15 TV Actors Who Were Sad To Leave And 13 Who Weren’t

Touchdown a TV position can convey an enormous enhance to an actor’s profession. Nevertheless, having to go away the present could be both a blessing or a curse.

Typically, they find yourself leaving earlier than the sequence ends to pursue different tasks, however different instances, their time on the present ends when their character is written off for storytelling functions.

Listed below are 15 actors who have been devastated to be written off their TV exhibits:

1.

Steve Buscemi was initially alleged to play Tony Blundetto — a cousin of Tony Soprano — on The Sopranos for 2 seasons.

Nevertheless, after Blundetto dedicated homicide, present creator David Chase realized that the sufferer’s associates would wish to hunt revenge. He known as the oversight a “blunder,” however killed off Blundetto sooner than promised.

Buscemi instructed In the present day, “I used to be actually, actually unhappy. That’s actually nearly lacking the best job I’ve ever had.”

2.

Drea de Matteo performed Adriana La Cerva on The Sopranos for seven years.

Nevertheless, when Tony Soprano had Adriana killed for being an FBI informant, de Matteo feared that her appearing profession was over.

She instructed In the present day, “I can’t lie. I used to be nonetheless in love with Adriana.”

3.

Samira Wiley discovered that Poussey Washington was going to die in Season 4 of Orange Is the New Black proper earlier than manufacturing began — however she needed to preserve it a secret from her costars.

She instructed Vulture, “The very first thing was shock and confusion. You’re on a present for therefore lengthy and you’re feeling part of it after which, impulsively, you get information like this, and it’s an actual shock. I undoubtedly wanted the time and am grateful and grateful for all the chief producers with the ability to perceive how delicate and delicate this example was. They made certain I used to be okay all through the entire course of. In addition they let me know, though I didn’t have a script, what story was attempting to be instructed by way of ‘Black Lives Matter.'”

On the day she filmed Poussey’s loss of life scene, the whole solid gathered to look at. She mentioned, “For me, I felt like slightly little bit of my accountability on that day, capturing that scene, was to maintain everyone. … Though I’m the one which’s gone, I used to be cheering folks up.”

4.

Suzanne Somers performed Chrissy Snow on Three’s Firm for 5 seasons, however she was fired for asking for a increase.

She requested a further $120,000 an episode so her wage would match that of her male costar, John Ritter. Nevertheless, ABC solely provided her a further $5,000, then when an outdated again harm induced her to overlook filming for 2 episodes, they wrote her off the present.

Nevertheless, Somers at all times wished issues ended on a greater notice. Greater than 30 years later, she instructed the Tv Academy, “To today, I really feel a disappointment not with the ability to end out Three’s Firm. I see that it was necessary. … I nonetheless have a heartache that it ended so badly.”

5.

Erinn Haynes performed Donna Gable — who was married to Kevin James’ character — within the first season of Kevin Can Wait. Nevertheless, she was killed off earlier than Season 2 and changed by Leah Remini, James’ former King of Queens costar.

Haynes briefly addressed her firing on Twitter, writing, “True, I have been let go from the present. Very unhappy, I had an amazing expertise…”

She reportedly appreciated a number of tweets from followers who mentioned they have been boycotting the present, however she additionally requested them to cease inserting the blame on Remini.

6.

Dan Bucatinsky performed James Novak on Scandal for 3 years, however not even the Emmy he gained for the position may persuade present creator Shonda Rhimes to spare him.

He instructed HuffPost that getting a name from Rhimes was “type of this affirmation of [his] worst concern” — James was going to die.

“I believe James was poking the bear slightly an excessive amount of this season that was resulting in a really massive transfer narratively,” he mentioned.

7.

Jon Polito performed Steve Crosetti on Murder: Life on the Avenue, however after the second season, he left due to a “main inventive parting of the methods” between himself and co-executive producer Tom Fontana.

After the actor departed, Crosetti died by suicide. Polito instructed the Orlando Sentinel, “It is mindless. It is the very last thing on the planet I’d do.”

