Is there a term for a character only there to die?

Question

In some movies, you can tell when a character is there only to make a dramatic moment when he/she dies.

Is there a term for a character written specifically to die for dramatic purpose?

Answer 1

The word redshirt originiated in Star Trek where security personnel wore red shirts and would frequently die during missions. The term has since spread beyond Star Trek and is often used these days for a character whose death provides dramatic effect.

Another commonly used expression is sacrifical lamb which comes from the Bible story where Abraham sacrifices a lamb instead of his son. This phrase has also been adopted in literature annd films with a similar meaning i.e. someone who is only there to die for dramatic effect.