10 Times Big Stars Left a Hit TV Show (& Why)
10 Times Big Stars Left a TV Show And Why
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the most famous instances of celebrities walking away from popular TV series.
America Ferrera
“Superstore” (2015-21)
Amy Sosa was the heart of Cloud 9. So, when actress America Ferrera decided to step away from “Superstore”, fans felt the pain in their bones. The “Barbie” star was supposed to leave the show after the fifth season. She announced her departure soon after giving birth to her daughter, Lucia, and hoped to spend time with her while exploring other opportunities in her career. However, due to delays caused by COVID-19, she ended up staying until the first two episodes of season six. The Emmy winner doesn’t appear in the rest of the season, except for the last three episodes, but is credited for executive-producing it.
David Caruso
“NYPD Blue” (1993-2005)
As the resident tough guy of Manhattan’s 15th Squad, Detective John Kelly was a fantastic protagonist. However, after one season of “NYPD Blue”, actor David Caruso was apparently ready to move on to bigger things. Series creator Steven Bochco claims in his memoir “Truth Is a Total Defense” that David misbehaved on set so that he would be removed from the show. He was allegedly difficult to work with and demanded significant raises and luxury perks. The actor was eventually taken out of the show after a few episodes of season two, but did not achieve the success he envisioned on the silver screen. The man who thought he was ‘too good for television’, in Bochco’s words, returned to it with “CSI: Miami”.
Katherine Heigl
“Grey's Anatomy” (2005-)
The Emmy-winning actress’s exit from one of the most successful medical dramas of all time was heartbreaking but inevitable. Katherine spoke up against the unhealthy working hours on set and didn’t submit her work on the show for consideration at the 2008 Emmys due to her dissatisfaction with it. She was dubbed ‘difficult’ and her relationship with showrunner Shonda Rhimes reportedly soured. Soon after, it was revealed that season six would be her last as she wanted to focus on her family after adopting daughter Naleigh. Years later, Heigl opened up about dealing with stress and anxiety during her final days as Izzie Stevens, which ultimately compelled her to leave. Patrick Dempsey’s departure after season eleven due to alleged ‘HR issues’ was just as shocking.
Suzanne Somers
“Three's Company” (1977-84)
When it comes to legendary sitcom characters, Chrissy Snow is unforgettable. So when Suzanne Somers, who played the character in “Three's Company”, was written out of the show after season five, fans were disappointed. Unfortunately, Somers was not able to leave on her terms. She supposedly demanded to be paid a portion of the show’s profits and a higher salary, similar to her male co-star John Ritter, but was turned down. Soon after, she allegedly started disrupting production by not showing up for work, which led to her screen time being drastically reduced until she was fired. Somers developed a contentious relationship with producer Michael Ross as well as the show’s co-lead actress Joyce DeWitt. Decades later, the two talented ladies buried the hatchet.
Farrah Fawcett
“Charlie's Angels” (1976-81)
The original ‘it’ girl knew her worth and refused to settle for less. Farrah Fawcett may have appeared on only one season of “Charlie's Angels”, but that was enough for her to take the world by storm. Although she never revealed why she chose to step away, her exit was quite messy. She reportedly felt undervalued and faced a multi-million-dollar lawsuit brought against her for breach of contract. Nevertheless, she was determined to pursue roles she could sink her teeth into, according to her former assistant, Mike Pingel. Another source, Jack Condon, speculated that Farrah’s then-husband, Lee Majors, wanted her to spend more time with him, which may have influenced her decision to leave. She returned for occasional cameos but mostly focused on other projects.
Daniel Dae Kim
“Hawaii Five-0” (2010-20)
Detective Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly was a fan-favorite character in this CBS police procedural drama. Daniel Dae Kim had already established himself as a bigshot, thanks to “Lost”, but his pay took a major hit when he joined “Hawaii Five-0”. In an interview with Vulture, Kim revealed that he was allegedly misled about his character’s prominence, and his white colleagues were earning significantly more than him. So, when it was time for contract renegotiations, he demanded that the wage gap be closed, which CBS wasn’t on board with. Thus, they parted ways after season seven, much to the disappointment of viewers.
Shelley Long
“Cheers” (1982-93)
She won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for playing Diane Chambers, but behind the scenes, things were far from ideal. Shelley did not get along too well with her colleagues on the set of “Cheers”. She reportedly enjoyed discussing her character at length with the writers, which did not always sit well with the crew. To add to that, she supposedly had tension with her co-stars and felt her character had grown monotonous. Finally, her aspirations of becoming a movie star and her desire to spend more time with her family seemed to be the final push she needed to take her final bow after season five. Regardless of how her career turned out, Shelley doesn’t regret her decision one bit.
Henry Cavill
“The Witcher” (2019-)
When the “Man of Steel” actor stepped down from his role as Geralt of Rivia, fans were disillusioned. The superstar is known for being a devoted fan of all things “The Witcher”. So, to many, his exit after three seasons seemingly signaled a larger problem with the series. Viewers had long complained about the show’s deviation from the source material. So, it was widely speculated that Henry might have left due to artistic dissonance. However, the internet was abuzz with rumors that the “Justice League” star was a bit of a red flag on set. It’s also possible that he exited “The Witcher” because he thought he’d be playing Superman, which didn’t work out. Either way, Liam Hemsworth is the new White Wolf.
Steve Carell
“The Office” (2005-13)
Very rarely has a TV farewell hit as hard as this one. Steve Carell’s departure from “The Office” came out of left field and left us all ugly-crying. The reason behind this decision will make you even more emotional. Some rumors suggested that after Steve’s contract was up, NBC did not approach its renewal with much enthusiasm. However, the actor himself revealed that he left because he realized it was time for Michael Scott to step aside and let other characters take the center stage. It was a moving decision made with noble intentions. However, it backfired as the show’s popularity steadily declined in his absence.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Topher Grace, “That '70s Show” (1998-2006)
The World of Cinema Was Calling and He Answered
Chad Michael Murray, “One Tree Hill” (2003-12)
After Six Seasons, Contract Issues Reportedly Led to His Departure from the Show
Nina Dobrev, “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
She Ended Her Six-Season Journey to Expand Her Horizons as an Actress
Anna Faris, “Mom” (2013-21)
After the Penultimate Season, She Wanted to Try New Roles and Prioritize Family Time
Donald Glover, “Community” (2009-15)
He Followed His Heart, and Almost Halfway Into Season Five, Left to Do His Own Thing
George Clooney
“ER” (1994-2009)
This is one of those rare cases where an actor bet on themselves and hit the jackpot. George Clooney’s stint on the first five seasons of “ER” was extraordinary. It earned him both praise and adoration, but he was hungry for more. The rising talent had his eyes set on the film industry, and leaving Dr. Doug Ross behind was the leap of faith he needed to fly. Needless to say, he was on the money because the silver screen loved him and major success followed. Not only were his movies box office hits, but they were also critically acclaimed. Clooney went on to win two Oscars and four Golden Globes, among other accolades, and is still one of Hollywood’s biggest superstars.
Do you think any of these actors fumbled the bag? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