He additionally claimed that Fontana “promised to convey [him] again for 3 episodes; then he fired [him] the following day,” however Fontana refuted these claims.

Nevertheless, Polito later regretted the way in which he dealt with his exit, made amends with Fontana, and returned as Crosetti’s ghost in Murder: The Film. He instructed Groucho Evaluations, “I by no means agreed with my loss of life, and I by no means watched the present till they known as me years later, and we had type of patched it up and he mentioned, ‘You will come again as a ghost,’ which I did. Out of respect for them as a result of I spotted how proper they have been in sure methods — and I used to be flawed to battle them — however I did not belief the scenario and I used to be very damage.”

8.

Lauren Graham performed Joan on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist till a scheduling battle compelled her to go away early in Season 2.

COVID-19-related shutdowns led to main manufacturing delays for The Mighty Geese: Sport Changers, which she was already dedicated to as a lead actor and government producer. As a result of each exhibits ended up having to movie on the similar time, Graham had to decide on the one she had a much bigger dedication to.

She instructed Stay with Kelly and Ryan, “We meant to do extra, and hopefully in one other season, in a distinct time, I can try this.” Sadly, nevertheless, the present was canceled after the second season, and he or she was unable to return for the revival film.

9.

When Matthew Lintz performed Henry on The Strolling Useless, he adopted Carl Grimes’ storyline from the comics, so followers thought he was going to exchange zombie-bitten Carl.

Nevertheless, after solely 11 episodes, Henry was beheaded alongside a number of different distinguished characters. Lintz wasn’t instructed about his character’s impending demise till the episode earlier than.

He instructed Metro.co.uk, “I believe each character that’s killed off is at all times a missed alternative. … I believe Henry undoubtedly had numerous story to inform.”

10.

John Francis Daley performed Dr. Lance Sweets on Bones from the third season till the character was killed within the first episode of Season 10.

Initially, the actor requested for 4 months off so he may direct the Nationwide Lampoon’s Trip remake. He instructed TVLine, “I had spoken to [producer] Stephen Nathan about all of it, and he mentioned it will be extra satisfying for the followers to conclude Sweets in a dramatic manner reasonably than for it to be up within the air and have him come again halfway by means of the season.”

He mentioned, “I actually did really feel like I used to be shedding part of me. I had a lot compassion for him. He was such an excellent particular person. … He had gone by means of a lot, and to see him die in such a grim manner was stunning.”

11.

Ian Beattie performed Ser Meryn Trant on Video games of Thrones till Arya Stark killed him in Season 5.

The loss of life scene — which was additionally the ultimate scene he filmed — took round 13 hours to movie. For the final 10 hours, he needed to put on prosthetic wounds over his eyes.

He instructed the Washington Submit, “It completely broke my coronary heart. It hit me psychically, and thank goodness I used to be carrying prosthetics as a result of no person may truly see that I used to be crying.”

12.

Sibel Kekilli anticipated Shae, her GoT character, to die in Season 3. When she survived, she requested present co-creator David Benioff if he deliberate to go towards the e book sequence and preserve her alive.

Nevertheless, he instructed her no, and Tyrion Lannister killed Shae within the following season. Kekilli instructed the Washington Submit, “That day, it was simply me who had that final scene, and there was no time to actually say goodbye and I felt, truly, actually alone.”

She wasn’t in a position to watch the present for a very long time after leaving. She mentioned, “Everybody was saying, ‘Hey Sibel, a dragon died.’ And I used to be like, ‘What? Actually?’ It’s like the entire world is watching Sport of Thrones, and you’re the just one who is just not a part of this faith.”

13.

Fellow GoT alum Richard Madden performed Robb Stark till the Purple Marriage ceremony in Season 3.

After wrapping his last scene, he received on a aircraft and “cried the entire manner” to London.

