Many television series are successful because of the actors thatbring the characters to lifewithin the show. When an actor leaves a series before it has finished, it often causes a shock to the viewers who have become invested in that show and the characters' storylines. Whenever an actor leaves too soon, the series takes on the challenges of that departure in different ways, such as the character leaving the town/city the show is set in for various reasons, the character having a long term illness where they are offscreen constantly, or even going so far as tokill off the characterin a dramatic fashion.
No matter how they set up the character after the actor’s exit, many shows fail or lose viewers when a beloved actor leaves the show. Here are 20 actors who left their hit shows before the series end and why.
20David Caruso — NYPD Blue
David Carusoportrayed Detective John Kelly onNYPD Bluein only the first season. He left the series to pursue a film career. The actor has since starred in series likeMichael HayesandCSI: Miami. Caruso has since stopped acting and doesn’t often appear in the public spotlight.
19Shannen Doherty — Beverly Hills, 90210
Shannen Dohertystarred onBeverly Hills, 90210as Brenda Walsh, but left the series after Season 4. While many thought her troubles with other cast members were the reason she left, the truth is that Doherty was asked to leave the show after cutting her hair during filming without permission, according toEntertainment Weekly. Doherty went on to star as Prue Halliwell inCharmed, as well as a number of other television series and films. She also returned for the reboot90210in 2008.
18Christopher Meloni — Law & Order: SVU
Christopher MelonileavingLaw & Order: SVUin 2010 after starring as Detective Elliot Stabler for 12 seasons shocked fans of the long-running crime drama. The actor, who chose to leave to pursue other projects, went on to appear in a number of television series and movies, likeMan of Steel,Underground, andThe Handmaid’s Tale. Meloni resumed his role as Stabler in 2021 with guest appearances onLaw & Order: SVUand began starring in his own spinoffLaw & Order: Organized Crimethat same year.
17Steve Carell — The Office
Steve Carellplayed the hilariously funny Michael Scott in the USA version ofThe Office. PerScreen Rant, discussing his departure, Carell said, “It was time for other characters to step to the forefront and other storylines to be pursued. I think it was the right… the timing was right, I think for everybody but simultaneously there’s just a sense of joy for me that we had experienced all of this…”. The actor has appeared in theDespicable Mefranchise,Space Force, andAsteroid City.
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16Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park — Hawaii Five-0
Daniel Dae KimandGrace Parkboth chose to leaveHawaii Five-0in 2017 just before Season 8, after the network, CBS, failed to negotiate their salaries in a way they felt were worthwhile, perEntertainment Weekly. The two portrayed cousins Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua, and were both members of the task force within the series.
Both went on to have successful careers in the entertainment industry. Park recently starred inA Million Little Thingsand Dae Kim will be starring in the upcominglive-actionAvatar: The Last Airbenderseries, which is set to be released in 2024.
15Michael Weatherly — NCIS
Michael Weatherly, who portrayed Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo onNCISfor 13 seasons, left because “missed the onscreen chemistry between the two characters and working with [Cote] de Pablo.” He went on to note that he “had grown a bit bored… and found himself itching to pursue other projects,” according toScreen Rant. Since leaving the crime drama, Weatherly has starred in hit seriesBull.
14Nina Dobrev — The Vampire Diaries
Nina Dobrevplayed the sometimes innocent Elena Gilbert onThe Vampire Diaries. The actress left the series in 2015 after six seasons with the characters of Mystic Falls, only returning for the series finale in 2017. The show’s writers cleverly had an antagonist character put Elena in a deep sleep, akin to a coma, as a way to allow the actress to move on from the show, but leave her with an open door to come back. Dobrev has since starred inFlatliners,XXX: Return of Xander Cage,Then Came You, andFam.
13Dan Stevens — Downton Abbey
Dan Stevens’departure fromDownton Abbeyis one of the saddest moments in the show’s six-season run. Leaving his character, Matthew Crawley, behind after Season 3 in 2012, Stevens was anxious to pursue other genres of work. He toldThe Guardian, “There were definitely creative itches left unscratched, genres I hadn’t worked in. Three years were up, that’s what we’d initially signed up for, and the appetite to explore further was too great.”
Stevens has since appeared in a number of television series and films, includingThe Tomorrow People,Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,Legion, andThe Prince, as wells as the live-actionBeauty and the Beast.
12Topher Grace — That ’70s Show
Topher Graceleft the popular sitcom,That ’70s Show, following Season 7 after starring as the main character, Eric Forman, for years. Leaving to pursue a film career, the actor starred as Eddie Brock inSpider-Man 3, as well as appeared in the movies,Personal EffectsandValentine’s Day, and the series,The Hot ZoneandHome Economics.Grace’s character inThat ’70s Showwas sent to Africa to teach, allowing for a potential return, and he did appear in one episode of thespin-off,That ’90s Show, in 2023.
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11Patrick Dempsey — Grey’s Anatomy
Patrick Dempseystarred as Dr. Derek Shepherd in the hit medical drama,Grey’s Anatomy, from 2005 to 2015, with a guest appearance in 2021. PerScreen Rant, the actor left the series because “it was too time-consuming” and the “work schedule didn’t allow him to spend time with his family.” After leaving the show Dempsey appeared in the filmsBridget Jones’s Baby,The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, andDisenchanted, as well as the television seriesSurrealEstateandDevils.
