DeathL dies
- What happens
- L dies at the end of the first part of the story.
- Why it matters
- It ends the first part and changes who Light is up against.
- Verified at
- Anime ep. 25 · Manga ch. 59
Death Note character guide
L.
L is a detective whose identity is kept secret from the world. He is called in to catch Kira, the killer who can kill from afar, and he suspects Light Yagami early on. The story is the duel between the two.
- The world’s greatest detective, who hunts Kira
- Verified October 31, 2026
Quick facts
- BirthdayConfirmed
- October 31
- Birth yearDiffers by medium
- 1979 in the manga; 1982 in the animeThe Death Note Wiki lists different birth years for the two versions.
- AgeConfirmed
- 24–25
- HeightEstimate
- 179 cm (5 ft 10½ in)Listed by the Death Note Wiki as an estimate.
- WeightEstimate
- 50 kg (110 lb)Listed by the Death Note Wiki as an estimate.
- OccupationConfirmed
- Detective
- Blood typeUnknown
- Unknown
- DebutConfirmed
- Manga chapter 1; anime episode 2, “Confrontation” (as listed by the Death Note Wiki)He is introduced by name in chapter 2, “L”. Ep. 2 · ch. 1
- Voice actorsConfirmed
- Kappei Yamaguchi (Japanese); Alessandro Juliani (English)
Confirmed: stated in the manga, anime or official guidebooks. Estimate: approximate or derived. Unknown: not revealed.
L’s biography
The detective
L is a detective known only by a single letter. When the deaths of criminals around the world are traced to a killer called Kira, the police work with L on the case, and he goes on television to test Kira with a decoy, Lind L. Tailor. (Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
Facing Light
L suspects early on that Kira is someone in Japan with access to police information. He meets Light Yagami in person at the university and introduces himself as L. (Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
Spoiler: The end of the first partThe end of the first part (episode 25)
The end of the first part
L dies at the end of the first part of the story, in chapter 59. The investigation passes to new people, among them Near, who first appears in the same chapter. (Ep. 25 · ch. 59)
Personality, motivations and development
Eccentric and sharp
L is quiet, odd in his habits and very sharp. He loves sweets, which the Death Note Wiki rates at the top of its scale, and he is not at ease with people, which it rates at the bottom. (Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
Willing to take risks
L is willing to put himself on the line. His televised test shows that he will use a decoy to provoke Kira, and he approaches Light directly. (Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
What drives L
- Catching Kira.
- Finding the truth about the Kira killings.
Spoiler: An opponent as clever as LightThe end of the first part (episode 25)
An opponent as clever as Light
The author builds L as Light’s equal: he is the one person who can see where Light’s plans lead. The story’s first part is the contest between them, and its end changes what the second part is about.
L’s abilities
Open an entry for its strengths, limits and where it appears. Entries describe what the story shows; they are not a power ranking.
Abilities and techniques
Deductive reasoning
L works out who Kira is likely to be from small details, and he suspects Light early on.
Strengths
- Draws conclusions from limited evidence.
Limits and weaknesses
- He cannot prove his suspicions without evidence.
Shown in
Ep. 2 · ch. 2
The televised test
L puts a decoy, Lind L. Tailor, on television as L to provoke Kira. It shows that Kira can kill from a distance.
Strengths
- Draws Kira out and reveals his ability.
Limits and weaknesses
- It costs the life of the decoy.
Shown in
Ep. 2 · ch. 2
Resources and support
L works with Watari, his assistant, and with the Japanese police task force that Light’s father is part of.
Strengths
- Access to police records and a trusted assistant.
Limits and weaknesses
- He relies on others for fieldwork.
Shown in
Ep. 2 · ch. 2
L’s relationships
Every named connection is listed here. Open a card to see how the relationship changes over the story.
Open L in the Death Note family tree.
Light Yagami
Rival · Kira
Light and L are opponents: one uses the Death Note and the other tries to catch him.
- The broadcast. L tests Kira with a televised broadcast, and Light kills the man who appears as L, Lind L. Tailor.(Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
- Face to face. Light and L meet in person at the university, where L introduces himself.(Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
Spoiler: later developmentThe end of the first part (episode 25)
The end of the first part. L dies at the end of the first part of the story.(Ep. 25 · ch. 59)
Watari
Ally · assistant
Watari is L’s assistant and supports his investigation.
- L’s support. Watari appears with L when the police meet him.(Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
Major battles
The televised test
Result: L learns that Kira can kill from afar. (Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
L puts a decoy on air as L. Light kills the decoy, and L learns that Kira can kill from a distance. See it on the timeline.
Light and L meet
Result: Neither reveals his hand. (Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
L approaches Light in person and introduces himself, and the two begin a game of suspicion. See it on the timeline.
L timeline
- The first weeks of the story
L’s televised test
L goes on television as a decoy, and Light kills the man who appears as L, Lind L. Tailor.
- Part I
Light and L meet in person
L approaches Light at the university and introduces himself.
- End of Part I
Hidden eventThe end of the first part (episode 25)
L dies
L dies at the end of the first part of the story.
No visible events match. Raise your spoiler level or clear a filter.
Open the full Death Note timeline to filter by any character.
Status tracker: is L alive?
Status can differ between the anime and the manga, and it can change: characters are sealed, revived or used by others. Each event below has its own spoiler protection and verified references.
Spoiler: L’s current statusThe end of the first part (episode 25)
- In the manga
- Deceased
- In the anime so far
- Deceased
L dies at the end of the first part of the story, in chapter 59 of the manga and episode 25 of the anime.
Spoiler: status eventThe end of the first part (episode 25)
Anime and manga differences
Spoiler: adaptation differenceThe end of the first part (episode 25)
Birth and death years. Anime: L is born in 1982 and dies in 2007. Manga: L is born in 1979 and dies in 2004.
Not confirmed by the story
- L’s real name is not given in the manga chapters or anime episodes covered here.
Anime and manga appearances
| Medium | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Manga | Death Note | Major character, chapters 2–59. |
| Anime | Death Note | Episodes 2–25 |
| Film | L: Change the WorLd | A spin-off film with L as its lead. |
Plan your Death Note viewing
- Death Note filler list: which episodes you can skip.
- How long it takes to watch Death Note: total time and your finish date.
Death Note articles on AnimeSparks
L FAQ
Who is L in Death Note?
L is a detective whose identity is kept secret. He is called in to catch Kira and suspects Light Yagami early on.
When do Light and L meet?
They meet in person at the university in manga chapter 19 and anime episode 9.
Spoiler questionThe end of the first part (episode 25)
Does L die?
Yes. L dies at the end of the first part, in manga chapter 59 and anime episode 25.
How this profile was checked
Last verified October 31, 2026. Covers Manga chapters 1–108 and anime episodes 1–37. Details are written by AnimeSparks from the manga and anime themselves, and cross-checked against the references below. Where something isn’t confirmed, the page says so.
- Death Note manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (Shueisha): Chapters cited throughout.
- Death Note anime (Madhouse): Episode numbers.
- Death Note Wiki on Fandom, “L (character)” and its chapter and episode pages: Birthday, age, height, weight, debut chapter and episode, and the chapter and episode of each event; no text copied.