In a 2013 interview with Entry, he mentioned, “It was actually arduous capturing the tip of it, however nonetheless very tough for me to course of that I’m not going again, that it’s utterly gone. … And it’s humorous, as a result of I’m nonetheless very shut with all of the crew and I’ve been speaking to the hair division and the opposite actors who’re all gearing up and going again into it and it’s actually unusual for me.”

14.

Aidan Gillan performed Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger on GoT till Arya Stark killed him within the Season 7 finale.

He instructed Leisure Weekly, “You are left slightly bereft — in your character and in your expertise. It additionally instantly makes you quantify the hugeness of what that have has been during the last seven years, which has been huge.”

Earlier than his last day on set, he made it recognized that he wished to take Littlefinger’s mockingbird pin residence with him. So, manufacturing let him have two — one for him and one for his son.

15.

And eventually, Conleth Hill performed Varys on GoT till Daenerys Targaryen had her dragon burn him alive for betraying her in Season 8.

He instructed Leisure Weekly, “On the time, nothing may console me. I saved pondering: ‘What did I do flawed?’ There wasn’t any pre-warning. … This was simply studying chilly arduous copy.”

He additionally mentioned, “I took it very personally. I took it as an individual, not as an actor or an artist. … You may’t assist feeling that you just failed ultimately, that you just haven’t lived as much as some expectation that you just didn’t learn about. The one factor that consoles you is individuals who labored so much tougher than you might be in the identical boat.”

And now, listed here are 13 actors who received written off the present as a result of they have been prepared to maneuver on:

16.

Meghan Markle performed Rachel Zane on Fits for seven seasons, bidding the present farewell after her character received married and moved away to just accept a job supply.

Markle introduced she could be leaving the present shortly after sharing the information about her engagement to Prince Harry.

She instructed the BBC, “What’s been actually thrilling, as we speak about this because the transition out of my profession…is that the causes which were crucial to me, I can focus much more power on. You understand that as you’ve gotten entry, or a voice that individuals are prepared to take heed to, [it comes with] numerous accountability, which I take severely.”

17.

Patrick Dempsey performed Dr. Derek Shepherd on Gray’s Anatomy till the character’s loss of life in 2015.

The actor struggled with discovering time to spend along with his household, so when he left the present, he felt “it had been lengthy sufficient.” He instructed Folks, “I believe after a sure time frame, irrespective of how a lot cash you make, you need management out of your personal schedule.”

He continued, “I most likely ought to have moved on a few years earlier. I stayed a bit longer than I ought to have.”

18.

Taylor Momsen performed Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Lady till she was placed on “indefinite hiatus” in 2010.

The next 12 months, she instructed Elle, “I give up appearing, truly. I give up Gossip Lady and now tour and am in a band and that is just about all I wish to do. Hopefully I am going to be capable to solely try this for the remainder of my life.”

Since then, Momsen hasn’t returned to appearing, as a substitute specializing in the Fairly Reckless, the band she’s fronted since 2009.

19.

Dan Stevens performed Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey till the character’s loss of life in Season 3.

When his three-year contract ended, he determined to go away the present and pursue different issues.

He instructed the Telegraph, “It’s a very monopolizing job. So there’s a unusual sense of liberation concurrently nice disappointment as a result of I’m very, very keen on the present and at all times will likely be.”

20.

Jake T. Austin performed Jesus Foster on The Fosters for 2 seasons, then Noah Centineo took over the position.

On Twitter, he mentioned that he “simply wished to do roles with extra substantive content material.”

He additionally mentioned that he left as a result of he “was solely requested to return for 3 episodes and wasn’t going to have the ability to work on anything.”

21.

Mischa Barton performed Marissa Cooper on The OC till the character died within the Season 3 finale.

Nevertheless, she did not actually talk about her causes for leaving till 2021. She instructed E! Information that she was overworked and bullied by a number of males on set. She additionally did not like having to show down all the massive movie roles she was being provided.

Finally, manufacturing gave her a alternative — “Would you like your job and to sail off into the sundown and probably you may come again sooner or later in some weird TV state of affairs, or we will kill your character off and you’ll go on along with your profession that you really want and what you wish to do?”

