Actors Who Left Successful Series

[kunilou]

Some of them, like Clint Eastwood, managed to hit on an even bigger career arc. Others, like Maclean Stevenson, saw their careers go right in the dumper.

And there are a bunch, like Shelley Long, who bounce along but never with the same success they once enjoyed.

Who are your favorite sucesses and failures?

[Leaper]

What successful series did Clint Eastwood leave? I can't find any TV work in his filmography that wasn't a one-shot guest appearance.

ETA: Oops, missed Rawhide. I was fooled because he started it after his first movie. I assume his movie work up to that point hadn't made much of a mark?

[Jophiel]

I guess George Clooney did all right for himself after leaving ER. And ER did all right for itself without Clooney.

[Miller]

David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue to do... well, not much of anything, really, until he ended up back on TV in CSI.

[RikWriter]

What about Caruso? He left one successful series for an unsuccessful movie career and then went back to another successful series.
Dammit, beat by seconds.

[PaleAndTragic]

The first female investigator on NCIS, Sasha Alexander, she left and I can't recall seeing her in anything.

[Dewey Finn]

Suzanne Somers famously left Three's Company after a salary dispute. It took a long time before her career recovered.

[ZipperJJ]

Andy Richter left Late Night With Conan O'Brien and made a sitcom that went nowhere (albeit a decent sitcom). Lucky for all of us, he came back when Conan took over the Tonight Show.

[enalzi]

Andy Richter left Late Night With Conan O'Brien and made a sitcom that went nowhere (albeit a decent sitcom). Lucky for all of us, he came back when Conan took over the Tonight Show.

Make that three sitcoms.

[Freudian Slit]

The actress who played Sharona on Monk...what was her name?

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Molly Ringwald was on "Facts Of Life" for the first two(?) seasons, and after leaving was the only member of the show to have any significant career...............

[Don Draper]

Rob Morrow - left "Northern Exposure" to become a big Hollywood movie star, but didn't. He's back on another quirky, culty TV series "Numb3rs."

David Duchovny also ditched "the X-Files" for a movie career that never happened, and he, also, is back in a quirky, culty TV series "Californication."

Going back a long way, Jeff Conaway left "Taxi" to become a movie star...and his career pretty much amounted to an embarrassing role in the movie "Grease" (in which he looked at least a decade too old to be playing a teenager, but at least he wasn't the only one.)

And then there was Farrah. You remember her story? This little show called "Charlie's Angels", she leaving after only being on it for a year, a BAD movie called 'Saturn 3'...long slump. But eventually, her career did turn around and she got accolades & respect as an actress, so her story DID have a happy ending.

Oh wait...

[ZipperJJ]

Make that three sitcoms.

No shit! Looked it up, you're right. It sucks, too because I think he's really funny.

The actress who played Sharona on Monk...what was her name?

Bitty Schram. She's the "there's no crying in baseball!" lady.

[wedgehed]

Pernell Roberts left Bonanza to pursue serious acting roles.





Like Trapper John, M.D..

[Bijou Drains]

Wayne Rogers left MASH and now he's big in giving advice on stocks.

[dropzone]

That's cuz Wayne Rogers quit MASH because it was taking time away from making loads of money in business. (remembering an article from 5th grade (1964-65) so I've no idea if it's true) It's like the guy who, in his spare time, invented the artificial ruby. After a while he gave notice at his day job, saying it was no longer covering his income tax.

Checking Wikipedia I see that the first artificial rubies were created by French guys in the mid-19th century, not an American after the establishment of the IRS. Yet another reason for parents to question if their kids really will receive a better education in a Catholic school.

[kenobi 65]

Larry Linville (Frank Burns) also left M*A*S*H early on. While he continued to work consistently (almost entirely in TV), he never really had another success.

[RealityChuck]

John Travolta left Welcome Back, Kotter and seemed to do pretty well afterward.

[mhendo]

David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue to do... well, not much of anything, really, until he ended up back on TV in CSI.Caruso's replacement, Jimmy Smits, left NYPD Blue early in Season 6, when the show was still doing extremely well. The show carried on for another 6+ seasons. Smits then had more than a season on the highly successful West Wing, the lead in a rather dud series called Cane, and an excellent guest star role in Season 3 of Dexter.

