Certain television shows have seen characters come and go throughout their series runs. Some had left to make way for fresh stories and new blood, others had left a big hole in the cast that was unable to be filled.The reasoning behind actors' departures can be very varied. For some, it’s moving on to another project, or the prospect of a glittering movie career, likeGeorge Clooney inE.R.Some get their spin-off shows, and are part of expanding the universe and telling more stories, like David Boreanaz inAngel. Others have to leave due to scandals.
Whatever the reason may be for anactor departing a successful TV show, the viewers are always the ones to feel the brunt of it.For better or worse, audiences are the ones left to pick up the pieces after the character is gone. This could result in an exciting renaissance for the show, with the arrival of a new love interest, or a charismatic new villain. Or, it could lead to the show losing its sparkle and meeting its bitter end.
10Lisa Edelstein
Aka Dr. Lisa Cuddy InHouse
Hugh Laurie’s complex and curmudgeonly doctor had his on-again-off-again relationship with his hospital’s administrator for seven seasons before she left, never to be seen again.Houseenjoyed the highest highs, with plenty of award recognition, water-cooler moments, and really impressive ratings.
When Edelstein didn’t return for season 8, the show was able to focus on other characters, without any potential romantic distractions.
But, as time went on, storyline ideas seemed to dwindle, and the excitement of watching a new mystery illness each week wore a bit more thin, especially as the illnesses would not start to repeat. One of the big draws of the show wasHouse’s chemistry and flirtatious banter with Dr. Cuddy(Lisa Edelstein).
House
Cast
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
She was intelligent, capable, and a great foil to his usual chaotic antics. Viewers saw their relationship progress, they saw them come together and drift apart, as both characters went through their personal struggles. With the show itself seeming to be reaching the end of its life, the Cuddy/House relationship was practically on life support.When Edelstein didn’t return for season 8, the show was able to focus on other characters, without any potential romantic distractions.
9Katherine Heigl
Aka Izzie Stevens inGrey’s Anatomy
Shonda Rhimes' long-running medical drama has had its fair share of cast changes, with no one seemingly safe from being killed off, or fired. As the show started, the five interns seemed to be the main focus, with Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey, taking center stage. Their relationships with each other as well as the other doctors at Seattle Grace provided plenty of soapy drama, and the viewers lapped it up each week.
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The medical emergencies and life-and-death situations on the operating table added even more spice to each episode, but the audiences felt confident that their favorite characters could get through anything. ThenGeorge died inGrey’s Anatomy. The first of the Seattle five to leave, his death opened up a whole world of threat to characters that were seemingly untouchable.
Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
Katherine Heigl, had a solid career before the show started, and her emotional portrayal earned her an Emmy and a lot of opportunities in film. With some on-set disagreements and badly-timed press,Heigl started becoming more of a distraction for the show, than an asset. When her character inevitably left, the timing felt just right.
8Sean Bean
Aka Ned Stark InGame Of Thrones
This departure may not have been a big shock to those who had read the novels. But for anyone who tuned into the HBO show without reading the source material, the moment Ned Stark’s head was shown on a spike, the shock was unmatched. After all, he had been the big name draw among the cast that included many newcomers.It was his image sitting on the Iron Throne that was used to promote the show, and he was the beating heart of Westeros.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
However, as soon asthe beloved character played by a famous actor got killed, viewers knew they were in for a completely different ride than they expected. Even those who knew the story thought maybe the showrunners would take some liberties and offer up a different version ofGeorge R.R. Martin’sGame of Thronesworld, but having Sean Bean be the first to get killed off so brutally, really set the tone for the rest of the series.
7Shannen Doherty
Aka Brenda Walsh OnBeverly Hills 90210
One of the biggest teen shows of the 1990s, this lavish soap introduced the world to the most famous postcode of all. Viewers were drawn to the opulent lifestyle and juicy relationship drama of the young Californians. The audience was able to experience this new world through the eyes of the Walsh family, who moved to LA from the mid-west.
The fish-out-of-water story worked well for the first few seasons, allowing Doherty’s character to be part of a very salacious love triangle. By the time season four was coming to an end, the actor had made quite a reputation for herself in the press and was rumored not to get on with a few of the other cast.
Beverly Hills 90210
Beverly Hills 90210 is a teen-centric drama series that ran on Fox from 1990 to 2000. The show focuses on twins Brandon and Brenda Walsh, two teens forced to move from Minnesota to the progressive and wildly different Beverly Hills in California. 90210 explores significant and controversial topics for teens that have remained prevalent over time, such as sex, racism, and drug abuse, and became a global sensation in the early 90s.
As she was a hugely popular character and a big name in Hollywood,it seemed unthinkable that she would leave, but that’s exactly what happened. From a narrative perspective, it introduced an exciting new character in Valerie Malone (Tiffany Amber Thiessesn), and allowed new relationship avenues to be explored.Doherty went on to star inCharmed,which remains one of her most iconic credits.
