Emily Bett Rickards
Hollywood has brought plenty of unknown actors their big breaks into stardom. Major shows like The Office, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, and a host of others offered actors their breakthrough roles. Eventually, however, these stars outgrow their shows and feel the need to move on to new ventures to try to expand their career, which can often be a big mistake.
When an actor decides to leave a series, it’s not always pretty, and in fact, it can get downright ugly. There are plenty of instances where major tension and feuds break out between cast members of a TV show and the creators of it. Check out which Hollywood actors opted to walk away from successful shows, and we’ll let you decide if it was a good decision…
Katherine Heigl
It wasn’t the easiest decision for Emily Bett Rickards to leave the hit superhero series Arrow. At $40,000 an episode, Rickards believes playing the character Felicity Smoak took “seven years of [her] twenties.”
She did feel bad for leaving and disappointing her fans, so it was really tough to say goodbye. Still, her passion for pursuing other projects outweighed her need to develop the character further. Rickards believed she did all she could as Smoak over the span of seven seasons.
Nina Dobrev
Grey’s Anatomy alumnus, Katherine Heigl has had an infamous reputation in Hollywood as being notoriously difficult to work with. That fact didn’t stop showrunners from paying her $30 million per season on the hit medical drama, though.
It was through Grey’s Anatomy that Heigl made her mark and was able to land roles in any number of feature films, including the iconic comedy, Knocked Up. Soon enough, all her offers for starring roles conflicted with her demanding schedule on the show, so she had no choice but to leave the hospital drama behind.
Jennifer Morrison
There weren’t many teens and young adults who didn’t watch The Vampire Diaries when it originally aired. Star Nina Dobrev was believed to have left the series only because of her breakup with co-star Ian Somerhalder, playing Damon to her Elena. The rumor proved to be entirely false.
The actual reason for leaving came down to Dobrev’s certainty about having only a “six-season adventure” developing her character arc. By the end, the actress knew Elena had finished her time on the show, with no need to expand any further.
Mischa Barton
The ABC fantasy-drama Once Upon A Time starred Jennifer Morrison as Emma, a character that was caught between reality and the hidden world of fairy tales. Morrison announced her departure from the show in 2017 on Instagram, stating she wished to spend more time with family and friends.
The actress yearned to have more time for her personal life, as well as time for other creative projects. Along with producers, Morrison hid her decision for some time in an effort to keep the overall story intact for the widespread fanbase of the show.
Lacey Chabert
The O.C. captured the imagination of a generation in the 2000s. At a certain point, Barton grew tired of her role of Marissa Cooper and believed there were greener pastures outside of the show.
Her character was killed in a devastating car accident, even though writers would’ve preferred Marissa to just move to another town. Barton fought to stay true to her character, explaining that her character could never be satisfied with ending anything so low-key. Fans went through a collective heap of tissues watching her death.
Emmy Rossum
Fans of Family Guy likely don’t remember that teenage daughter Meg was originally voiced by Lacey Chabert before being taken over by Mila Kunis. By season three, Chabert simply had too many scheduling conflicts to remain on the show, asking Seth Macfarlane to release her from her contract.
The actress was still reportedly enrolled in school at the time. In addition, she was involved in filming for Party of Five creating a workload that was just too heavy for the actress to carry. At a modest $20,000 per episode, it was revealed that Macfarlane and Chabert remain on good terms, even after the split.
Meghan Markle
Shameless exemplified pretty much everything America didn’t want to admit was a problem with their society, taking place on the south side of Chicago. Emmy Rossum led the charge, as the wild, yet caring Fiona Gallagher, landing up to $350,000 an episode before her departure.
It was only after nine years on the show that Fiona would be written off. With the help of a tear-jerking Facebook post, Rossum explained her extremely personal reasons for leaving, and while difficult, she has no remorse about moving on.
Megan Fox
Long before she ever joined the Royal family, Meghan Markle played a prominent role in the legal drama Suits. Markle was on the show for seven seasons as Rachel Zane, before she met and fell in love with her now-husband, Prince Harry. When he asked her to marry him, she had no problem giving up $450,000 a year to wed the man she loved.
She was granted an unconditional release from her contract in order to focus on her family. After some controversy surrounding certain members of the Royal family, Markle and Harry made the decision to disassociate themselves from the family entirely in 2020 and shared their reasons in an interview with Oprah in 2021.
Sophia Bush
Director Michael Bay and actress Megan Fox were known to clash on the set of Transformers, constantly. She would eventually be fired for her “difficult” behavior, though her reps representatives have said, her not returning to the set was her decision, which she’s recently disputed.
According to Fox, the only direction she received from Michael Bay was to “be hot” and no actual acting directions. She did receive $1 million in earnings but says she was forced to wash the director’s Ferrari in high heels and an American Flag bikini for a part in Bad Boys 2.
Julianne Moore
For some actors, being paid $250,000 an episode would be more than enough to suffer through some questionable working conditions. This wasn’t the case for Sophia Bush, who left Chicago P.D. for reasons she would later admit on a podcast hosted by fellow actor, Dax Shephard.
She claims that even though she tried “programming” herself to push through any obstacle she came up against during filming, she was just too worn out to carry on. Though she did admit to enjoying her work on the show, the fourth season was still the perfect time to leave.
Nick Cannon
The 2015 film, Can You Ever Forgive Me? saw actress Julianne Moore leave because of supposed creative differences. It wouldn’t be until 2019 when the real reasons for Moore’s exit would be revealed.
During an interview with Andy Cohen, the actress admits to being fired by Nicole Holofcener. Apparently, she was taken off the set before the shooting of the movie began. Moore claims her refusal to wear any type of prosthetics during filming was in violation of her contract, so her firing was of her own doing.