[panache45]

Larry Linville (Frank Burns) also left M*A*S*H early on. While he continued to work consistently (almost entirely in TV), he never really had another success.

Same for Gary Burghoff.

[panache45]

Suzanne Somers famously left Three's Company after a salary dispute. It took a long time before her career recovered.

Oh, and when will that happen?

[Bijou Drains]

Smits was also in Star Wars Episodes II and III as Bail Organa, adoptive father of Princess Leia.

[alphaboi867]

Well Ashton Kutcher left That 70s Show before it's final season.

[Dewey Finn]

Suzanne Somers famously left Three's Company after a salary dispute. It took a long time before her career recovered.Oh, and when will that happen?
Well, she did star on Step by Step from 1991-97, starting about ten years after she left Three's Company.

[DWMarch]

I don't know if Voyager is considered successful or not but Jennifer Lien left in Season 4, denying herself 3 years of residuals. If she has a post-Voyager career I haven't heard of it.

Similarly, on Deep Space Nine, Terry Farrell left at the end of Season 6 (of 7!) but went on to do Becker which IIRC was fairly successful.

Gates McFadden left Star Trek: The Next Generation at the end of season 1 but was back in season 3.

Charisma Carpenter left Angel at the end of season 4 but IIRC didn't hurt for money doing some T&A flicks and Veronica Mars appearances.

Monica Potter left (or was booted) from Boston Legal at the end of season 1. Not sure where she ended up. Mark Valley lasted until season 4 (of 5) but I think he's got a series now... except it's a sci-fi series on Fox. Nice knowing you, Mark. Julie Bowen left around the same time and ditched her horrible pantsuits to become "yoga ass" on Weeds.

[Rilchiam]

It's too early to determine if David Tennant's decision to leave Doctor Who was wise or foolish. I keep hearing that he's supposed to play Bilbo Baggins in the film version of The Hobbit. If that comes off, he'll be in good shape. (Though I keep getting stuck on "He's way too tall and skinny to be a hobbit!") If it doesn't, he may end up filed in the Caruso category.

[Kamino Neko]

Larry Linville (Frank Burns) also left M*A*S*H early on. While he continued to work consistently (almost entirely in TV), he never really had another success.

It should be noted that this wasn't a 'David Caruso' situation - Linville was just tired of playing Frank, no matter how successful the show was, and wanted to do...pretty much anything else by that point.

So, he seems to have gotten what he wanted by jumping ship when he did.

[TPWombat]

Denise Crosby left TNG early on. Doesn't seem to have done anything major since then, though a lot of guest appearances in series and the occasional minor film role.

[Robot Arm]

Almost forgot one of the classic examples.

Chevy Chase

Somehow, Saturday Night Live has managed to struggle on for 30+ years without him.

[astro]

How many of these performers left vs being left. I'd imagine not all of these exits were voluntary.

[audit1]

Ron Howard grew tired of playing Richie on Happy Days and seems to have had some success as a director.

[Bijou Drains]

Almost every original actor left NYPD blue. At the end only Sipowicz and Medavoy were left.

After Smits left Ricky Schroeder joined the show but he left before the show ended as well.

[Marley23]

Well Ashton Kutcher left That 70s Show before it's final season.
So did Topher Grace. He was in Spider-Man 3 but hasn't achieved as much fame afterward as Kutcher.

[Gyrate]

It's too early to determine if David Tennant's decision to leave Doctor Who was wise or foolish. I keep hearing that he's supposed to play Bilbo Baggins in the film version of The Hobbit. If that comes off, he'll be in good shape. (Though I keep getting stuck on "He's way too tall and skinny to be a hobbit!") If it doesn't, he may end up filed in the Caruso category.
You're joking, right? Tennant will have no problem finding stage or television work in Britain. He can act rings around Caruso and is very popular indeed.

[Wheelz]

Sherry Stringfield left NYPD Blue after 1 season and took a role on ER. We can call that one a push.
Then she left ER in season 3. Apparently having realized what a mistake that was, she returned to ER in its 8th season, only to leave again in the 12th. (The show limped on for another 3 years.)

Aside from those two credits, her career consists of some obscure movies, a failed TV series, and a handful of guest appearances. Sherry, if you ever find yourself on a hit show again, just stay put!

[astro]

Almost every original actor left NYPD blue. At the end only Sipowicz and Medavoy were left.