6Nina Dobrev
Aka Elena/Katherine/ AmaraThe Vampire Diaries
This supernatural soap saw quite a few main characters come and go. With deaths, resurrections, and doppelgängers galore, the end very rarely meant “the end”. That was until the show’s lead decided it was time to leave.The Vampire Diaries' main focus had always been the doomed love triangle between Elena Gilbert and vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore.
By the time all the combinations had been explored, including ones that involved Dobrev playing completely different characters who just happened to look like Elena,the actor felt there was not much more left to say. The show still had a devoted audience and kept coming back season after season, but it had felt like it was on its last legs by the time the last few seasons were airing.
The Vampire Diaries
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
Actors seemed less committed, plotlines were getting more and more outrageous, and the once exciting romantic potential lost its spark. The show lasted only one season without Nina Dobrev, who (as promised) returned for the finale, buther exit was able to be that final nail thatThe Vampire Diaries’coffin needed.
5Patrick Dempsey
Aka Derek Shepard InGrey’s Anatomy
Thedeparture of Derek Shepherd fromGrey’s Anatomywas extremely shocking and controversial at the time. Especially, the fact that there was no way of bringing him back. By the time Patrick Dempsey decided to leaveGrey’s Anatomy, many fan favorites had met their tragic end. They had cried over Lexie and Mark, lamented over Yang leaving, and had known not to get too attached to anyone new coming in. But, Derek and Meredith were endgame.
4Mark Harmon
Aka Leroy Jethro Gibbs inNCIS
Having run for an impressive 18 seasons,NCISwas showing no signs of slowing down. Its star and executive producer, however, had started to feel the impact of such a hectic work schedule. Part of a popular string of investigative shows,NCISpremiered in 2003and is still going strong, with spin-offs and sequels in production as well.Mark Harmon was the face of the show for nearly two decades, so it’s not surprising that he felt he needed a break.
NCIS
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
With plans in place to have him stay on long enough to guarantee a renewal but still have an exit strategy,his last appearance came inNCISseason 19. While many fans were disappointed to see their favorite go, he’s still involved behind the scenes, ensuring the legacy of the series is protected. As his character was not officially killed off, there’s no reason to doubt that viewers might see him again at some point in the future.
3Misha Barton
Aka Marissa Cooper OnThe O.C.
In a controversial move, on the day of the season three finale, Misha Barton announced that her character on the hugely popular show,The O.C., would die. The fact that this information was revealed just hours before the episode actually aired caused quite a stir on the message boards and fan forums, but since it was 2006, the reach wasn’t quite as wide as it would potentially be nowadays.
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Then, when the inevitable happened, viewers were left with a beautifully shot final scene, and a lot to unpack after the final, heart-wrenching note of Imogen Heap’s acoustic version ofHallelujah.The character’s previous years were already tragic. She’d had an overdose, shot someone, and witnessed her close friend die in front of her eyes, and that’s not even the half of what she’d been through.
The O.C.
When troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
For Barton herself, she experienced a meteoric rise to fame cause by the huge popularity of the show, so the burnout she was experiencing was warranted.The show itself had been suffering lower ratings and a decline in quality, so it made sense to go out with a bang. Her exit will always live in TV infamy.
2Josh Charles
Aka Will Gardner InThe Good Wife
The courtroom drama gave viewers a lot of fascinating legal cases, political intrigue, and after-hours romance. The cast included some excellent actors who were able to explore these layered characters' relationships with a lot of depth and even a dash of humor.Will and Alicia’s complicated relationship was a fan-favorite from the very beginning. From being her boss, to her peer, to her romantic partner, to her rival, it somehow felt that these characters would always be connected.
The Good Wife
After being a stay-at-home mother for thirteen years, Alicia Florrick resumes her law career after her husband is imprisoned following a political corruption and sex scandal.
When Josh Charles decided not to renew his contract, the writers were left with the quandary of how to handle the character’s exit. What they came up with was a punch in the gut for most of the viewers and a tragic end for a beloved character.His death remains one of the most shocking yet iconic plot points in TV historyand a lasting legacy for the actor.
1Steve Carrell
Aka Michael Scott InThe Office
A comedic powerhouse, Carrell led the ensemble of this hilarious show with charisma and perfet timing. His excellent improvisational skills, lovable energy, and the ability to pull on the heartstrings when need be were the reasons the actor was the driving force of the show for many years.
Carrell was able to carve out a spectacular career, and still come back for one of the best series finale cameos in TV history.
The role brought him fame, awards, and many opportunities, so it was no wonder he wanted to explore them.The Officewas still one of the top-rated when he decided not to renew his contract, creating a big problem for its creators. The cast was like a tight-knit family, and had a very deep bench to explore, so the decision was made to continue.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
They reinforced star power of John Krasinski and Ed Helms with big names like Will Ferrell and James Spader, and gave the rest of the employees a turn in the spotlight. While the show was not the same without the “World’s Best Boss”,the last few seasons were still quality storytelling. Carrell was able to carve out a spectacular career, and still come back for one of the best series finale cameos in TV history.
