Merl appeared as a recurring character in Angel's second season, to later be killed in the third season. He was portrayed by Matthew James.
Biography
Merl is a tongue-less Parasite demon who mostly hangs around at Caritas, the karaoke bar that fellow green-skinned demon Lorne runs. He is introduced to Angel by Wesley, who had used his services before, in exchange for money. Afterwards, he is frequently used by Angel for information about Darla and Drusilla. Instead of giving Merl monetary payment, however, Angel frequently physically and vocally intimidates Merl into giving him the necessary information, similar to how Willy the Snitch was regularly beaten up by Buffy for information in Buffy seasons 2 and 3.
Merl is largely used for comedic relief during the darker turn the show takes during its second season, centered around the frequent abuse the character is forced to endure. Merl is one of the few demons that are, in fact, not evil. Over the course of the second season, Merl grows to dislike Angel, and with him, his friends as well.
In the beginning of the third season, Merl is once again used for information by Angel, but he is finally sick and tired of Angel constantly pushing him around. He demands an apology, and when Angel goes to visit him the next day with a box of donuts, he finds Merl dead, killed by a new demon killer called Gio, who runs with Gunn's old hunting crew.