After Smits left Ricky Schroeder joined the show but he left before the show ended as well.

The thing I remember about NYPD Blue was how Sipowicz really was the Angel of Death. Anyone closely involved with him, family or co-workers, was eventually going to be killed off.

Just off hand

His son & new police officer killed
His wife shot in court
His Jimmy Smits partner stabbed & dies of blood poisoning
His Ricky Schroder partner shot & rolled up in a carpet

[Bijou Drains]

Jimmy Smits character needed a heart transplant and got one but the new heart went bad and he died. Maybe somebody else on the show was stabbed?

[RealityChuck]

You're joking, right? Tennant will have no problem finding stage or television work in Britain. He can act rings around Caruso and is very popular indeed.Tennant has already been cast to star in a US series next year.

Mandy Patinkin left two successful series (Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds). He has no problem getting work on Broadway and with recording albums.

[Serenata67]

So did Topher Grace. He was in Spider-Man 3 but hasn't achieved as much fame afterward as Kutcher.

He also didn't marry Demi Moore and get free publicity from all that hooey.

And to be honest, has Kutcher done anything decent lately?

In Topher's defense, I did like him in Traffic, Win a Date With Tad Hamilton and his bit parts in the Ocean's series.

[Labrador Deceiver]

I guess George Clooney did all right for himself after leaving ER. And ER did all right for itself without Clooney.

It did alright, for sure. However, it was never as high in the ratings after Clooney left.

[Marley23]

And to be honest, has Kutcher done anything decent lately?
Not that I know of. But he's more famous now than he was when he was doing the show. You're right that his marriage had a lot to do with that, but so did Punk'd.

In Topher's defense, I did like him in Traffic, Win a Date With Tad Hamilton and his bit parts in the Ocean's series.
I like him myself and I wasn't criticizing him.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Mandy Patinkin left two successful series (Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds). He has no problem getting work on Broadway and with recording albums.

And Dead Like Me, which wasn't highly successful, but popular enough that they made a movie a few years after the show ended, which Patinkin was not in, though the rest of the cast was.

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

Going back a long way, Jeff Conaway left "Taxi" to become a movie star...and his career pretty much amounted to an embarrassing role in the movie "Grease" (in which he looked at least a decade too old to be playing a teenager, but at least he wasn't the only one.)

But didn't Grease come out before Taxi?

[don't ask]

Surely the ultimate achiever in popular culture is Shaun Williamson who played Barry Evans in the British soap EastEnders for 10 years.

Later Williamson, sort of played himself in the Ricky Gervais BBC comedy Extras.
He is an unemployable actor perhaps due to the useless management provided by Andy's agent, played by Stephen Merchant. However he is always referred to as "Barry from EastEnders", and in one episode the agent tells the story of "Barry" leaving EastEnders to become a movie star and failing.

[Contrapuntal]

Steve McQueen left Wanted : Dead or Alive and had a nice movie career. This was before most of you whippersnappers were born.

[TommyTutone]

I guess George Clooney did all right for himself after leaving ER. And ER did all right for itself without Clooney.

George Clooney left TWO shows titled ER (well, one is E/R), but only one of the shows went on well without him.

[zamboniracer]

Seth Green left his part as "Oz" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and has done very well for himself, working steadily and co-creating "Robot Chicken."

Good for him, but I loved Oz and the show missed him terribly. He had the best one-liners in the Buffy-verse.

[myskepticsight]

William Petersen left CSI during the 9th season, CSI was still rated #4. He left to do theater work and I at least have not seen him since on TV or film. The show's ratings seemed to have drop a bit since his departure. He arguably was the main character.

[blondebear]

George Maharis contracted hepatitis and had to leave Route 66 in the middle of the third season. He continued to act in TV, films, and theater for many years after that.

[TV time]

James Garner left Maverick early and they replaced him with (among others) Roger Moore as cousin Beau Maverick which I always saw as weird casting. Garner did well on the big screen and with subsequent small screen appearances although a couple of other attempts at television Maverick remakes kind of missed the mark.

Harry Morgan left December Bride early for his own spinoff series Pete and Gladys (I think the first-ever television spinoff) and while it faired poorly, he didn't. He was a regular fixture both on the big screen and in two more very successful series.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Seth Green left his part as "Oz" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and has done very well for himself, working steadily and co-creating "Robot Chicken."