Dave Chappelle
It’s never pretty when an actor gets fired from a show. Nick Cannon proves that with his time on Wild ‘N Out where fans only recently learned that controversial comments made on a podcast forced Viacom’s hand. Cannon hosted the comedy sketch show at a rate of $70,000 an episode for years.
However, the carelessness of the remarks he made publicly ultimately led to his dismissal. There was so much outcry from viewers, that the network had no choice but to relieve the actor from his role. The final episode aired on July 28, 2020.
Michael Keaton
Dave Chappelle’s decision to stop doing Chappelle’s Show was huge news. Comedy Central agreed to pay him $50 million for a third and fourth season, but the comedian abruptly went to Africa and was rumored to have a mental breakdown.
Only in recent years has Chappelle made his long-awaited, triumphant return to the stage and comedy as a whole. During interviews, the actor explains his long hiatus came at a time when he was experiencing a “crisis of conscience” seeing shady and unscrupulous things happening all throughout Hollywood. In May of 2022, Chappelle was actually attacked while onstage performing in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl.
Ruby Rose
It’s hard to keep track of just how many Batman movies have been made, to date. Even still, Keaton still reigns as a fan-favorite among other stars, alongside Christian Bale, that is. At a stellar $6 million per film at the time, Keaton did pretty well for himself over the course of the franchise.
The third film, Batman Forever, wouldn’t be graced by the actor, with director Joel Schumacher also replacing Tim Burton. Keaton gracefully stepped down, paving the way for Val Kilmer to dawn the cape for the next iteration of the Dark Knight. To excited fans, Keaton will return to play Batman in the upcoming movie The Flash.
Sasha Alexander
Ruby Rose signed on for the very first live-action Batwoman series in 2019. The actress was offered an impressive $150,000 per episode to play the female counterpart to the beloved Batman. Sadly, her appearance would only be for a single season.
Previously, she’d achieved notoriety on the breakout hit, Orange Is The New Black as part of the supporting cast. Finding the demands of the show to be too much, the actress asked Viacom/CBS to be written off and replaced. Executives agreed, granting the starring role to the current Batwoman, Javicia Leslie.
David Caruso
Sasha Alexander didn’t take her role on NCIS lightly, which made leaving all that more difficult for the actress. She found the work much too taxing both mentally and physically, realizing it was best if she left the cast early, despite making $100,00 per episode.
The network claimed her release from the contract was in order to, “pursue other opportunities.” During an interview with TV Guide, the actress expressed relief and no sign of regret at the decision she had made to leave.
Pauley Perrette
NYPD Blue was well ahead of its time when it came to cop shows. Being praised for its gritty nature and overall “realness,” though it was definitely considered controversial for a relaxed attitude towards nudity and alcoholism. The leading man on it, David Caruso, would even land himself a Golden Globe for his titular role in 1994.
In spite of all the success that came with the role, Caruso wanted to move on. He would leave after only the fourth episode of the second season, at first for not receiving higher earnings, then to try his hand at acting in the movies. All of the gritty details can be found in NYPD Blue creator, Steven Bochco’s memoir, Truth is a Total Defense: My Fifty Years In Television.
Farrah Fawcett
A fan favorite on NCIS, Pauley Perrette did a beautiful job of playing quirky forensic examiner, Abby. Even with all that adoration, in addition to being paid a whopping $22 million per season, Perrette left fans a little more than confused with her sudden departure.
It was only revealed much later, via Twitter, that the actress left after countless disputes with her castmates, almost always when it came to creative decisions. Since, the actress has found satisfaction having nothing to do with her formerly lucrative role, committing to never return to the longstanding series. In July of 2020, Perrette announced that she was retiring from acting after playing the lead role on a sitcom, Broke, which was canceled after one season.
Pamela Anderson
Say the name Charlie’s Angels, and nearly every head will turn. That’s how iconic the classic TV series really was. And Farah Fawcett as one of three female leads was one of the biggest reasons why.
Fawcett was actually only on the show for one season, surprisingly. The critical acclaim she received didn’t cover up her disapproval of the show’s portrayal of women, however. Ironic, considering she is known for a famous swimsuit poster that garnered her more fan mail than anyone else on the show.
Sigourney Weaver
At this point, the slow-motion opening sequence of Baywatch is quite famous. Much of the show’s success has to be attributed to the popularity of C.J. Parker, played by Pamela Anderson. It didn’t hurt that she usually wore that form-fitting, red bathing suit for the majority of the show, either.
From the third to the seventh season, Anderson won over fans to the show before she finished her stint as C.J. at a lucrative $200,000 per episode. Her departure was amicable, even leaving the door open to reuniting with fellow castmates for Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, a reunion special episode in 2003. The writers landed on a storyline that involved CJ moving to Mexico, to settle down with a handsome rockstar.
Topher Grace
The film Alien is still considered a classic in the horror and sci-fi genres, with Sigourney Weaver delivering a knockout performance. Because of that, the star made up to a cool $1 million per movie, which is even more impressive considering she was only paid $35,000 for the first film.
Director James Cameron was the one who insisted on Weaver being paid far more for the Alien sequel, even landing her a share of the total profits. Luckily for the actress, the franchise skyrocketed her to superstardom over the course of their release.
Crystal Reed
That ‘70’s Show launched Topher Grace’s career, as he played the lead, Eric Forman, a goofy, lanky teen who was just trying to get by in an era popularized by bellbottoms, glam rock, and disco. The actor found the shooting schedule to be nothing short of demanding, eventually pushing him to consider a career in movies instead.
After leaving the sitcom, ratings dropped significantly, and it came as no surprise that the show was canceled not long after Grace had left. He did end up finding roles in movies like Spider-Man 3, Take Me Home Tonight, and BlacKkKansman that all achieved considerable levels of success.
