Why these actors left their popular TV roles early
Over the years, many fan-favourite characters have been written out of some majorly popular TV shows.
Most recently, the news of a main actor exiting the popular teen drama series Outer Banks has been the talk of social media – don't worry, we won't give any spoilers as to who it is.
It's the latest show to say goodbye to a core character before the show has even officially come to an end.
From Grey's Anatomy to Bridgerton, there have been some big names to end their popular TV roles early on in the show – and all for different reasons.
So let's take a look back at some of the most memorable early TV exits, and why the actors chose to leave.
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Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds first aired in 2005, launching names like Matthew Gray Gubler and Shemar Moore, as well as starring big names like Paget Brewster.
Mandy Patinkin was one of the main stars of the show from the pilot episode, playing the brilliant Special Agent Jason Gideon of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.
While he was an integral part of the team, Gideon shockingly left the show after just a couple of episodes in its third season.
The show later brought in actor Joe Mantegna to round up the cast.
But Patinkin's harrowing reason for leaving the show might shock some fans of the series.
Patinkin told New York Magazine in 2012 he was ultimately uncomfortable with the violent content in the show – especially portrayed against women.
"The biggest public mistake I ever made was that I chose to do Criminal Minds in the first place," he said.
The actor revealed when he signed on he "thought it was something very different."
"It was very destructive to my soul and my personality. After that, I didn't think I would get to work in television again."
Patinkin added that he was "concerned about the effect" of the show portraying violence.
After Patankin's exit early on, Joe Mantegna was introduced on the show as David Rossi, who became an integral cast member on the show's long-run.
But during a 2014 appearance on Larry King's show, Larry King Now, Mantegna addressed Patinkin's comments about leaving the show over the portrayal of violence against women.
"He should have read the pilot a little closer," Mantegna said with a laugh.
The actor told King he didn't find the show's subject matter had the same effect on him as Patinkin.
"It's the nature of the show, and the fact that real men and women do this job everyday, out of respect and in a way homage to them, as an actor my job is to portray that as honestly and truthfully as possible."
Kevin Costner on Yellowstone
Kevin Costner was already one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but in 2018 he began a hugely successful gig on the Western drama series, Yellowstone.
Costner starred as the patriarch cowboy John Dutton on the series.
But in June, 2024 he announced on Instagram he would be leaving the show halfway through its fifth season.
His character was written off in the first episode of season five part two.
So why did he leave the hit series before it came to an end?
In his Instagram announcement, Costner opened up about scheduling conflicts with Yellowstone and his passion project, a Western epic called Horizon.
"I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that's required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love," he said.
"I just realised that I'm not going to be able to continue season 5B or into the future."
Speaking to Deadline in May, Costner said he had left filming on Horizon early to fulfil his obligations on Yellowstone.
"There was no script. And then things imploded. You've been reading one version [of this behind-the-scenes drama] for a year and a half. I left my movie to be on time for them for 5B," he said.
Despite rumours, Costner denied he left due to a strained relationship with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan.
The actor told People he "liked the people on the show. I liked what it was about. I love that world."
He also told the outlet the show was initially pitched to him as one season, but he ended up staying on for five.
George Clooney on ER
Now we know him as one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars, but George Clooney rose to fame on the small screen.
The actor starred in NBC's medical drama ER as Dr. Doug Ross, immediately winning over audiences with his chiselled jaw and seemingly endless charm.
But it didn't last forever.
By season five of the hit TV show, Clooney was gone.
Clooney left the show after five seasons because he wanted to focus on his film career.
He'd already appeared in a few films including Batman and Robin and The Peacemaker, but his decision to leave the cast of ER allowed him to make films such as Three Kings and O Brother, Where Are Thou? which earned him a Golden Globe.
Executive Producer of ER, John Wells, said that by staying on the show as long as he did, Clooney "lost literally millions of dollars."
Wells also praised Clooney's commitment to the show saying that he had "done the thing that few people do," by forfeiting the money and sticking with his role on ER for five seasons.
Sandra Oh on Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is no stranger to main cast members leaving the series – whether they be written out or killed off in a way that still has audiences crying years later (yes, I'm talking about Lexie Grey and Mark Sloan).
But one of the biggest stars to depart the show was Sandra Oh, who played Meredith's bestie Cristina Yang.
The actress had been there from the pilot episode, becoming a fan-favourite across her 10-season arc.
But in the season 10 finale, fans said goodbye to Cristina for good when Oh made the decision to leave the show, which would go on for 11 more seasons and counting.
Here's why Oh decided to leave Grey's Anatomy without ever returning for so much as a cameo so far.
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