Good for him, but I loved Oz and the show missed him terribly. He had the best one-liners in the Buffy-verse.

Wasn't he fairly well known by that point? I remember him in Austin Powers, which came out about the same time Buffy started.

[Pocito]

Thomas Haden Church left Wings for a crappy sitcom that quickly failed. He disappeared until they dragged him back for the movie Sideways.

[TV time]

Both Dennis Weaver and Burt Reynolds left Gunsmoke and both had successful careers after the Saturday western. Weaver eventually ended up with McCloud and Reynolds ended up with a number of different things. Come to think of it, didn't Reynolds also leave Riverboat early?

Jim Nabors and Don Knotts both left the Andy Griffin Show early and both initially did well. Nabors with Gomer Pyle and Knotts with his Disney films and his teaming with Tim Conway.

[JThunder]

I don't know if Voyager is considered successful or not but Jennifer Lien left in Season 4, denying herself 3 years of residuals. If she has a post-Voyager career I haven't heard of it.That wasn't her choice, though. The producers got rid of her in order to make room for Seven of Nine.

[TV time]

Regis Philbin left the Joey Bishop Show early. Actually Bishop fired him on air. It took awhile, but he has come back - arguably more successfully than the guy that fired him (at least in the medium from which he was fired).

[Labrador Deceiver]

Regis Philbin left the Joey Bishop Show early. Actually Bishop fired him on air. It took awhile, but he has come back - arguably more successfully than the guy that fired him (at least in the medium from which he was fired).

That's not quite how I thought it went down. I thought Regis quit on air, but was brought back by Bishop the following night.

Some people think it was possibly a ratings stunt.

[TV time]

That's not quite how I thought it went down. I thought Regis quit on air, but was brought back by Bishop the following night.

Some people think it was possibly a ratings stunt.It could be as you remember it. I was very young when I saw it. Besides the success of the program was questionable and this thread is "Actors who left successful series". In addition virtually no one would call Regis an actor.

[ivylass]

That wasn't her choice, though. The producers got rid of her in order to make room for Seven of Nine.

I thought she was pitching a fit over the ears (IIRC, her hairstyle was changed from the cute pixie to a longer version). Plus, her species is extremely short-lived, so I don't know if she would have lasted out the series anyway.

[Rilchiam]

You're joking, right? Tennant will have no problem finding stage or television work in Britain. He can act rings around Caruso and is very popular indeed.

Well, good! All I know is, I heard he'd had to leave Hamlet because he'd hurt his back or something. (I'm American; I don't get every tidbit of info about UK actors.)

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Charisma Carpenter left Angel at the end of season 4 but IIRC didn't hurt for money doing some T&A flicks and Veronica Mars appearances.I don't know if she counts in the spirit of the OP. She initially left for maternity leave, then came back long enough to wrap up her story line.

[zamboniracer]

Wasn't (Seth Green) fairly well known by that point? I remember him in Austin Powers, which came out about the same time Buffy started.

True enough, but so what? The thread isn't only about actors who weren't well known before they were on a successful series that they then left, it is about actors who left successful series.

McLean Stevenson, the poster boy for this thread, was well known for being on The Doris Day Show for three years before signing on to M*A*S*H, after all.

[jali]

Bill Cosby left The Electric Company after a season or two.

He did pretty well. ;)

[JThunder]

I thought she was pitching a fit over the ears (IIRC, her hairstyle was changed from the cute pixie to a longer version). Plus, her species is extremely short-lived, so I don't know if she would have lasted out the series anyway.I'm sure that there was more than one reason for her depature. The bottom line, however, is that she didn't simply leave. Rather, she was let go from the series (cite (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Jennifer_Lien)).

[bleach]

Coupling (UK) was dealt a blow when Richard Coyle (Jeff) left.

A couple of casualties from Ally McBeal:


Lisa Nicole Carson, Ally's roommate, was allegedly fired (she was also fired from ER). Doesn't look like she's done much in show business since then.
Gil Bellows, Ally's ex, left the show to star in a CIA show called "The Agency". He's still finding work, but arguably not as well-known as he was in Ally McBeal.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Couple who haven't done so well post departure:

Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show)
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement)

[RealityChuck]

Coupling (UK) was dealt a blow when Richard Coyle (Jeff) left. But it was necessary for the wind-up of the series. If Jeff had remained, there would have been loose ends (and Jeff was not capable as a character of doing what Oliver did).