Steve Carrell
For a young actress to rake in $600,000 an episode, you might think they would hold on to that role for dear life. Crystal Reed was lucky enough to earn that kind of money in her twenties, with the role of Allison Argent in Teen Wolf. After three seasons though, she had had enough.
It turned out to be the difference in age between her character and real-life that led Reed to exit the show. Now, at the age of 35, she says she’d be more than happy to star in a spinoff, a series, or a complete reboot of the original. Perhaps money can’t buy happiness.
Dan Stevens
Not many viewers would’ve known the name Steve Carrell before The Office first aired. That role would launch the actor to a staple of cinematic comedy and earn him $175,000 an episode, and rightly so.
Carrell stuck it out all the way to the seventh season, before making his surprisingly quiet departure, compared to his character’s usual dramatic antics. He simply proved to be irreplaceable, and the show lasted just two more seasons without him.
Andrew Lincoln
Making an impressive $50,000-$100,000 per episode, Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens must’ve winced when he learned his character, Matthew Crawley would be killed off in the third season. His fans were absolutely gobsmacked that this could happen to such a beloved character, and Stevens is still apologizing for it to this day.
That being said, he did ask for a proper send-off for his character in order to end his contract with the show. He was looking to expand his range, spending more time on different projects, such as the Netflix comedy, Eurovision.
Dean Norris
Andrew Lincoln played the iconic hero of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes. Even though he was making an incredible $1 million an episode, Lincoln didn’t appreciate all the time he was forced to be away from his family in England, while the show was filming in Georgia.
The actor asked to be written off the show in the ninth season to spend more time with his family, but Lincoln said he would consider reprising his role for three TV movies on AMC. While his character was an integral part of the show, his castmates have stepped in to fill the gap and create a new level of depth on the show.
Chevy Chase
Breaking Bad’s epic, two-part finale was in production at the same time, Dean Norris (DEA Agent, Hank Schrader) was working on the Stephen King project, Under The Dome. Norris, who was making $150,000 an episode, was determined to be written off the series.
Not wanting to choose between the two, while clashing with Sony’s TV executives, producers were able to help him manage the conflicting demands of both projects. In March of 2020, Norris admitted to taking on a little more than he could handle, though he signed on to reprise his iconic role of Hank Schrader, during the spinoff series, Better Call Saul.
Matt Damon
Chevy Chase was one of the original members of Saturday Night Live back in the ‘70s. After some time on the show, Chase decided he would rather settle down with his love interest than remain on the cast, in spite of earning $20,000 each episode. It seemed that showrunners had no issues with his leaving.
The actor confesses he was deeply in love and had no desire to seek out more lucrative roles, ending up not making a movie for three years. Unfortunately, their love was not meant to be and Chase returned to a steady pace of appearing back on-screen, where he belonged.
Amy Carlson
Jason Bourne has become a household name and that’s all thanks to actor Matt Damon. After three box office smashes, director Paul Greengrass was not scheduled to be directing the fourth film. Damon was so loyal to Greengrass, that he gave up $26 million just to maintain the integrity of Jason Bourne and the franchise as a whole.
That being said, there have been rumors that both director and actor will be returning for the sixth Bourne film, though none have been confirmed. In the meantime, Marvel alumni, Jeremy Renner has taken on the mantle and done his best to keep the Bourne legacy alive.
Lisa Bonet
Amy Carlson was lucky enough to make a cool $200,000 for each episode of the police drama, Blue Bloods, playing Danny Reagan’s wife Linda, before being killed in a helicopter crash on the show.
Donnie Wahlberg, who plays Danny, claimed she was, “sweet about her departure”. The actress was open and honest about her reasons for leaving, which didn’t do much to quell the disappointment of fans. Viewers will always be left to wonder about the details of Linda Reagan’s untimely death.
Harrison Ford
A Different World came as a spinoff of The Cosby Show through the ‘80s and into the ‘90s. Lisa Bonet played an eager young girl, Denise, who was much-beloved by fans. They were shocked when they heard the news of her leaving in 1991.
She was making a solid income of $35,000 an episode, when she became pregnant with her first child. Bill Cosby preferred that Debbie not be pregnant on the show, which Lisa agreed to. Later, she would be marry rock musician Lenny Kravitz, with whom she’d have more children.
Selma Blair
Many fans agree that Star Wars just wouldn’t be the same without the legendary Harrison Ford being a part of it. However, playing Han Solo for so many years would have the actor being consistently typecast, and the last thing he wanted was to only play action hero-type roles for the rest of his career.
That being said, he did play the lead character in the Indiana Jones movies, putting aside his fear of being pigeonholed. He would even pitch the idea of a cameo in The Rise Of Skywalker, with the condition that his appearance would be a complete surprise.
John Francis Daley
Dr. Kate Wales was played expertly by actress Selma Blair, alongside Charlie Sheen on the show Anger Management, an adaptation of the 2003 movie by the same name. She found her co-star to be incredibly unprofessional on set, often delaying filming just to learn his lines.
$1 million per episode wasn’t enough to ignore the growing conflict between Blair and Sheen. Apparently, he wouldn’t make an effort until the night before, which cost producers a small fortune in extra costs. To nobody’s surprise, the show was canceled in December of 2014 after two seasons.
Justin Chambers
Lance Sweets played an awkward, yet disarming, psychiatrist on the crime drama Bones. John Francis Daley earned between $30,000 to $40,000 per episode for the role. His character had quite the dramatic sendoff, being killed for being involved in an FBI conspiracy, just as his pregnant girlfriend was about to give birth.
