# Actors who left hit shows for "better opportunities" and disappeared **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693 "2013-02-18T14:27:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/41 "2013-02-18T18:39:08Z")
> [@missred](#): > > Yet another M_A_S\*H alumni: Larry Linville. Alumnus (sing.) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/42 "2013-02-18T18:55:27Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > While the Rob Morrow returned successfully to TV, he did not hit it big in movies, as he’d hoped. . IIRC, he left Northern Exposure after a series of salary disputes, not necessarily just to pursue a movie career (though I imagine he wouldn’t have pushed for more money if he didn’t think he could get work elsewhere). Even when it doesn’t work-out, there are pretty good arguments for actors getting out while the getting is good, rather then ride a show till its ratings drop and their looks start to go. If they leave while their popularity is high, they may not end up in any good projects and end up fizziling, but at least they’ll be offered a few projects and have the chance. If they wait till the show they were associated with dies a slow death, there’s a much smaller chance they’ll even have a chance to get on a second successful project. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/43 "2013-02-18T19:08:59Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Julianna Margulies left ER for greener pastures, never really found them and returned for the final season (I don’t know how many appearances). Sherry Stringfield left ER during its third season, breaking her contract and getting headlines for the sudden departure. She was been nominated for Best Actress Emmys each of those three seasons. She said the filming schedule was grueling and she wanted a more normal life, so perhaps she doesn’t fit the description of looking for “better opportunities.” She came back as a regular on the show five years later in 2001, then left again in 2005. Looks like she works steadily, though not abundantly, in relatively low-profile gigs. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/44 "2013-02-18T20:06:30Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > She went to court and was awarded many millions from Lorimar and the network. They were apparently at least as at fault as she was. My recollection was a win against Lorimar but a loss against the network.Still proving the point that she wasn’t all to blame by any means. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/45 "2013-02-18T20:13:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > A slightly different example is Steven Hill, aka Dan Briggs, the original leader of the IMF on _Mission: Impossible_. He lost his role because as an Orthodox Jew, he refused to work after sundown and on the Sabbath, throwing the production schedule into disarray (_M:I_ was always behind schedule and over budget). He also was bent on forming a prayer group with people from Desilu, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Herb Solow, and Bob Justman from _Star Trek_, which was filmed on the same lot. I didn’t know this. I remember the first season of MI, and the dim memories of the guy before Peter Graves. Looking this up now I see there were a number of cast changes later in the series, after I’d stopped watching. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/46 "2013-02-18T20:28:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I didn’t know this. I remember the first season of MI, and the dim memories of the guy before Peter Graves. They were constantly filming around Hill’s absences, to the point where he simply didn’t go on missions (Rollin would usually take over) or was the guy who “ìmpersonated” (i.e., was replaced by) the guest star. Several times the opening sequence was a repeat (albeit with different tape recordings and photographs) or had another member of the team (probably Rollin or Cinnamon) accepting their new mission. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/47 "2013-02-18T20:40:22Z")
Chuck Cunningham left \*Happy Days \*after only a couple of episodes to pursue a professional basketball career, but he never made a team. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/48 "2013-02-18T20:45:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > But he didn’t disappear. He left acting to become a financial advisor/planner, and is, by all accounts, one of the best there is in LA. Client list a mile long, very respected and making more money doing that than he ever could have made as an actor. Exactly. MASH was actually costing Wayne Rogers money. As I understand it, he had asked for more screen time, as he wasn’t enjoying being little more than a side kick. The producers told him no, and he gave them the one fingered salute. I can’t really blame him. Why stick with something you don’t enjoy,and is costing you money? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/49 "2013-02-18T20:52:07Z")
[Brian Dunkleman](http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/former-american-idol-co-host-brian-dunkleman-breaks-his-silence-3973.php) left as co-host of American Idol after the first season to concentrate on acting. I his words, “I’m not saying it was a good decision.” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/50 "2013-02-18T20:53:57Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’d mention Terry Farrell leaving _DS9_, but Nicole de Boer is just so scrumptious. Nothing against de Boer, but I always thought it was \*huge \*mistake to make the new Dax host female. Having Dax return to DS9 as a male would’ve been far more interesting. > [@cochrane](#): > > Farrell left DS9 to co-star in Becker with Ted Danson. She lasted four years there before being replaced. She’s disappeared since then, but I’d say leaving DS9 for Becker wasn’t a bad career move for her. The show did well in the ratings for CBS and reruns continue to be shown in syndication. It seems like most Star Trek actors “disappear” after their show ends. Shatner, Stewart, and Bakula being the major exceptions. Oh, and Koenig had a recurring role on B5 and was in that movie with ancient aliens on the Moon. I know alot of them have ended up working behind the camera though. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/51 "2013-02-18T21:11:08Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Exactly. MASH was actually costing Wayne Rogers money. As I understand it, he had asked for more screen time, as he wasn’t enjoying being little more than a side kick. The producers told him no, and he gave them the one fingered salute. > > I can’t really blame him. Why stick with something you don’t enjoy,and is costing you money? 😕:dubious: How was he _losing_ money being on a hit show? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/52 "2013-02-18T21:23:49Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > 😕:dubious: How was he _losing_ money being on a hit show? Presumably opportunity cost. Being on the show was time consuming when he could have been getting more clients. They weren’t willing to enhance his role (and I’m guessing his salary) so he left. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/53 "2013-02-18T21:26:00Z")
**Jophiel** -I thought he started consulting _after_ leaving MASH. Hence my confusion. (I was 5 when the show ended) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/54 "2013-02-18T21:28:28Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Nothing against de Boer, but I always thought it was \*huge \*mistake to make the new Dax host female. Having Dax return to DS9 as a male would’ve been far more interesting. > > It seems like most Star Trek actors “disappear” after their show ends. Shatner, Stewart, and Bakula being the major exceptions. Oh, and Koenig had a recurring role on B5 and was in that movie with ancient aliens on the Moon. I know alot of them have ended up working behind the camera though. A bunch of them have gone on to write, produce and direct. Ryker, B’Lanna Torres, Wesley Crusher, probably others. Spend seven years watching people create one of the more popular shows on television and you learn a few things. What you might NOT learn is how to act. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/55 "2013-02-18T21:37:34Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Presumably opportunity cost. Being on the show was time consuming when he could have been getting more clients. They weren’t willing to enhance his role (and I’m guessing his salary) so he left. Exactly - In those pre-intenet days, he wouldn’t have been able to work from his trailer. > [@etv78](#): > > **Jophiel** -I thought he started consulting _after_ leaving MASH. Hence my confusion. (I was 5 when the show ended) He began investing on the side shortly before MASH. Business really took off during MASH. ---
**Author:** ![Mattie\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mattie\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mattie_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/56 "2013-02-18T21:44:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Frankie Avalon left the **Beach Party** movies because he wanted a serious career. He only showed up in **How to Stuff a Wild Bikini** for about five minutes (with Buster Keaton). The Beach Party craze had probably run its course, but Avalon’s career didn’t go anywhere after that. I swear I heard somewhere that he was up for the role of Radar O’Reilly in the movie version of M_A_S_H_ and turned it down. I can’t find any cite for this though… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/57 "2013-02-18T21:49:04Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Wayne Rogers. Left MASH to do some utterly forgetable television. > [@silenus](#): > > But he didn’t disappear. He left acting to become a financial advisor/planner, and is, by all accounts, one of the best there is in LA. Client list a mile long, very respected and making more money doing that than he ever could have made as an actor. > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Exactly. MASH was actually costing Wayne Rogers money. As I understand it, he had asked for more screen time, as he wasn’t enjoying being little more than a side kick. The producers told him no, and he gave them the one fingered salute. > > I can’t really blame him. Why stick with something you don’t enjoy,and is costing you money? Rogers didn’t quit acting immediately after leaving M_A_S\*H, though. As **Laggard** pointed out, he did some other television work, most notably “House Calls” with Lynn Redgrave and later Sharon Gless. It only ran for 57 episodes though, not even enough to be worth syndicating , but I thought Redgrave was pretty scrumptious in that show. He also appeared in the television movie “I Dream of Jeannie - 15 Years Later” replacing Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson, although I could forgive people for forgetting that one. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/58 "2013-02-18T22:03:01Z")
Both “House Calls” and the “I Dream of Jeannie” TV special are very prominent memories for me. In fact, I knew Wayne Rogers from “House Calls” before I ever saw the older episodes of “Mash” in which he appeared as Trapper. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/59 "2013-02-18T22:06:22Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > A bunch of them have gone on to write, produce and direct. Ryker, B’Lanna Torres, Wesley Crusher, probably others. Spend seven years watching people create one of the more popular shows on television and you learn a few things. What you might NOT learn is how to act. It might also be the genre. William Shatner says in one of his books that Lloyd Bridges turned down Star Trek, saying that once you leave the earth, you lose credibility as an actor. I guess Harrison Ford is the exception but he did have another franchise to rely on. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693/60 "2013-02-18T22:11:02Z")
Yeah, Lloyd Bridges waiting until _Battlestar Galactica_ to give up his credibility. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-left-hit-shows-for-better-opportunities-and-disappeared/650693.md?page=4)