Harry Morgan left December Bride to go to the spinoff series Pete and Gladys. He continued to star in TV shows for years after that.

[TWDuke]

A successful ensemble show has a decent chance of survival when one cast member leaves. But how many examples are there of a series carrying on despite the loss of the star after whom the series was named?

Valerie Harper (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001320/) left Valerie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090540/) after two seasons, but the show survived for a couple more years. (The name changed, of course, but the setting and most of the cast were the same.) Harper has continued to work, but hasn't had quite as high a profile since.

[KneadToKnow]

Monica Potter left (or was booted) from Boston Legal at the end of season 1.

Don't forget Lake Bell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1128572/). No one could walk down a hall like her.

[CalMeacham]

That's cuz Wayne Rogers quit MASH because it was taking time away from making loads of money in business. (remembering an article from 5th grade (1964-65) so I've no idea if it's true)


?????


M*A*S*H* didn't start until well after 1965, and I don't think anyone knew or cared about Wayne Rogers then.

Did you mistype twice, and mean 1974-75?

Otherwise your post baffles me.

[BigT]

That wasn't her choice, though. The producers got rid of her in order to make room for Seven of Nine.

Well, yes, but originally they were going to get rid of Garrett Wang (Harry Kim). But he made People magazine's People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People, so they decided to keep him. Since they only had contracts for nine actors, someone had to go. Lien was not still under contract, and had allergies to the glue used for her ears, and the producers decided it was easier to let her go than to fix it. No one knew until they got the script for the departure episode.

You'll note that Wang's character almost dies in the last episode of season 3. Yet, in season 4, he miraculously gets better (with Doc's help, of course). You'll also notice performers acting out of character in some season 4 episodes, since their part was originally written for Lien.

[racer72]

John Travolta left Welcome Back, Kotter and seemed to do pretty well afterward.

Just saw something about him a few weeks ago. He was originally panned for his decision to leave Kotter, his choices of work did very little to enhance his career. It wasn't till he turned badass in Pulp Fiction that his career really took off.

[dropzone]

Tennant has already been cast to star in a US series next year.Well, a pilot. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i8161b51e045b5cf671ade33a5b52e773) Set in Chicago, so the kids are looking forward to seeing him film establishing shots. They seem to be Housing him and it could work.

[Skara_Brae]

Lola Glaudini (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322164/) left Criminal Minds after a season and 1/2. I don't think she has done much since.

Vanessa Ferlito (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1089685/) left CSI:NY after about the same. As I recall, she left because the series filmed in LA and she missed her boyfriend in New York.

Sasha Alexander (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018734/) has already been mentioned. I have wondered about her though...How does it feel to leave a show and then have it become a #1 hit?

Incidentally, I watch all 3 of these shows and wound up liking the replacement actress much better than the original...

[NDP]

Just saw something about him a few weeks ago. He was originally panned for his decision to leave Kotter, his choices of work did very little to enhance his career. It wasn't till he turned badass in Pulp Fiction that his career really took off.

That article was either a put-on or written by someone below the age of 25 with poor research skills.

Travolta had two consecutive megahits (Saturday Night Fever and Grease) around the time he left "Welcome Back Kotter"--a show that was imploding due to internal strife. It's absurd to claim Travolta hurt his career by choosing to leave a show that was already on its last legs when he was one of the top box office draws in the world.

[AHunter3]

Rob Lowe, far from being an unknown whose career was made for him by being on West Wing, was already a name brand by then and apparently given the notion that he was to be its star. Rumor has it that he was not real happy when it mutated to become far more of an ensemble show than one with a main star or two, and that that's why he left. It doesn't seem to have done his career much good, and West Wing rolled on quite nicely in his absence.

[notfrommensa]

I might be dreaming, but I seem to remember Patrick Duffy leaving Dallas. And then reappearing. Barbara Bel Geddes also left, came back with a different body and face, and then came back as the original.

How many actors/actresses have left Law and Order over the years?

Roseanne's daughter (Lecy Goransen) left the show, another actress replaced her years (Sarah Chalke) later, then Lecy came back, and and then Sarah was back. George Clooney was also a semi-regular character on Roseanne in the first season.