At the time he was written off, he was looking to direct yet another one of his own screenplays. Daley has maintained a lucrative career as a successful comedy writer, with hits such as Horrible Bosses and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone credited to his name.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Over the course of 15 seasons, Justin Chambers charmed audiences on Grey’s Anatomy, as Alex Karev. He ended up leaving in early 2020, citing “no good time” to exit the show, realizing his life was now defined by the role he had played, for better or worse.
The decision was made in an effort to diversify his range as an actor, looking for roles that weren’t part of a medical drama, despite him making $250,000 per episode. His final episode was released to the public in November of 2019, with fans expressing their sadness at him no longer being part of the cast.
Patrick Dempsey
Eko was a key character on Lost. Played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, he brought in around $30,000 per episode and was originally supposed to be on the show for four seasons. The actor asked to be let out of his contract after tragedy struck his family. Both of Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s parents died not too long after the show began filming, leaving him devastated and desperate to get back to England to support his family.
Producers had no choice but to let him off the island to go and tend to his family members. They even asked him to reprise his role as a guest star on Lost’s finale, but he decline that offer. It’s possible that if tragedy hadn’t knocked at the actor’s door, he likely would’ve finished up the full four seasons and become a real fan favorite.
Wendi McLendon-Covey
Grey’s Anatomy has set the standard for what a medical drama should be, with Patrick Dempsey at its helm, playing the heartthrob Derek. Even more impressive than his good looks were the $400,000 he earned from each episode he starred in.
So it seemed like a bit of a surprise when Dempsey asked to leave the show, in order to shift his focus towards family, and his aspirations of building a career in auto-racing. He has said he left the show a couple seasons later than he should have, but still left the show amicably, staying on good terms with creator Shonda Rhimes. He would go on to describe his starring role as another “chapter” in his own journey.
Damon Wayans
Many consider Reno 911 to be one of the funniest shows made. Originally airing in 2003, McLendon-Covey would ask to be killed off at the end of the fifth season, being killed in a horrible parade float accident.
There were no hard feelings between the creators and the actress, having made $20,000 an episode up until her departure. It turned out to be scheduling conflicts that led to her character’s end. It has been confirmed that the actress would be returning to Reno 911 during their seventh season, reprising her iconic role as Deputy Clementine Johnson.
T.R. Knight
Lethal Weapon was transformed from a cult classic to a highly charged thriller series starring veteran actor, Damon Wayans. Playing iconic Roger Murtaugh, Wayans announced he was quitting the show, citing “health reasons” as the cause. He left in 2018, following the completion of filming, though there were some amendments made to his original contract.
Though the series was based on the original film, any number of actors recasting plagued the set, likely being a large part of the reason the show lasted only three seasons. Wayans has made the decision to working exclusively on feature films, leaving the silver screen and $150,000 per episode paydays, behind.
Leonard Nimoy
T.R. Knight is yet another Grey’s Anatomy’s alum on this list. He played George for many years, making $350,000 per episode. However, his exit wasn’t under the best circumstances.
After five seasons, Knight decided to leave the show, citing creative differences between himself and the legendary show-writer, Shonda Rhimes. For what it’s worth, co-star Isaiah Washington (Dr. Burke) was accused of on-set verbal abuse, which eventually led to him being let go. One can only wonder if these two facts are intertwined.
Dominic Monaghan
Leonard Nimoy became so essential to the Star Trek franchise, that he was ultimately given the opportunity to direct his own death scene in Wrath of Khan. That would come after consistently netting $2.5 million per movie, playing the legendary character of Spock.
What led to Nimoy’s departure came down to a level of ambivalence regarding his own character arc, opting to vie for more interesting roles. The character’s legacy is still very much alive in the heart of Trekkies, as well as any number of spin-off shows and movies. It turns out that the spirit of Spock could never be extinguished, no matter how much time has passed.
Ryan Gosling
Dominic Monaghan had a longstanding role on the highly-acclaimed, drama-thriller series, Lost. Playing the character of Charlie, the actor was consistently earning $30,000 per episode, before he asked to leave after only thirteen episodes.
Dominic’s departure led to his contract being adjusted for his exit, with a properly executed early death for his character. Monaghan claims the intense pressure of the show ruined the actual experience of being a part of it. Director Damon Lindelof was absolutely devastated to see the demise of Charlie, crying over the loss of such an important character. The actor believed the show only lasted as long as it did because of its hardcore internet fandom never letting up on the series creators.
Christopher Meloni
Directed by Peter Jackson, The Lovely Bones was originally supposed to have Ryan Gosling in the leading role of Jack Salmon in the film. This was changed the moment he stepped on set, apparently due to the actor’s massive weight-gain prior to filming.
Gosling purposely gained a total of sixty pounds to play the part of Jack Salmon, given that’s how he believed he should look. This happened with the actor regularly drinking melted milkshakes anytime he needed a drink. Jackson completely disagreed and fired Gosling on-site, leaving him unemployed, though Gosling would inevitably became a star.
Josh Charles
Law & Order: SVU saw Elliott Stabler, played by actor Christopher Meloni written off with a grisly demise. At the time, Meloni was earning $400,000 per episode, though a series of failed contract negotiations ultimately concluded with his character’s early death.
Meloni was seeking a higher salary near the start of the twelfth season, though the network believed his pay was more than adequate. Luckily, even with his abrupt ending, Stabler is set to return to the show with a comeback in the works. SVU fans will rest easy knowing the beloved detective won’t be gone for long.
Raymond Cruz
The Good Wife was a prominent role for actor Josh Charles, playing the memorable Will Gardner. It took all of a year for his contract to expire, which coincided with his proposal to his now-wife, leaving him to settle on not returning to the show.
Charles was making $100,000 each episode, playing an enigmatic, dramatic, and charming part of the ensemble. If it had been up to the producers, Charles would’ve likely continued on for many more seasons to come. His character’s death provided the ultimate twist on The Good Wife, with The New York Times quoting the collective “gasp” of viewers. It’s safe to say Gardner’s death was not an easy pill to swallow.
