''didn't'' get shot.
* Many {{James Bond}} movies have male characters on Bond's side who are not important to the series like Felix Leiter but have enough personality and screen time not to be just another Red Shirt. They are invariably killed off by the {{Big Bad}}'s goons. Examples: [[BlackDudeDiesFirst Quarrel]] in ''Dr. No'', Sir Godfrey Tibbett in ''A View to a Kill'', the Turkish intelligence officer Kerim Bey in ''From Russia With Love'', etc.
* ''StarWars'' has had a few, notably Biggs Darklighter, an old friend of Luke's and his wingman in the Battle of Yavin (the one who called Luke "the best bush pilot in the Outer Rim Territories"). In a scene cut from the movie (but in the novelization and some deleted scenes on [=DVDs=], also in the {{NPR}} Radio Play) Biggs, who has been training at the Imperial Starfighter Academy, returns to Tatooine briefly and tells Luke he has a friend-of-a-friend who knows where the Rebels are hiding and he is going to join them. He's killed in the battle, but not randomly, and it's a hard hit to Luke.
** Admiral Piett could be considered a MauveShirt for the Empire. He survives Vader's wrath in Empire Strikes Back and was popular enough to be written into Return of the Jedi.
** How is it Wedge Antilles hasn't been mentioned yet? In the Expanded Universe, he becomes a major supporting character, but in the movies he's definitely a Mauve Shirt who is lucky enough not to be KilledOffForReal.
* A number of mauve-wearing cops show up in ''TheDarkKnight'', most of them part of Jim Gordon's Major Crimes Unit. Some of them - [[spoiler: including Wuertz and Ramirez]] - are corrupt and work for TheMafia.
** Another one - who has been in Gordon's unit since ''BatmanBegins'' - is Everton from ''Chef!'' and the overseer from ''[[DoctorWho Planet of the Ood'']].
*** What does that have to do with Mauve Shirt?
* Madril, the rather old and fatherly ranger who accompanies Faramir in LordOfTheRings is a clear example of this. He gets just enough dialogue and screen time for the audience to warm to him over two films for us to hate Gothmog (the Witch King's '''Dragon''') when he kills him.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* In the ''{{Redwall}}'' series, on occasion, certain vermin in the villain's army will be given some screen time and a chance to discuss the situation. These will usually be the only vermin aside from the BigBad and his lieutenants to get names. Expect them to [[PutOnABus desert]] before the final battle.
* ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' novels tend to be even worse than Gundam. Quite often, a chapter will begin with the introduction of a character, give parts of their life story up to that point, then kill them off at the end of the chapter once the plot-relevant part is over.
** Particularly egregious is the novel Dark Apostle. Throughout the book's course, all of the main human characters get killed off brutally. One survives... and gets captured and possessed by a demon.
* Not uncommon in the XWingSeries, where AnyoneCanDie. Stackpole's books make ''heavy'' use of {{Red Shirt}}s with a name, a species, and one or two lines, and now and again he kills off someone with slightly more pagetime. Emphasis on slightly. It's hard to care, even when the other characters remark about the loss of a teammate, when that teammate was barely ever shown doing what they reminisce about. AaronAllston's books, on the other hand, have a CastOfSnowflakes, and no one dies without having thoughts of their own, developing, and showing the readers their HiddenDepths. It's often hard to tell who lives and who dies.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''StarTrekVoyager'' had Lieutenant Joe Carey, who was tipped to be the new Chief Engineer before B'Elanna stole his thunder in early in the series. He is then absent for the entirety of the series, except for time travel episodes that return to the time of the first or second episodes when you'd expect him to be there. He finally pops up in season 7, four episodes from the end of the series, and is killed off by the episode's villain in an attempt to show that's he's DeadSerious.
** In season 4, ''{{DS9}}'' introduced Enrique Muniz, who had a strong aura of RedShirt about him, being a previously unknown crew member in a highly dangerous situation. He survived, and recurred in a couple more episodes [[spoiler:until finally being killed off early in season 5. I found myself actually unsure throughout the episode whether his severe wound would kill him before he could receive proper medical attention.]]
* Almost every single Tau'ri who captains an Earth-built starship on ''[[{{Stargate SG-1}} StarGate]]'' and related shows. They're all given names and a little bit of backstory/personality, but only one survived more than a few episodes (Pendergast). One, a long-running secondary character, was killed ''the very episode he took command of his vessel''.
** Chuck the Gate Tech might also qualify for this. His predecessor was also a MauveShirt who was killed off for dramatic effect in the first season finale.
* Braca from ''{{Farscape}}'' at first appeared to be just another mook, until the first season finale when Big Bad Scorpius tells him "I believe your star is on the rise," a signal to the viewers that he actually is going to be important and they should pay attention to him. He ends up surviving the whole show, along with his boss. The trope was averted because Braca was originally slated to get killed off but managed to survive due to David Franklin’s incredible ability to emote. Braca also managed to go from red-shirt to having a first name and command of his own ship, so kudos that mook.
