Of a player character I mean.

The earliest funny one I saw was Commander Keen's supposed demise when hit in the first game. I don't really know what's supposed to even be happening in the animation. His mid section kind of disappears and then he flies of screen?

The first gruesome one was being cut in half in PoP, which I found somewhat disturbing as a kid. I felt my toes curling up in my shoes whenever I slowly approached those blades :P

If I had to pick a favorite it would have to be the lava death in PoP2. One time in high school a friend of mine was visiting, a really big and chubby rugby player with a great sense of humor. We were playing PoP2 and my mom called me to help her with something in the kitchen. I'll never forget hearing from my room the sound of the prince screaming as he fell into the lava, followed by my friend chuckling like an idiot. On repeat as well, because he kept loading saves so that he could jump into the lava over and over while waiting for me XD

that of the enemies

Lara Croft after a fall.

Postal Dude when he offs himself.

And Abuse, for the death scream more than anything.

Risen 3, when a guy from the mast of my own ship falls on my character. Couldn't stop laughing for a minute or so.

Quitting in Postal 2

Leon in RE4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naEXmn_Bw78

Itchy Tasty

The Immortal.

That is all.

Domino Hurley

Clive Barker's Undying has some pretty good player deaths.

Indeed.

Too many Sierra games to mention, but I've always had a soft spot for getting killed in Manhunter New York: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqTaXxqj3Wc, particularly the guy who crushes your head and makes your brains splatter onto the ceiling.

Nethack has some funny deaths. I think my favorite is the one you get if you polymorph, genocide your own species, and then quit. Level teleport to -9 is also a funny one.

In terms of plot deaths, I think Final Fantasy 5 handled its plot death very well (much better than the one in 7).

XD That's a good one