The neighbor husband in Married W/ Children left, and then came back sporadically.

Didn't Gordie leave the Mary Tyler Moore show leave and then come back as Florida's husband? And then he died? Florida, who worked as maid for Maude where apparently she had a long commute from Chicago.

Delta Burke and Jean Smart left Designing Women. Julia Duffy replaced Delta, who then also left.

[Duckster]

Caruso's replacement, Jimmy Smits, left NYPD Blue early in Season 6, when the show was still doing extremely well. The show carried on for another 6+ seasons. Smits then had more than a season on the highly successful West Wing, the lead in a rather dud series called Cane, and an excellent guest star role in Season 3 of Dexter.

Jimmy Smits was in the first five seasons of L.A. Law. He was also Sonny Crockett's original partner in Miami Vice.

Delta Burke and Jean Smart left Designing Women. Julia Duffy replaced Delta, who then also left.

I believe Delta Burke was fired from Designing Women, as was her replacement Julia Duffy.

[Odesio]

Well, yes, but originally they were going to get rid of Garrett Wang (Harry Kim). But he made People magazine's People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People, so they decided to keep him. Since they only had contracts for nine actors, someone had to go. Lien was not still under contract, and had allergies to the glue used for her ears, and the producers decided it was easier to let her go than to fix it. No one knew until they got the script for the departure episode.


You know, I always heard she was forced out of the show because of drug or alcohol problems. I already thought Voyager was a pretty crappy show and this just makes me think even less of it.

[mhendo]

Jimmy Smits was in the first five seasons of L.A. Law. He was also Sonny Crockett's original partner in Miami Vice.Right, i was aware of that. I was focusing on his career after he chose to leave NYPD Blue.

[Freudian Slit]

Sasha Alexander (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018734/) has already been mentioned. I have wondered about her though...How does it feel to leave a show and then have it become a #1 hit?

What show would that be? The only one I recognize on her list is Dawson's Creek which was already popular.

Wow, Navy NCIS was more popular than I thought.

[Rhythmdvl]

Bill Cosby left The Electric Company after a season or two.

He did pretty well. ;)

Another actor left that show to go on to play a bunch of bit parts. Freeman somethingorother? Generally soft spoken. Avuncular. May be seen with a crowbar.

[Krokodil]

Jorja Fox and Emily Procter both left The West Wing for CSI shows. I thought those were huge steps down, but ratings have proven me wrong, I guess.

[Skara_Brae]

What show would that be? The only one I recognize on her list is Dawson's Creek which was already popular.

Wow, Navy NCIS was more popular than I thought.


Yes, NCIS is an unusual show in that it became more popular the longer it went on. It premired at #1 this year, in its 7th season.

[Annie-Xmas]

In order of appearance, George Clooney left Facts of Life, Roseanne, AND ER. He has to be the Most Successful Actor Who Left The Most Most Successful Shows.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Lisa Nicole Carson, Ally's roommate, was allegedly fired (she was also fired from ER). Doesn't look like she's done much in show business since then.]FYI: Lisa Nicole Carson was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has retired from performing.

[KneadToKnow]

I might be dreaming, but I seem to remember Patrick Duffy leaving Dallas. And then reappearing.

I see what you did there.

[jali]

Another actor left that show to go on to play a bunch of bit parts. Freeman somethingorother? Generally soft spoken. Avuncular. May be seen with a crowbar.

:p

[TBG]

Similarly, on Deep Space Nine, Terry Farrell left at the end of Season 6 (of 7!) but went on to do Becker which IIRC was fairly successful.

She also left Becker early.

[dropzone]

?????


M*A*S*H* didn't start until well after 1965, and I don't think anyone knew or cared about Wayne Rogers then.

Did you mistype twice, and mean 1974-75?

Otherwise your post baffles me. That's cuz Wayne Rogers quit MASH because it was taking time away from making loads of money in business. (remembering an article from 5th grade (1964-65) so I've no idea if it's true) It's like the guy who, in his spare time, invented the artificial ruby. After a while he gave notice at his day job, saying it was no longer covering his income tax.A period indicates the end of a thought. Wayne Rogers made a lot of money on his investments and it got that, especially since his role on MASH was reduced because of a contract dispute, showing up at the studio was cutting into his investing time. Period, AKA: Full Stop, followed by a parenthetical phrase as I recall an article I read in fifth grade, which is followed by the recollection.