She mentioned, “Truthfully, 15 years on, I do assume it is unhappy that there wasn’t a greater manner that it may’ve been dealt with. … However I additionally do actually love that she had this epic loss of life and that it ended like that as a result of it is memorable and it isn’t simply one other flash within the pan. Folks nonetheless come as much as me to today they usually’re like, ‘I keep in mind the place I used to be when your character died!'”

22.

Dean Norris performed Hank Schrader on Breaking Dangerous till the character was killed halfway by means of the ultimate season — a suggestion the actor made to sequence creator Vince Gilligan.

Realizing that the season was going to be 16 episodes lengthy, Norris booked a pilot to movie beforehand, pondering he may do the brand new sequence after Breaking Dangerous wrapped. Nevertheless, when the ultimate season was cut up into two half-seasons, he was compelled to drop out of the pilot.

He instructed the Nationwide Submit, “I couldn’t drive him to do it as a result of I’ve a contract I’d need to get out of, however I requested him very severely to kill me. … It was both do eight episodes or do 24, and I’ve received 5 youngsters, man.”

23.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje performed Mr. Eko on Misplaced from the “Tailie” invasion in Season 2 till the character’s loss of life in Season 3.

He was truly the primary Misplaced solid member to ask for his character to be killed off, and he discovered leaving “joyous” as a result of it left him free to pursue his dream of directing and starring in a film based mostly on his personal life.

That zeal venture — Farming — lastly got here to fruition in 2018 with Akinnuoye-Agbaje as its author and director.

24.

Daniel Gillies performed Dr. Joel Goran on the primary three seasons of the Canadian sequence Saving Hope. On the similar time, he was additionally enjoying Elijah Mikaelson within the American sequence The Originals.

Balancing his time between two sequence and two totally different nations left him exhausted, particularly along with his second little one on the way in which. So, because the third season of Saving Hope started, he requested to have Joel killed off.

He instructed the TV Junkies, “They delivered it, and I mentioned, ‘Nicely, thanks. Thanks for having me right here. Thanks for this expertise.’ I imply, what else are you able to say? Everyone was simply lifeless silent, it was odd. However I wouldn’t change it for something.”

25.

Connie Britton performed Rayna James on Nashville till the character’s loss of life in Season 5, which coincided with the present’s transition from ABC to CMT.

When the present switched networks, Britton instructed the showrunners that she was feeling conflicted. Whereas she beloved the present, she felt it was time to maneuver on so she may problem herself.

Showrunner Marshall Herskovitz instructed Selection, “We needed to provide you with a storyline that made sense and did justice to the character and to the followers’ connection to the character. We spent numerous time pondering, ‘Does she actually need to die? Is there another manner we will do it?’ And the reply was no.”

26.

Regé-Jean Web page performed Simon Basset within the first season of Bridgerton however, having solely signed on for one season, he declined to return.

He instructed Selection, “It’s a one-season arc. … I’ve nothing however pleasure for Bridgerton persevering with to steam practice off and conquer the globe…however there may be additionally worth in finishing these arcs and sticking the touchdown.”

Govt producer Shonda Rhimes instructed Selection that, although he was invited again after so many followers expressed their disappointment, “Rightfully, he mentioned, ‘I signed up to do that one pretty story, this closed-ended storyline. I’m good!'”

27.

Anna Faris performed Christy Plunkett on Mother for seven seasons, however she left the present earlier than the eighth season.

She instructed Us Weekly, “Whereas my journey as Christy has come to an finish, permitting me to pursue new alternatives, I’ll be watching subsequent season and rooting for my TV household.”

Warner Bros. determined towards recasting her, however the present was canceled after the following season.

28.

And eventually, George Clooney performed Dr. Doug Ross on ER for 5 seasons.

In 1999, he left the present as a way to give attention to his movie profession — which was thought of a giant danger on the time.