Connie Britton
Raymond Cruz played Tuco Salamanca on Breaking Bad, landing him a solid $100,000 per episode. Even with that healthy payday, Cruz found the show to be too demanding for his liking, often feeling physically and emotionally drained after fourteen hours a day of filming.
The actor admitted being happy when his character was killed off, also adding he didn’t appreciate the brutal nature of the role. Cruz would reprise his role on the spinoff series Better Call Saul after he had time to recharge. It’s understandable, considering how heavy the subject matter of Breaking Bad was, that actors found themselves struggling. Even one of its stars, actor, Aaron Paul, admitted that the show took a toll on him, even with all his added comedic moments.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Nashville offered a fictional look at the world of country music, with Connie Britton playing a key role in the show’s success. Even though she would earn $100,000 per episode, the creative differences would prove to be too much for the actress.
Britton’s role of Rayna James was essential to the show’s success, writers still had no choice but to move on without her. They decided on killing her character, knowing James wouldn’t even think of leaving her daughters behind. Nashville premiered with stellar reviews and solid ratings but struggled to maintain those over the years. Originally airing on ABC for a total of four seasons, fan pressure made way for the CMT network to renew it, which landed the show an additional two seasons.
Nicollette Sheridan
In the ‘90s, Home Improvement was a hugely-popular heartfelt family sitcom about an everyday American family. Jonathan Taylor Thomas played Randy, the middle son of lead Tim Allen, earning a hefty $500,000 per episode by the show’s prime.
The young actor’s decision to leave Home Improvement allowed Thomas to focus on his schooling at the time. He even opted to get out of Hollywood altogether, removing himself from the spotlight. Thomas has said in interviews he has absolutely no regrets about leaving the show, along with all the money it offered him. Even with his departure from the scene, his status will forever be cemented as one of the biggest child stars of the era.
Suzanne Somers
Desperate Housewives was the a huge conversation piece around watercoolers across America when it aired in 2004. Blonde bombshell, Nicollette Sheridan was the perfect casting to play Edie Britt, an overly dramatic, scandalous, and well-off housewife living in the suburbs.
She would later join the cast of the reboot of Dynasty, but her role as Alexis Carrington would be short-lived. A family emergency would derail her intentions of developing the character further, with her mother falling critically ill at the time. Elaine Hendrix would step into Sheridan’s shoes on Dynasty, showing the world a different take on Alexis.
Edward Norton
The character of Chrissy Snow on the classic TV series Three’s Company charmed audiences instantly. Suzanne Somers, who played Chrissy, got an exceptional (at the time) $30,000 per episode, but still was in negotiation talks over her pay.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t offered quite what she was looking for, which eventually led to her exit from the show, much to the chagrin of her fans. Once she left, she was replaced by actress Jenilee Harrison.
Shemar Moore
Marvel fans would have a hard time picturing any actor other than Mark Ruffalo playing the Hulk, but Edward Norton had the honor of portraying the angry green giant before Ruffalo ever did. Norton appeared as the Hulk in a 2008 standalone film, The Incredible Hulk, two years before the very first Avengers movie would be made.
Marvel revealed that Norton made no effort to get along with his castmates or any of the crew. They phrased it as the actor not having the same “creativity” and “collaborative spirit” as his co-stars. He must not have been surprised when the studio didn’t invite him to be part of the Avengers, given his sour attitude.
Lecy Goranson
The hit show Criminal Minds partially was on for fifteen seasons. Derek Morgan, played by Shemar Moore, was a fan-favorite before leaving in the eleventh season.
Moore credits much of his growth to his time on the show, along with the many years spent as his unique character on the crime drama. In an interview with TV Guide, Moore admitted to wanting more time to get married, have kids, and travel around the world. The show simply occupied too much of the actor’s time for any sort of personal life to be had.
Shelley Long
Roseanne had the ability to disarm audiences with its wit and charm, winning over viewers from coast to coast. She played the first Becky on the show, before the part was recast by future Scrubs’ star Sarah Chalke. She would later leave after the fourth season, going to Vassar College full-time, at least for a short while.
Goranson would return during the final season for one last hurrah, though her attachment to the reboot would be cut short, after Roseanne Barr was forced to step down from her iconic role in 2018, due to accusations of a very public racial tirade splattered all over the internet.
Steve Guttenberg
Cheers was the classic show where everybody knows your name, and the same could be said for actress Shelley Long’s character, Diane. As of December 15, 1986, Long would no longer be part of the classic series. She would go on to say that her and co-star Ted Danson did some “really terrific work” on Cheers.
It was in pursuit of movie acting that Long would follow her curiosity, though she did spend time as part of the cast of Frazier. She freely admits it wasn’t her favorite show to work on, especially with her distaste for the main character, doing everything she could to get quips cut from Kelsey Grammer’s script.
Josh Bowman
The days of raunchy comedies may be behind us, but Police Academy will live on as an instant classic. Steve Guttenberg was blessed with the leading role as a wise-cracking police trainee, learning just what it takes to keep the streets safe. Guttenberg had a suspicion that if he spent too long in the role, there would be no way to avoid being typecast in future roles.
Also, considering each movie gave him $1 million in revenue, the actor must’ve been certain it was the right choice to leave. Guttenberg’s disillusionment continued to grow the longer he spent with the franchise as his character Mahoney. Near the end of the series, the actor was approached by producers of Police Academy, offering him the leading role in an upcoming film. He was quoted as giving a “firm no”, including any possibility of other sequels.
Monica Raymund
Josh Bowman shocked fans to their core with his character’s death on the series Revenge. Bowman actually suggested the idea to writers, believing that his character was growing stale and the story needed to “move forward.” What makes it even more surprising is he was earning $250,000 an episode, so the money couldn’t have been easy to leave behind.