* ''DoctorWho'' subverts this with Private Ross Jenkins. He gets a name, a bit of a personality in "The Sontaran Strategem". He is killed in the second part, "The Poison Sky". He managed to get a rather large following on TheDoctorWhoForum and a fan club there: Private Ross Jenkins' Widows. It helped he was one of that story's GoodLookingPrivates. The Doctor even shouts about his death angrily, which is more than some of his old companions got when they left the show alive.
** In the new series of ''Doctor Who'', nearly any person who is given a name and a bit of sympathy for the Doctor and his companions dies. It gets to be a running joke with this troper and his friends.
** It's also important to note that anybody who gets asked to travel on the TARDIS ''before'' the end of the episode will die. See: Jenny and Astrid.
*** And Mme de Pompadour.
* ''{{Lost}}'' has done this not once, but several times, always with annoying people who often have incredibly ironic deaths:
**In season 1, Leslie Arzt appears as a (seemingly) knowledgable science teacher who accompanies the [[BigDamnHeroes Big Damn Heroes]] to the ''Black Rock'' to help them properly handle the dynamite. Of course, as Arzt is in the middle of a lecture about dynamite safety, the stick he's holding explodes.
**In season 5, Neil "Frogurt" is introduced as an irritating, neurotic man who is literally wearing a red shirt and is constantly complaining about the others' inability to make fire. Cue a fire arrow straight through his chest.
**Additionally, a random DHARMA Initiative security drone named Phil starts making frequent appearances in the latter half of season 5. While he hasn't died yet, his increasingly annoying behavior--culminating with [[KickTheDog punching Juliet]] and Sawyer's vow to kill him in the penultimate episode of the season--seems to indicate that he will be killed in the cataclysmic finale.
***Well, Sawyer didn't kill him. [[spoiler:But it seems magnetized steel girders did.]]
* Detective Ronnie Gardocki of ''{{The Shield}}'' had no dialogue in the series pilot, and the actor who portrays him went uncredited. He appeared in about half of the episodes in the first season, and was a "recurring character" up through season four. According to {{That Other Wiki}}, fans originally suspected he would become a redshirt, and the series writers even toyed with this idea in season 2. However, he survived and graduated to a regular cast member in the last three seasons, becoming increasingly important as the series went on.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* CompanyOfHeroes' opening cutscene for the Invasion of Normandy campaign (which is a ShoutOut of the opening scene in SavingPrivateRyan itself) shows a cinematic beginning of the first boats going on the beach, with a particular shot toward one. It has a sergeant in the boat state their orders and speaks some encouragement to the other men in the boat with him. They soon all die attempting to reach the safe(ish) mound of dirt in front the the German-entrenched hills. The game then cuts to another boat, turning the cinematic graphics to the actual in-game graphics, showing you the troops you will first command in the campaign
* ''FireEmblem'' may be the supreme overlord of this trope, with nearly every character in the game being one, due to the fact that the only characters that cannot be KilledOffForReal are [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou the Lords]]. The greatest example? The [[MemeticBadass almighty]] [[EnsembleDarkhorse 3-13 archer]] of course.
* In the real-time strategy game {{Myth}}: The Fallen Lords, all of the player's units could be considered mauve shirts, since the game tries to get you emotionally attached to them by giving the otherwise-identical units unique names and calling out "Casualty" in a grim voice whenever one of them dies.
** Same thing for ''Cannon Fodder'', of course.
** There's also the fact that they gain experience with each kill, and that when they die they aren't replaced until the beginning of the next level.
*''Half Life'':Blue Shift's Barney Calahoun, who is a redshirt Security guard, frequent ally and friendly casualty to Gordon freeman... He survives the events of his own story and appears Half Life 2, transitioning completely from a minor character to a central one. Arguably Shepard from Opposing Force manages this too, being a Marine grunt (mainstay of the game's human enemies). Unfortunately for him as-of-yet he hasn't appeared in another game, personally this Troper wants a break from that Hazard suit and to slip back into the Combat Vest and Helmet of a certain Marine...
* ''SuperRobotWars OriginalGeneration'' adds a number of Mauve Shirts to fill out the Heroes' roster. So far, they've proven surprisingly durable, and even include a few {{Badass Normal}}s (which, for a mecha show, means they pilot the grunt suits).
** In most ''SRW'' games, certain series allow you to switch pilots freely within their own series, so some of the lesser characters get a chance to shine (putting Boss into a spare MazingerZ when Kouji gets his Mazinkaiser is popular). In OG, this applies to every character and every mecha, so if you like a side character better than a "main" one using an appropriate robot, go for it. Just be aware that certain chapters will assert mecha ownership, especially if it's an ATX or SRX mecha in question.
