How did Ted Lasso’s dad die? The heartbreaking truth behind his season 4 finale lie

*Warning: Spoilers ahead and some may find this content distressing*

The Ted Lasso season 4 finale sees Ted lie to Henry about how his dad died, before eventually sitting him down to tell him the truth. Although the camera cuts away as Ted explains, the heartbreaking story was actually revealed a couple of seasons ago. 

Season 4 episode 10 of the Apple TV series, ‘Being Alive’, once again proves it can make us chuckle and sob in equal measure, with the opening scene diving straight into the Crown & Anchor for Mae’s (Annette Badland) memorial.

Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and Henry’s (Grant Feely) relationship has been a huge part of this chapter, particularly as Ted has tried to work out what truly being there for his son looks like. Mae’s death challenges him further as Henry asks his father a painful question: “How did your dad die?”

Ted stumbles over his words, but before he can say anything more, Henry fills in the blanks. “Nana told me that he fell down some steps and hit his head. Is that true?” he asks, to which Ted replies, “Yeah.”

A few days later, it’s clear the lie is weighing on Ted. He admits to Beard (Brendan Hunt) that Henry had wanted an honest answer from him, but instead he went a bit “serpentine” – aka he dodged the truth. 

Ted later apologises to Henry for missing so many of his football games and promises to move things around next year so he can be there for more of them. But there’s something much bigger he needs to make right. 

“There’s actually something else I want to talk about with you,” Ted says. The camera cuts away as Ted gives Henry the truth about his dad. 

How did Ted Lasso’s dad die? 

Ted’s dad, Jim Lasso, died by suicide when Ted was 16 years old. The truth was first revealed in season 2 episode 8 after Ted saw a painful confrontation between Jamie (Phil Dunster) and his own father.

In the episode, after Richmond lost to Manchester City, Jamie’s dad humiliated him in the locker room, causing Jamie to snap and punch him. The incident visibly upset Ted, who had also been experiencing panic attacks. 

He left the room and called team psychologist Dr Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles). It’s then that he told her for the first time, “My father killed himself when I was 16,” although he wasn’t ready to dive into it any further. 

Two episodes later revealed even more about what happened. As Ted prepared to attend the funeral of Rebecca’s (Hannah Waddingham) father, he suffered a panic attack and opened up to Dr Sharon about the day his dad died. 

Ted explained that on Friday 13th, 1991, his friends were meant to be coming over for a Friday the 13th movie marathon. At home, he heard a gunshot and went upstairs to find his father dead. Ted called 911 before going to the fridge, grabbing one of his father’s beers and downing it. 

Ted admitted he spent years feeling angry with his dad for leaving him and his mum behind, but as is the case with losing anyone to suicide, his feelings are much more complicated than that. 

“He was a good dad. And I don’t think he knew that. I think if he would’ve known how good he was at stuff he didn’t really care about being good at, I don’t think he’d done what he… And I wish I would’ve told him,” Ted explained. “I wish I would’ve told him more.”

The loss ultimately shaped the person Ted became. He told Sharon that afterwards he promised himself he would never let someone in his life pass him by without trying to understand what they might be going through. 

It also makes his season 4 conversation with Henry particularly poignant: Ted knows first hand what it’s like to lose a father at a young age and he wants to be the best dad he can to his son. 

Before revealing the truth, Ted confirms to Henry that his dad was around the same age he is now when he died. But, he adds, “Don’t worry. I’m good on stairs.” Knowing what we know as the viewer, it’s clear he’s really reassuring Henry that he isn’t going to lose his dad in the same way Ted lost his.

Ted Lasso’s suicide storyline has literally saved lives 

Mental health has always been a huge part of Ted Lasso, with actor and co-creator Jason Sudeikis previously explaining that the show’s heavier storylines weren’t something the writers suddenly decided to introduce in season 2. 

He told US Weekly at the time, “In regard to the mental health stuff, it was just there. It’s been there forever but it’s really come up a lot in just knowing where the characters were headed and how important it is to work on yourself to help your team.

“And I think that we were trying to explore that and personify it in a way and kind of trojan horse that there’s bigger issues in this fun, silly little comedy show.”

And the Apple TV show’s decision to tackle the tricker subjects has gone on to have real world impact. 

As he said to the Kansas City Star in 2023, “We’ve all (in the cast) had people come up to us and say, ‘Oh my God, this show has saved my life.’ And I’ve said, ‘Me, too.’ And they usually laugh. And yet I’m not joking. As I know that they’re not joking with me.”

On the topic of the suicide storyline, Sudeikis explained, “Now I’ve had people literally tell me how it saved their lives in deeply moving ways, emotional ways of decisions that they wanted to make for their lives similar to Ted’s father.

“That this kind of talked them out of it because of the kids that they have and the people they’d be leaving behind. That can move me to tears if I really sit and think with it.”

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Featured image credit: Apple TV