The actor called the ending “fitting,” claiming he was satisfied with the way it all went down. Fans, on the other hand, believed his character Daniel Grayson should never have been killed off.
Jerry Seinfeld
Chicago Fire hosted a strong cast of actors, with actress Monica Raymund among them. She played Gabriela Dawson over the course of five years, feeling this was enough time to fully explore her character. It was at this time Raymond sought out opportunities to diversify her acting, looking for projects in other genres of film and television.
The actress earned $700,000 an episode for her portrayal of Gabriela, the hardworking, strong-headed firefighter. She was written off leaving Chicago to help with a hurricane relief mission in Puerto Rico, though she would return for a midseason finale later on.
Jim Parsons
Seinfeld became an institution by the time the series was over, created by and starring comedian Jerry Seinfeld. It lasted for nine seasons, which was no small feat for a sitcom at that time.
Still, it must’ve been heartbreaking to walk away from $100 million being offered for the tenth season. But Seinfeld wanted the show to end at its peak and not let the story grow stale. He firmly believed an extra season would’ve ruined everything he had worked so hard for the sitcom to be.
Lauren Cohan
The Big Bang Theory charmed viewers across the country, starring Jim Parsons as the eclectic, super-genius, Sheldon Cooper. The show received critical acclaim throughout all twelve seasons, even though it was intended to last fourteen. Even at an insane $1 million per episode, the scheduling of the show was difficult, and over time Parsons desperately needed a break.
Parsons felt the show had become “too difficult” to continue after that twelfth season. Showrunners knew the show couldn’t continue on without the beloved Sheldon Cooper, so they did their best to give fans a send-off worthy of such a heartwarming show.
Michael Weatherly
One of the more long-standing cast members on The Walking Dead was Lauren Cohen. Unfortunately, she was among a number of female actresses that had to fight for equal pay on the show, with their male counterparts consistently earning larger salaries for comparable roles. That would explain her pay of $50,000 an episode on such a successful, big-budget series.
The actress would leave during the ninth season of the show, ultimately because AMC refused to pay her the same as her male co-stars. Even still, Cohan would always appreciate her character, Maggie, even though she could no longer play the part.
Skeet Ulrich
Tony DiNozzo was a fan favorite on the show NCIS, played by actor Michael Weatherly. After a total of 305 episodes, Weatherly would exit the show in its thirteenth season, citing that he felt “burnt out” after all that time on the show. Add to that his mother dying of a heart attack in Israel and it’s no wonder the actor needed some time off.
His decision to move could’ve still proven to be a risky one, especially at the rate of $25 million per season. The departure of co-star Cote de Pablo only helped cement the actor’s decision to leave, considering they had formed such an incredibly strong bond.
McLean Stevenson
Skeet Ulrich was not one to mince words. So when he decided to leave the hit teen drama, Riverdale, after only four seasons, he announced his departure on Instagram Live. Ulrich had played the character of F.P., or Jughead’s dad, as many referred to him.
When a fan asked why he left, the actor bluntly replied that he “got bored creatively” and now needed something new. Ulrich had no qualms about being as honest as possible when it came to his reasons for leaving the show. He would also be joined by co-star Marisol Nichols, who left at precisely the same time.
Ruth Wilson
M*A*S*H won the hearts of millions of viewers throughout the ‘70s. McLean Stevenson, as beloved Colonel Henry Blake, was lucky enough to maintain a supporting role on the show, earning him a healthy $100,000 per episode.Even with such substantial earnings, Stevenson insisted to writer Ken Levine that he would rather be part of a project that offered him a starring role.
As a result, Stevenson was written out of the show during the third season, with one of the most shocking TV deaths in history.Stevenson proved that taking risks doesn’t always pay off, in spite of our best efforts. Either that or maybe he lacked the “star quality” to be a leading man, after all.
Rob Lowe
Showtime gave viewers a taste of drama, intrigue, and jilted lovers with their thriller series, The Affair. Ruth Wilson was a big part of what made the show successful, so when she announced her decision to leave in 2019, fans were understandably devastated. Though it was never confirmed, it’s believed that creative differences caused the actress to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Her departure was sudden, especially considering the amount of money she was earning at the time, a sizable $100,000 per episode. Sadly, fans will never know the way the show was originally meant to end, though they don’t hold any ill will towards the actress.
Marg Helgenberger
The political drama The West Wing had more than its fair share of heavy-hitters on the cast. Among them, Rob Lowe delivered consistent stellar performances up until CNN broke the news that the actor would be leaving the show for good. At first, Lowe demanded a raise in pay, but NBC opted to push his character off the series instead.
At $300,000 per episode, the actor decided to move on to the ABC series Brothers and Sisters. Shortly after, he would return to NBC for a comedic role on Parks and Recreation. Finally, Lowe landed at Fox, currently starring in 9-1-1: Lone Star as a first responder.
Chad Michael Murray
CSI will remain a staple of daytime TV for many viewers. Marg Helgenberger contributed to the show’s endurance, starting in 2000 and staying on for a full twelve seasons. As of 2012, she announced her departure in an effort to expand her acting career.
Playing Catherine on the show, Helgenberger netted around $300,000 an episode. Her character left the team after being the target of a group of assassins. Ultimately, the character took a job at F.B.I. headquarters, but fans were a little more than sad to see her go.
Angus T. Jones
One Tree Hill was a teen drama that offered fans everything they could ever want out of a series. Chad Michael Murray would win over fans over the course of seven seasons, until contract negotiations and disputes would have him written off the show. It must’ve been a tough break considering the regular $100,000 he was paid, each and every episode.
