Monster-hunting family patriarch John Winchester has been dead since the second season of Supernatural, but more than a decade later actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan holds out hope that he may some day return to the cult-favorite drama.

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"We talk about it all the time and I've been saying it for years -- because it's Supernatural, and you can come back (as proven by every actor that's ever been on the show), I certainly hope that at some point not only will John return in some capacity," the Walking Dead veteran told fans over the weekend at a Supernatural convention in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Death is a revolving door on Supernatural, where brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, have been to Hell and back on numerous occasions. However, John, who sacrificed his life, and soul, in the Season 2 premiere to save Dean, has effectively remained dead, subsequently appearing only in flashback and through time travel (Morgan did lend his voice to a Season 3 episode, though).

"I think that Sam and Dean need to have some closure with this guy," Morgan added, "and I think that John would like the opportunity to have some closure, and I think you, the audience, deserves it."

Supernatural returns for its 13th season Oct. 12 on The CW.

(via TV Guide)