[Icerigger]

Mandy Patinkin left Chicago Hope because of family issues.

[Annie-Xmas]

Mandy Patinkin left Chicago Hope because of family issues.

Mandy Patinkin left Criminal Minds by walking off the set and never coming back.

[don't ask]

Mandy Patinkin left Criminal Minds by walking off the set and never coming back.

I loved the story I read later. Apparently he offered to come back and shoot an episode to explain his character's disappearance and the rest of the cast said no, they refused to be in a room with him let alone a scene.

It surprised me because he always seemed such an affable guy in interviews but apparently most people he worked with hated him with great passion.

[Annie-Xmas]

Believe you me, if I were a actor working on a series and the lead just walked out, I wouldn't work with him either.

Notice that Patinkin, for all his great stage talent, hasn't been offered a Broadway role since his hissy fit. Broadway doesn't have time for such nonsense.

[bleach]

FYI: Lisa Nicole Carson was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has retired from performing.

Thanks SMC, I didn't know that. I hope that she's receiving treatment and doing well.

To add to the thread, Shannon Doherty left Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed. She came back for the new 90210 spin-off series as Brenda Walsh, her original 90210 character.

Likewise, Daphne Zuniga left Melrose Place before its complete run but reprised her role in the new Melrose Place for one episode.

[Icerigger]

Speaking of Shannon Doherty she left Charmed as well.

[NDP]

Speaking of Shannon Doherty she left Charmed as well.

Wasn't she fired (as she was from 90210)?

[cmosdes]

John Tesh wasn't an actor, but he was on a successful show and left it (Entertainment Tonight?). In flipping through radio stations I hear his show every now and again so I assume he is enjoying some success. I think he is also an accomplished musician.

[notfrommensa]

Victoria Principal Dallas

[dropzone]

John Tesh wasn't an actor, but he was on a successful show and left it (Entertainment Tonight?). In flipping through radio stations I hear his show every now and again so I assume he is enjoying some success. I think he is also an accomplished musician.Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. (waking up to make a snarky comment) He gets the sharps and flats right, so I suppose that makes him "accomplished."

ETA: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[Freudian Slit]

A period indicates the end of a thought. Wayne Rogers made a lot of money on his investments and it got that, especially since his role on MASH was reduced because of a contract dispute, showing up at the studio was cutting into his investing time. Period, AKA: Full Stop, followed by a parenthetical phrase as I recall an article I read in fifth grade, which is followed by the recollection.

So, what did the article you read in '64 have to do with MASH?

[tumbleddown]

The first female investigator on NCIS, Sasha Alexander, she left and I can't recall seeing her in anything.
She had a blink and miss it role in Mission Impossible III (one of the guests at the engagement party at the beginning) and a brief role in the recent Jennifer Aniston movie the name of which has already slipped my mind because it was just that memorable, or, you know, not.
Mandy Patinkin left two successful series (Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds). He has no problem getting work on Broadway and with recording albums.
Patinkin's exit from Criminal Minds is controversial, well both exits are controversial, but when he left Chicago Hope it's pretty well understood now that it's because he was going blind. He had his first cornea transplant within a year after leaving. His second cornea transplant seems to coincide with the timing of the Dead Like Me movie which could explain his absence there.
Rob Lowe, far from being an unknown whose career was made for him by being on West Wing, was already a name brand by then and apparently given the notion that he was to be its star. Rumor has it that he was not real happy when it mutated to become far more of an ensemble show than one with a main star or two, and that that's why he left. It doesn't seem to have done his career much good, and West Wing rolled on quite nicely in his absence.
Rob's been on Brothers & Sisters since its first season. I think he's going pretty well for himself.
Wasn't she fired (as she was from 90210)?
Doherty was let go from Charmed because Alyssa Milano (with backing from Holly Marie Combs) laid the ultimatum on Aaron Spelling: her or me. To add insult to injury, in the episode before her character was killed off, she was turned into a dog. Ouch.

My vote, a guy whose name I had to look up: David Garrison, who played Marcy's first husband on Married with Children. He lasted 3.5 seasons, the show went on to have 11. He's now doing Broadway theatre, apparently.

[TBG]

To add to the thread, Shannon Doherty left Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed. coloring added by me

Very next post.

