Castiel's 11 best moments on Supernatural

For 12 seasons, Misha Collins played Castiel, the angel by Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester's (Jensen Ackles) side. But in the antepenultimate episode of Supernatural, Castiel sacrificed his life to save Dean. In honor of the character's journey, we're looking back at some of his best moments.

Castiel's entrance remains one of the series' greatest moments, not only because it was the introduction of angels to the show, but also because it was just a really cool scene, complete with one of the most iconic shots in Supernatural history.

Back in his early days, Castiel didn't understand much about humans, including their need for sleep, so when Dean told him he needed some time before Cas stopped by, the angel...waited. This line was later turned into a musical number in the show's 200th episode.

This beloved Castiel quote also goes back to season 5, when he never quite knew what Dean was talking about when he referenced something in pop culture. This particular instance was about the DeLorean from Back to the Future.

Who could forget that time we got a drunk Castiel? The exact exchange went like this:

Castiel: "I found a liquor store." 
Sam: "And?"
Castiel: "And I drank it."

When Dean lost hope and nearly said "yes" to Michael, it was Castiel who stopped him...forcefully. It was this scene that showed just how much Castiel cared and how far he was willing to go.

It's the Castiel moment to end all Castiel moments! When the angel showed up in "Swan Song," it was heroic. He knew he'd likely die (which he did), but he wanted to help. And his big moment was made all the better by him thinking "assbutt" was a thing.

When Castiel discovered a porno about a pizza man, he paid attention. And when the opportunity presented itself, he used his new knowledge to kiss Meg (Rachel Miner). As he said afterward, "I learned that from the pizza man."

When Castiel thought he was dying, he told Dean, Sam, and Mary (Samantha Smith): "Knowing you, it's been the best part of my life. The things we've shared together, they have changed me. You're my family. I love you. I love all of you."

Leave it to Castiel to take someone saying they thought they were God literally and inform them that "God has a beard." 

In later seasons, a big part of Castiel's story became his journey as a father figure to Jack (Alexander Calvert), and that came to a head when Castiel sacrificed himself for Jack, promising himself to the Empty to save his son.

In order to save Dean's life, Castiel called upon his deal with the Empty. Realizing that true happiness could be achieved by speaking his truth, he told Dean that he loved him. "Knowing you has changed me," Castiel said. And with an "I love you," Cas found happiness, and the Empty took him (and Lisa Berry's Billie) away, thereby saving Dean. It was a devastating but heroic exit.