* In ''{{Gears of War}}'', Carmine (whose name is a shade of Red) was a faceless Redshirt squadmember (the only man on the team to wear a helmet and mask) who dies after the first couple of levels to show that the situation is [[DeadSerious serious]] (he's 1 of only 2 named hero characters in the entire game to perish). Due to being "a weird fan favorite", he was scheduled to return in ''Gears of War 2'' in the form of his brother, Ben Carmine, the next of the 4 Carmine brothers "Well... 3, now." [[spoiler:And then there were two]]. With the extra screen time he received compared to his brother (surviving to the second act) he was a true Mauve shirt.
* ''JaggedAlliance'' is a fantastic example of this. Even though you can replace the occasional dead merc with relative ease (and in fact, the penalties for getting them killed are often lighter than those for firing them), they're all given names, personalities, and back-stories, making you feel like scum when they die. (Note however that other would-be contractors may notice a trend...)
** Except for Reuben, the remorseless mass-murderer. Die, bastard!
* ''{{Metroid}} Prime 2: Echoes'' features several Galactic Federation troopers. While they're all [[PosthumousCharacter dead on arrival]], scanning their corpses reveals their logs, a portion of their character, and their lives and interactions before their deaths--there's the one who's gone crazy, there's the cynical snarker, there's the StrawFeminist type who idolizes Samus, etc.
* ''MetalGearSolid 3'' has Ivan Raidenovich Raikov. His design is a DiscontinuityNod, his name is a [[MeaningfulName cruel pun]], and his roles are that of a MoralityPet to the BigBad, and of a hapless victim for the player to take out their frustrations with the series' [[TheScrappy Scrappy]] upon. Due to becoming a bit of a [[EstrogenBrigadeBait favourite]] in the fanbase for [[FanService a]] [[ShirtlessScene few]] [[HoYay complicated]] [[GoodLookingPrivates reasons]], he made a cameo in ''Portable Ops'', despite the fact that he can be killed in the original without causing a [[TemporalParadox TIME PARADOX]], where he got a little scene with some characterisation (vain, aggressive, fierce, and a little sociopathic, but mostly amiable).
** Jonathan in ''MetalGearSolid: Portable Ops'' exists for three reasons. The first one is to provide a sympathetic villainous point of view, so you understand why the Russian soldiers have decided to hook up with a crazy American anarchist with a CompellingVoice. The second reason is to be your first non-Snake character, so you can learn how the soldier system works, and he gives HeKnowsAboutTimedHits tutorials to you. The third reason is to [[TakingTheBullet take a bullet]] intended for Big Boss during Gene's MoralEventHorizon, and provide a PlayerPunch. For the last reason, he and Snake cannot suffer permadeath in online play.
* ''TalesOfSymphonia'' has lots of named [[{{NPC}} [=NPCs=]]] with just enough background and emotional value, but the one that sticks out to this troper is Botta, the second in command of [[LaResistance the Renegades]]. He starts out one of the first villain characters you see, interestingly, but the plot twists around so far that when he makes a HeroicSacrifice to save the party, many players find it to be a genuine TearJerker.
* ''AceCombat Zero: The Belkan War'' has [[spoiler:your second wingman]] PJ; after [[spoiler:Pixy]] goes AWOL, he goes from Crow Team ButtMonkey to the second Galm 2, continuing to retain his Gameplay Immortality and now actually able to (very infrequently) help you. Unfortunately, his GenreBlindness catches up to him when immediately after the Avalon attack he declares that he's going to propose to his girlfriend back at the base... "I even bought flowers!" Then you see a light in the distance, headed your way...
* A common occurrance in squad-based tactical combat games like {{X-COM}}. Players often get quite attached to soldiers who've survived a few encounters (especially in impressive ways or against the odds) and been given names and nice equipment... but of course, they're not that much more robust than a rookie and die all too easily when things go pear-shaped.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* Wonderfully used in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0472.html this]] ''OrderOfTheStick'' comic, where two soldiers save themselves from dying as part of the city's RedshirtArmy by [[NominalImportance saying their names]]. One of them even keeps his ''last'' name in reserve to potentially save himself from another life-threatening situation. In fact, the two of them later become major supporting characters.
** Also, in the same battle, the remaining members of the Sapphire Guard become Mauve Shirts, particularly Lien and O-Chul, while the rest are wiped out.
** Some people on the Giant's forums have attempted to make their own: [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0432.html That Guy with a Halberd]].
* As the body count rises during the siege of Gobwin Knob in ''{{Erfworld}}'', Dora, and then Webinar are quickly added to the list.
** Misty, the Lookamancer who helped Parson with one of his plans, and Jaclyn, the only named Archon, both end up [[NeverSayDie croaked]].
