TV Stars Who Left Hit Shows
It’s never easy to say goodbye, even if it’s a television goodbye. While no TV show can last forever – well, Law & Order: SVU is in the running – the cast doesn’t always stay as long. Many actors choose to leave after their contracts end. Some give the networks a lengthy heads-up, while others just seem to up and vanish, leaving the writers to scramble (see below!). Regardless, the show must go on.
One of the most talked about exits was in May 2017, when Sophia Bush decided to leave Chicago P.D. after season 4. She played the lead role of Detective Erin Lindsay on the NBC drama and was written out of the show with a cliffhanger – her character was offered a job in New York to join the FBI. Many thought this could mean she would pop up on Law & Order: SVU – another show written by Dick Wolf which has done a crossover with P.D. before – but over the years, it was made apparent that was not happening.
In multiple interviews since her exit, Bush explained that she went to her bosses between the third and fourth seasons and told them if things didn’t “drastically” change, she would be leaving at the end of the year. Then, in December 2018, she opened up about the decision while on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast.
“I quit because, what I’ve learned is, I’ve been so programmed to be a good girl and to be a work horse and be a tug boat, that I have always prioritized tugging the ship for the crew, for the show, for the group, ahead of my own health … My body was, like, falling apart, because I was really, really unhappy,” she revealed, before later adding she felt “ignored” and recalled the time she told a coworker, “I feel like I was standing butt-naked, bruised and bleeding in the middle of Times Square, screaming at the top of my lungs and not a single person stopped to ask if they could help me.”
She also referenced the show as “a consistent onslaught barrage of abusive behavior.” Bush noted: “You start to lose your way when someone assaults you in a room full of people and everyone literally looks away, looks at the floor, looks at the ceiling, and you’re the one woman in the room and every man who’s twice your size doesn’t do something.”
For more TV stars who walked away from hit shows, scroll through the gallery below.
“A new season of Hallmark Channel’s highly popular scripted series Chesapeake Shores is returning this summer. Jesse Metcalfe, who plays Trace Riley, has decided to leave the show,” Hallmark Channel told Us Weekly in a statement in March 2021. “His character’s storyline will wrap up early in season five.” Metcalfe portrayed musician and contractor Trace Riley on the drama from 2016 to 2021. The network noted, however, that he is still a “valued member of the Crown Media family” and will continue appear in Hallmark movies, including his Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film series, Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries.
Ricardo Hubbs/Crown Media United States LLC
Anna Faris exited CBS' Mom in September 2020 after leading the show for seven seasons alongside Allison Janney. “The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career," Faris said in a statement at the time. "I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family."
CBS
In August 2020, Hope announced her departure from The Bold and the Beautiful after three years playing Sally Spectra. “An abrupt ending to a monumental journey. The last three years have been amazing, and though I do not know what the future holds this chapter of Sally has sadly come to an end,” she explained via Instagram. I love my @boldandbeautifulcbs cast and crew and will miss everyone dearly, but await the day we may all play again. Some things are out of our control, and I thank the fans for your support through it all! Until then, I revel in new beginnings and everything the future has in store. 🙌🏼✨ Love you all.”
Rob Latour/Benheart/Shutterstock
After joining NCIS in season 15, the actress will be leaving the crime show during the upcoming 18th season, Deadline reported in July 2020. Her character, forensic psychologist Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane, is set to wrap up her story line with eight episodes.
Erik Voake/CBS
The actor announced his exit from Days of Our Lives in July 2020 after eight years playing Eric Brady. “I’ve finished my reign at Days,” he said during an episode of the “That’s Awesome! With Steve and Bradford” podcast. Vaughan explained that he was “taking a break” from the NBC soap opera after uncertain renewal negotiations. He added that he thought his time on the show “was coming to an end anyway.”
Stewart Cook/Shutterstock
The actress announced in July 2020 that she would be leaving Days of Our Lives after starring in the soap opera for 37 years. She first appeared on the series in 1983 as the character Hope Williams Brady. "I feel blessed and honored to have been invited into people's homes for over three decades," Alfonso wrote via Instagram. "However, it is now time for me to write my next chapter. I will not be returning to Days when it resumes production in September. I've already filmed my last episode several months ago."
Chris Haston/NBC
Batwoman fans were shocked at the end of season 1 when Rose announced that she would not be returning for future seasons.
"This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles," she said in a statement in May 2020. "I am beyond appreciative to Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Caroline Dries for not only giving me this incredible opportunity, but for welcoming me into the DC universe they have so beautifully created. Thank you Peter Roth and Mark Pedowitz and the teams at Warner Bros. and The CW who put so much into the show and always believed in me. Thank you to everyone who made season one a success."
Kimberley French/The CW
The actor shocked Grey’s Anatomy fans in January 2020 when he announced he was leaving the long-running medical drama after 16 seasons.
“There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years,” Chambers, who played Dr. Alex Karev since season 1, said in statement. “For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time. As I move on from Grey’s Anatomy, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rhimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens, and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride.”
ABC/John Fleenor
Ahead of season 17, Levine decided to quit The Voice; he was a coach for the first 16 seasons and won three times. “After 16 seasons, Adam Levine, our beloved coach and friend, has decided to leave The Voice,” host Carson Daly announced on the Today show in May 2019. “Adam was one of the original coaches that launched the show, winning the competition three times and inspiring many of the artists he worked closely with over the years.”
Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
The actress announced in March 2019 that she would be leaving Arrow at the end of season 7. “Felicity and I are a very tight two,” she wrote via Instagram. “But after [seasons] one through seven we will be saying goodbye to you.” Rickards’ Felicity Smoak, who worked as a hacker on Team Arrow before falling for and eventually marrying Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), became a series regular during season 1 after a guest appearance. The CW confirmed earlier in March that season 8 would be Arrow’s last.
Dean Buscher/The CW
After 12 seasons of playing Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU, Christopher Meloni decided to walk away from the longtime hit drama. Although he abruptly left after the season 12 finale was filmed, leaving writers scrambling to address it in season 13, he has stayed close to the cast and crew and is open to return for the series finale – whenever that may be.
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When Josh Charles’ contract was up following season 5 of The Good Wife, he decided to step away from the CBS drama. His character, Will Gardner, was shockingly shot and killed during the show. The show continued for two more seasons and his ghost appeared in the series finale.
David M. Russell/CBS
“It’s what I wanted.” That’s what Katherine Heigl said after wrapping on Grey’s Anatomy midway through season 6. She left to spend more time with her family, specifically her then newly-adopted daughter, but the exit wasn’t without its drama. In 2008, she made a statement that she wanted to be out of an Emmy consideration because the writing of her character wasn’t good enough. Ellen Pompeo also spoke out about her departure in a 2016 interview. “You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26. But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract,” Pompeo told the New York Post at the time. “She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off.” Heigl’s character, Izzie Stevens, has never returned to the series.
Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images
The Walking Dead fans were shocked when Andrew Lincoln decided to exit the AMC hit after nine seasons, in order to spend more time with his family. However, after his final episode, the creator revealed he had signed on for several Rick Grimes-centric films in the coming years.
Gene Page/AMC
After starring in The CW’s Dynasty reboot for a season and a half, Nicolette Sheridan announced she would not return for the third season in order to take care of her terminally ill mother.
Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW
As stated above, Bush left Chicago P.D. after four seasons, ending her contract early. In numerous interviews since, she’s explained that she was unhappy with the conditions on the set. However, she remains close with many members of the cast.
Matt Dinerstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
After seven seasons of The Office, Steve Carrell decided to leave the hit NBC sitcom, explaining at the time that since his contract was up, he wanted to take the chance to spend more time with his family. The show continued for two more seasons and he made a surprise appearance on the 2013 series finale.
Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Amy Carlson made her last Blue Bloods appearance on the season 7 finale – but no one knew that fact until season 8 premiered and revealed that her character, Linda Raegan, was killed in a helicopter crash. She told Us Weekly in November 2017 that it was a “difficult decision” to leave the series.
Heather WInes/CBS
Following six seasons of One Tree Hill, lead stars Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton – whose characters Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer were married on the teen drama – decided to exit the series. Murray later returned for a cameo in season 9, the show’s final season. Burton did not return. In 2017, she spoke out in an interview with Variety detailing sexual assault allegations against showrunner Mark Schwahn, which was a part of her decision to say goodbye to the show.
Fred Norris/The CW
After six seasons playing Emma Swan, Jennifer Morrison decided to leave ABC’s Once Upon a Time in order to transition into more directing roles and taking on new opportunities. “I’m just at an age and a time in my life where I want to be home, I want to be with my family and my friends, to have a chance to have a personal life for a while, and also wanted to be available to do other creative things,” she told Deadline in 2017. However, she did make an appearance in the May 2018 series finale.
Jack Rowand/ABC via Getty Images
At the end of The O.C.’s third season, Mischa Barton’s character was killed off after she told Fox she wanted to leave the show. The show continued for another season before its cancellation in 2007. Nine years later, she opened up about the decision. "I think I just got to the point where I was like, 'I'm not sure I'm enjoying this anymore,’" she said while competing on season 22 of Dancing With the Stars. "I just felt like I was in a machine and I couldn't really get off. So it was time to step back. So I went back to England and it was just a year of real self-exploration.”
FOX
At the end of season 6, Nina Dobrev decided to leave The Vampire Diaries – where, at one point she was portraying three different characters – in order to take on more adult roles. She returned two seasons later for the series finale.
Bob Mahoney/The CW
After seven and a half seasons on Home Improvement, Jonathan Taylor Thomas exited the sitcom midway through the eighth and final season in order to focus on school. (He enrolled in Harvard University and later, Columbia University.) He did not return for the finale, appearing only in old footage.
ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
Midway through season 5 of CMT’s hit show Nashville, Connie Britton exited the series in order to do new things creatively. Her character, Rayna James, was killed off, but she did return for the 2018 series finale in a flashback, performing one last time with Deacon Claybourne.
ABC/KATHERINE BOMBOY-THORNTON
In March 2019, Emmy Rossum made her final appearance on Shameless in the season 9 finale. The actress revealed months prior she had decided to leave the series, however showrunner John Wells made sure Fiona’s story line was left open-ended, in case Rossum decided to later return. “I think she's so central to the family and to the show that we'll certainly keep her progress abroad alive. Some of it will depend on Emmy and if she wants to do a scene or a phone call here or there. It was so emotional with her leaving,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in March 2019.
Chuck Hodes/SHOWTIME
After spending 11 years as Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds, Shemar Moore announced he was leaving in 2016 in order to see what other roles he was capable of playing. However, he returned in seasons 12 and 13 as a guest star.
Robert Voets/ABC Studios via Getty Images
At the end of season 6, Monica Raymond revealed in an Instagram post that she was not returning to Chicago Fire following her contract's end. Her character, Gabby Dawson, took a job in Puerto Rico. She made one final surprise appearance during the season 7 premiere. However, cocreator Derek Haas remains hopeful that one day, she will return.
Elizabeth Morris/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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