His request for a higher salary was refused by the network, which is why he left the show. Hilarie Burton ended up making the same decision for the exact same reasons, with both of their final appearances happening on the very same episode.
Daniel Gillies
Two And A Half Men might’ve been one of the most entertaining series of the 2000s. Angus T. Jones would play the role of Jake, the well-meaning but simple-minded son of Alan Harper, the main character’s brother. Jones’ reasons for leaving the show were shrouded in mystery, though CBS claimed it had been a long-time coming.
As of season eleven, the character of Jake wouldn’t appear at all, with the actor confirming he wouldn’t be returning in 2014. All that was offered to fans was a murky statement about his departure from the sitcom. A video also surfaced of the actor denouncing Hollywood and the way it treats child actors, which led many fans to believe Jones’ was experiencing a crisis of mental health.
Kal Penn
Saving Hope was another popular medical drama. Actor Daniel Gillies played Dr. Joel Goran, who is accidentally killed at the end of the third season while attempting to take a bomb off a patient.
The actor reportedly lined up The Vampire Diaries as the next series he would be working on, just as his stint on the Canadian medical drama came to a close. To this day, the actor defends the show, stating there’s no bad blood there. Making $20,000 an episode may not seem like much compared to the earnings of other actors, but it did seem like Gillies truly enjoyed his time working on the show.
Anthony Edwards
House left viewers constantly on the edge of their seats, week after week. Kal Penn played the role of Dr. Lawrence Kutner on the show. Fans were shocked to see the character end up shooting himself in one episode. Penn confesses that he was only killed off to allow him to pursue projects outside of acting, one of which was to work for the Obama administration.
At the time he was raking in $100,000 an episode, and he revealed to the LA Times that there were no issues with creative differences or on-set drama that led to his decision. He left completely of his own volition, seeking out a new industry in which to hone his skills.
Jeff Conaway
ER was one of the first medical dramas to make a name for itself on television. Actor Anthony Edwards played Dr. Mark Greene from 1994-2002, eventually working his way up to a sizable $35 million-dollar contract. But his decision to leave the show came down to feeling guilt about what his family had to sacrifice for him to stay on the show.
After eight successful years, fans were saddened to learn of Dr. Greene’s departure, as his character died of a brain tumor. However disappointed fans may have been, the actor felt both accomplished and relieved. Edwards made the first step in order to focus on the more important things in this life.
Jason Priestley
The actor Jeff Conaway was popular when he joined the cast of Taxi back in 1983. Previously, he had starred in Grease in 1979, but didn’t enjoy much success on the heels of the film. Taxi was Conaway’s attempt to break through and finally get the recognition he wanted as an actor.
Making $50,000 in revenue per episode, his character Bobby Wheeler lasted a total of three seasons. Tragically, the actor struggled greatly with substance abuse at the time before needing time off to recover. Conaway realized it was the right decision, doing so gracefully, though he sadly passed in 2011 at the age of 60.
Wil Wheaton
Most viewers recognize the famous area code, 90210, which provided the basis for the classic teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Actor Jason Priestley spent eight years becoming a heartthrob, while also being adaptable enough to manage any ridiculous plot lines that came his way. By 1998, he’d had enough.
His character Brandon had done all he could do within the show, with the actor claiming he’d explored every possibility he had. He did leave with some regrets, believing that Brandon and Kelly would’ve eventually ended up together. Still, making $70,000 an episode wasn’t too shabby to finish out the show, even if fans had to miss out on a certain happy ending.
Michael Learned
Wil Wheaton’s first appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation was as an innocent, young Wesley Crusher. Over the course of the series, Wesley took on a more central role in the show. That would explain the $65,000 per episode the actor was making at such a young age.
He was only 18 at the time and didn’t understand quite how to leverage his acting credits for future roles. As a result, he never enjoyed the level of success he was looking for with future roles. At least until he played himself on the smash hit The Big Bang Theory.
Sherry Stringfield
Ma Walton was a role that actress Michael Learned took out of complete desperation. She was a single mother without income and a family to take care of. Luckily for her, she managed to bring in $45,000 an episode over six seasons, before the role of the matriarch on The Waltons had run her course.
At a certain point, Learned grew tired of the part with the return of John-Boy, feeling redundant on-screen. Some days, she admitted to sitting on the set for more than 14 hours without anything to do. Obviously, it was time to go at that point.
Nathalie Kelley
Sherry Stringfield was lucky enough to have not one, but two successful runs on popular TV shows. First starring on ER as Susan Lewis, the actress left to start a family of her own after just three seasons. She would return later on, just to leave once again.
Stringfield then got the chance to be part of the cast of NYPD Blue as Laura Michaels Kelly, bringing in $125,000 an episode. The character, unfortunately, grew stale pretty quickly, as writers couldn’t figure out what to do with her. Realizing that, the actress demanded to be let out of her contract to pursue more fulfilling projects.
Colton Haynes
CW’s reboot of Dynasty offered a whole new take on the classic series, with Nathalie Kelley landed the role of Cristal Flores, beating out thousands of actresses for the part. Kelley was only on the show for a single season, citing the filming to be too much work.
The actress admits to not performing due diligence before accepting the part, realizing too late that nighttime soaps were a challenging breed. She would end up feeling stuck before long, though she still made an impressive $75,000 an episode before it was all over. Digging deep just wasn’t enough for the actress to stick it out.
Courtney Thorne-Smith
Based on a popular comic series, Arrow brought the DC story to a younger audience. Colton Haynes played Roy Harper, aka Arsenal, a series regular that never got the chance to appear in the final season. It all came down to the writing, not including his character, not any sort of creative differences.
The actor claims he simply wasn’t invited to be part of the final season. Even so, Haynes did end up returning but in a much more limited capacity. At least the actor raked in a cool $75,000 an episode to keep him company.