Speaking of Shannon Doherty she left Charmed as well.

:p

She also left Scare Tactics, to be replaced by Stephen Baldwin and later Tracy Morgan. But that was a hosting gig, more than an acting gig (she did act in a prank or two, though)

[Icerigger]

Sorry about that, sometimes you fail to see what is right in front of your eyes!

[Markxxx]

Valarie Harper's situation was somewhat unique. In additon to starring in the show, she also owned a good part of it. So when she left the show, and Sandy Duncan replaced her, she was still getting paid a decent amount of money. So Harper had an incentive NOT to do anything to harm the show, as it was still making her money, whether she was on it or not.

Suzanne Somers had "She's The Sheriff" for two years as well as "Step By Step." Somers had said she easily made over twice the money from her Thighmaster, than she would've ever made from "Three's Company."

Both Polly Holliday and Chloris Leechman, left their sitcoms for their own spin-offs, which did well in their first season but then quickly tanked. The same can be said for the Norman Fell and Audra Lindley who left "Three's Company" to do their own spin off, which also did great the first year, then tanked.

[Annie-Xmas]

Johnny Depp didn't do so badly after he left 21 Jump Street

[TWDuke]

Lassie went through a few complete cast turnovers during its 19-year run, but of all the regulars on the show, the best-known human must be Cloris Leachman, even though her participation on the show was largely forgotten.

She was the first actress to play Timmy's mother, but was let go after only one season. Some sources say she disliked the role and deliberately upset the primary sponsor by disparaging Cambell's Soup in an interview, others say she just wasn't right for the part. In any case, June Lockhart took over and became a television icon. When the "Lassie" was first syndicated and for many years afterward, the Leachman episodes were excluded.

[bleach]

That's interesting about Lassie TWDuke.

I have another related one: Steve Burns left Blue's Clues after ~7 years. He was the only human in that particular show's cast.

A set of actors that I didn't see mentioned was the original cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Notably, Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, and Frank Conniff all left. I guess one could argue about how successful MST3K was, but it was one of those shows where there was turnover in the entire cast (save Kevin Murphy). Still, the show rolled with the changes.

[MadTheSwine]

Well Ashton Kutcher left That 70s Show before it's final season.i am pretty sure Ashton was in 4 or 5 episodes in the final season.

I see what you did there.
As I'm sure everyone else did

[Dolores Reborn]

Jean Stapleton left All in the Family, and had lots of work after that.

[Jim's Son]

Norman Fell and his tv wife Aura Lindley left "Three's Company" to star in their own spinoff "The Ropers". Apparently Fell was told he could return to "Three's Company" if the spinoff failed but they wouldn't let him when it did. They had one actor (Don Knotts) playing the part of two and could save on salary.

Tom Lowell left "Combat!" after two seasons although it was his agent's idea and not his. Got him a role in "That Darn Cat!" and a few other tv appearances.

[Krokodil]

Amy Locane--who was so wonderful in Cry Baby--was in the first season of Melrose Place, and was booted right before it caught fire. She's appeared steadily in bit parts ever since.

[Apollyon]

Jeff Conaway left "Taxi" to become a movie star...and his career pretty much amounted to an embarrassing role in the movie "Grease"...

But didn't Grease come out before Taxi?
Kinda, Grease was 1978 and so was his first appearance in Taxi, and if I recall correctly he was performing the "Danny" role in Grease on stage before it became a movie and it was decided that a bigger name was needed for the star.

Looking at Jeff Conaway's IMDB page (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001063/) there are over 60 entries post Taxi, including the 5 series of Babylon 5 (along with some pretty dire movies from the look of it)... so while not an "A list" star by any stretch I think "solidly working actor" would be pretty accurate.

[TBG]

Jean Stapleton left All in the Family, and had lots of work after that.

No, she never left AITF. Don't feel bad though, lots of people make that mistake, or think Edith was killed off. Actually, she had a greatly reduced role on the followup series Archie Bunker's Place, and she left that show, which is when Edith was actually killed off.

[WarmNPrickly]

Terry Farrell left Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to go act in the quality show Becker. I may be one of the few ST fans that much prefers her replacement. Jadzia was never a believable character.

[TBG]

Terry Farrell left Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to go act in the quality show Becker.
pssst... see post 25