* Nick and Shep in ''SchlockMercenary'' are {{lampshaded}} as {{Red Shirt}}s by the narrator in their first appearance, and quickly prove the narrator wrong, followed by becoming ThoseTwoGuys in the mercenary unit. Shep even lasts to reach a successful retirement.
* Bert from ''SluggyFreelance'' was originally a one-off gag character, but was given a larger role during the "[[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=000626 KITTEN]]" storyline. Of the dozen plus supporting characters in that StoryArc, he was one of only four to survive. He went on to become a recurring character ... until "[[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=021021 KITTEN II]]" finished what the original couldn't. He did get to [[BackFromTheDead come back]] as a [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=030226 ghost]], though.
* GirlGenius offers Sergeant Scorp of the Baron's Vespiary Squad, a CoolOldGuy in every sense of the term and possibly the least [[MadScientist mad]] character in the entire series.
* Arguably, Goldie from EverydayHeroes. Most of one chapter involves Jane Mighty explaining how Goldie was her [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=124081 mentor]], [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=132973 teammate]], and [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=136045 all-around bff]]. Then, just as the readers get to know her, she gets StuffedIntoTheFridge by their [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder backstabbing boss]], which brings about Jane's HelpFaceTurn.
* In ''Goblins'', the survivors of the fight in Brassmoon City. Namely, the hobgoblin (Scrole), the kobold (Takn), the ogre-kobold duo (Pan & Yala) and that female creature that's creature type is yet unknown (fan-named Dorky or Undorky).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* This trope was invoked, then lampshaded, and then violently subverted in ''TheVentureBrothers''. Though the two main henchmen, Number 21 and Number 24, (one named "Gary", the other nameless) are theoretically just numbers, they have quirks, personalities, and a lifetime supply of GenreSavvy, making them still henchmen, but not really killable. All of the other henchmen usually are killed in droves, often at the hands of Brock Sampson. This was lampshaded by number 21 who seems partially aware of his own status as a mauve shirt (see quote below). Later, they bring up the point again to Henchman #1 (named "Scott"), who they are convinced is going to die despite his being much more competent than the both of them (when last seen, #1 is still technically alive, but in the process of being brutally pummeled by Brock Samson). In the third season finale, however, [[spoiler: Number 24 is trapped by a [[JammedSeatbelts seatbelt]], and dies a horrible fiery death, after which his flaming, severed head falls into 21's arms]]. Any doubt that this was the actual course of events was set aside by the first episode of season #4.
--->'''#21:''' I can't believe we didn't get blown up. Dude, we're like those guys on TV that never get shot. We are like main characters.\\
'''#24:''' Don't [[TemptingFate jinx it]].
**[[DeathIsDramatic "Scott! Don't you quit on us! Don't you dare!"]]
* Most of the Klokateers on ''{{Metalocalypse}}'' die brutal deaths the moment we see them on screens. It doesn't help that they are FacelessGoons and look identical. There is one exception though, a midget Klokateer who won Murderface's diamond encrusted codpiece during employee appreciation day. This Klokateer is often seen in later episodes, sporting his prized codpiece.
* Played with in the Futurama star trek parody episode, 'Where No Fan Has Gone Before'. When the crew meets the cast of Star Trek, they are introduced to 'Welshie', a guy who joined the cast in the twenty-two hundreds. He is almost immediately killed off.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Other ]]

* Slightly subverted in ''EvilDead TheMusical'' with Ed The Bit Part Demon.
-->'''Ed:''' I'm that guy you see in every horror flick/You probably don't remember me, I come and go too quick
-->'''Linda (a main character):''' We've listened to you talk for the past two minutes! You said a whole lot just now, just you! Aw, you're not a bit part demon any more, you're a lead player! A ''star!''
-->'''Ed:''' You're right! Now I see that this thread has been disrupted/I've said more than five words without being inturrupted/I'm a bit part no more, my character's had a swing/Now it's time for this demon to sing, sing, ''singgggggggggggg, I''
-->*gunshot*
-->'''Ash:''' Now you'll have a bit part, in hell!

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanada_Yukimura Sanada Yukimura]]. He starts out as a normal soldier, pretty much someone [[{{Mook}} you'd expect to die sooner]]. But he proves to be tougher than expected, surviving lots and lots of dangerous battles, and eventually at the end of the Siege of Osaka, performs a FoeTossingCharge, killing many soldiers with just a few helpers but being heavily wounded and finally declaring to supposedly a random mook... "I am Sanada Yukimura, no doubt an adversary quite worthy of yourselves, but I am too tired to fight any longer. Go on, take my head as your trophy." It's no wonder that due to his record and his [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome awesome charge]], Ieyasu honors him as ''Japan's Number One Soldier''.
**According to one source, he performed the foe-tossing charge many times, getting pushed back at the last possible second, almost getting to Ieyasu Tokugawa's face.
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