Laura Benanti
Ally McBeal was a legal drama with a strong female cast that included actress Courtney Thorne-Smith among its roster. She played Georgia Thomas, though she left after only three seasons, preferring to act as part of a sitcom.
Later on, the actress revealed her real reasons for parting with the show, she confessed that she was over-exercising, under-eating, and just pushing herself past her limit, which led to a serious strain on her immune system. As part of an interview with US Weekly, the actress spent an excessive amount of time obsessing about food and hating her body.
Zach Braff
Laura Benanti was no stranger to the silver screen when she joined the cast of Supergirl as Alura. Audiences believed she was a perfect fit for the role, though it would be short-lived. Her schedule was just too hectic to remain on the series.
She simply couldn’t get out of previous commitments in New York, which conflicted with her on-set schedule. After her departure, the role went to Erica Durance of Smallville, offering fans a small measure of comfort. One can only wonder what the show would’ve been like had she remained as part of the cast.
Christopher Eccleston
As the character of JD on the quirky medical sitcom, Scrubs, Zach Braff gave fans more than his fair share of laughs and memorable moments during the series. The show combined comedy and drama to create the perfect balance of intrigue, peppered with comic relief. In 2009, Braff made the difficult decision to leave the show for good.
Even though he was making around $350,000 per episode at the time, the actor set his sights on bringing his second original film to life since Garden State premiered in 2004. He found that the show was taking up too much of his time to focus on his passion project.
Joe Piscopo
British pop culture just wouldn’t be the same without Doctor Who. The show was revived in 2004, seeing Christopher Eccleston take on the iconic timelord role, receiving a great deal of critical acclaim.
After only a single season, Eccleston announced his decision to leave. He claims he had fears of being typecast after spending too long in his role on Doctor Who. It seems he made the right decision, since appearing in a variety of indie films and box office smashes. Well done, Chris!
Mandy Patinkin
In 1980, Joe Piscopo was hired by Saturday Night Live in a last “ditch-attempt” to keep the show on the air. At the time, the entire cast was brand new, with viewers not appreciating the change-up of their former favorites. Luckily, Piscopo alongside Eddie Murphy were able to win fans over through sheer wit and charm.
Making a reasonable $35,000 per episode, Joe decided that it was time to bid adieu in 1984 to get his foot in the door with movies. The actor was hoping for a measure of success similar to what Eddie Murphy had seen but had no such luck. Though he did receive moderate roles in several TV shows and movies.
Rebecca Gayheart
The character Jason Gideon basically created the dynamic of Criminal Minds, played by actor Mandy Patinkin. Sadly, Patinkin couldn’t stand to play the lead role and would rarely show up to table reads, sometimes just leaving his castmates a note in his place. Unsurprisingly, writers moved to kill off his character after a while.
The actor has no problem admitting he should’ve never agreed to accept the role in the first place, claiming it to be “destructive to my soul”. He even had suspicions that he wouldn’t be considered for other television roles because of his stint on Criminal Minds. Needless to say, Patinkin and the show were far from a match made in heaven.
Nicolette Sheridan
Rebecca Gayheart had the dual-distinction of being a fashion model and an actress, before being cast in the one-season wonder, Firefly. In the early 2000s, she took on the role of Inara Serra. That role would end in the blink of an eye when the actress was fired from the show after a single episode.
Showrunners claim there was zero chemistry between Gayheart and her co-stars, though still opted to pay her $125,000 for that single episode. Shortly after, Morena Baccarin was brought on to replace her. Luckily for the actress, the show didn’t last past its first season.
Janet Hubert
Yet another mention of actress Nicolette Sheridan brings attention to her time on Desperate Housewives, bringing in earnings of $175,000 per episode. Though the actress was a pro at bringing the writers’ scandalous storylines to life, the drama wasn’t restricted to the screen alone. When her character was killed off, Sheridan wasn’t exactly behind the decision.
Sheridan confesses to having a row with show-creator, Marc Cherry. Things continued to escalate between the two until they reached a boiling point, with the actress being outright fired from the show. Sheridan was so distraught at the result that she sued Disney ABC, Touchstone, and Director Marc Cherry afterward, for actions she believed were necessary based on the position she found herself in.
Shannon Doherty
There might not be a more iconic show during the ‘90s than Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, starring Will Smith. Fans will never forget when they saw the lovable role of Aunt Viv replaced, with Janet Hubert no longer part of the show. It was only revealed decades later, that she was pushed out as a result of conflict between her and the leading man, Will Smith.
Only in recent years, have the two claimed to make amends, but there seems to be more to the story. Hubert was reportedly difficult on set, according to Alfonso Ribeiro, saying she would randomly “go off” at a moment’s notice. The $100,000 per episode salary just wasn’t enough to quell the dysfunction of this on-screen family.
Stana Katic
Producer Aaron Spelling asked Shannon Doherty to leave Beverly Hills, 90210 after a series of conflicts between her and co-star Jennie Garth. At one point, the actresses even got into a full-on fistfight. It was at the request of Spelling’s daughter, Tori that the actress was forced off the show.
Spelling relented, removing Doherty from the show, even though Tori and Shannon began as friends on set. The actress later revealed that their relationship was the equivalent of “gasoline and fire”. At least she made a modest $70,000 on every episode after all was said and done.
Actress Stana Katic ended up leaving Castle as a result of a lingering contract dispute. ABC opted to have her contract canceled, rather than renegotiate any terms. That being said, $100,000 an episode would constitute a pretty decent payday.
Katic admitted to being “hurt” and “confused” at the network’s decision to let her go. Her fans shared the actress’s sentiment at the show’s cancellation before season nine. The Hollywood Reporter described the event as “the most perplexing move” they had ever witnessed regarding a show.