Actors Who Were Fired Mid-Show

Actors being let go from a television series in the middle of its run is not an uncommon event in the entertainment world. These dismissals can happen for a variety of reasons, ranging from creative differences with the show’s producers to clashes with fellow cast members. Sometimes, an actor’s off-screen behavior can lead to their termination, especially if it generates negative publicity for the show and the network. The reasons are often complex and can significantly impact the show’s storyline and its reception among viewers.

The departure of a major character can force writers to make abrupt changes to the script. This can involve writing the character out of the show in a way that feels natural, or in some cases, recasting the role with a new actor. For the audience, the sudden absence of a familiar face can be jarring and may affect their connection to the series. The stories behind these firings often reveal the high-stakes and high-pressure environment of television production, where personal conduct and professional relationships are just as crucial as performance.

Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men (2003)

Charlie Sheen was fired from the successful sitcom Two and a Half Men in 2011. His dismissal came after he made negative public comments about the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre. Sheen’s increasingly erratic behavior and substance abuse issues had also become a major concern for the network and the studio.

The producers decided to terminate his contract, citing moral turpitude. His character, Charlie Harper, was killed off and replaced by a new character played by Ashton Kutcher. The public nature of Sheen’s firing and his subsequent media appearances drew significant attention.

Shannen Doherty – Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)

Shannen Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh, was reportedly fired from Beverly Hills, 90210 after its fourth season. Her departure was said to be the result of ongoing conflicts with her co-stars and the production crew. Tensions on set had become a significant issue, making it difficult for the show to continue with her.

Her character was written out of the show by having her move to London to attend drama school. Doherty’s time on the show was marked by reports of her difficult behavior, which ultimately led to the decision to remove her from the popular teen drama.

Kevin Spacey – House of Cards (2013)

Kevin Spacey was fired from the Netflix drama House of Cards in 2017. The decision was made after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the actor. Netflix quickly shut down production of the show’s final season to address the situation.

In response to the allegations, the writers completely removed his character, Frank Underwood, from the last season. The story was rewritten to focus on his wife, Claire Underwood, played by Robin Wright. The show’s final season began with the revelation that Frank Underwood had died.

Clayne Crawford – Lethal Weapon (2016)

Clayne Crawford was dismissed from the television adaptation of Lethal Weapon after its second season. His firing was the result of his on-set behavior, which included verbal altercations with cast and crew members. Recordings of these incidents were released, which contributed to the decision.

Crawford played Martin Riggs, one of the show’s two main characters. After his dismissal, his character was killed off and a new character, played by Seann William Scott, was introduced to partner with Damon Wayans’ character. The show continued for one more season without him.

Janet Hubert – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

Janet Hubert, the original actress who played Aunt Vivian, left The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air after the third season. She was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid for the remainder of the show’s run. Hubert’s departure was the result of a long-standing feud with the show’s star, Will Smith.

For many years, both Hubert and Smith publicly spoke about their difficult working relationship. Smith claimed that Hubert was unprofessional and made the set a hostile environment. Hubert, in turn, stated that Smith’s ego had grown and that he was responsible for her being fired. They publicly reconciled in 2020.

Thomas Gibson – Criminal Minds (2005)

Thomas Gibson was fired from the crime drama Criminal Minds during its twelfth season. He was dismissed after an on-set altercation with one of the show’s writers. This was not the first time Gibson had been involved in a physical dispute on the set of the show.

His character, Aaron Hotchner, was initially written out for a temporary assignment, but it was later announced that he would not be returning. The writers explained his character’s permanent absence by saying he had entered the witness protection program to protect his son.

Taylor Momsen – Gossip Girl (2007)

Taylor Momsen’s role as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl was significantly reduced before she was eventually written out of the show. Her departure was attributed to her increasingly unpredictable behavior and her focus on her music career with her band, The Pretty Reckless.

Producers reportedly grew tired of her lack of professionalism, which led to her character being sent to live with her mother in Hudson. While she did return for a brief appearance in the series finale, her time as a main character on the show was cut short.

Columbus Short – Scandal (2012)

Columbus Short was fired from the political thriller Scandal after its third season. His dismissal came after he was arrested and charged with felony battery following a bar fight. This was one of several legal issues the actor was facing at the time.

His character, Harrison Wright, was killed off in the season three finale. The show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, made the decision to remove him from the series due to his personal troubles, which were creating negative attention for the show.

Isaiah Washington – Grey’s Anatomy (2005)

Isaiah Washington was fired from the popular medical drama Grey’s Anatomy after the third season. His termination was the result of him using a homophobic slur during an on-set argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey, in reference to their other co-star T.R. Knight.

The incident caused a major controversy, and despite a public apology, Washington was let go from the show. His character, Dr. Preston Burke, was written out by having him leave his fiancée, Dr. Cristina Yang, on their wedding day. He did, however, return for a guest appearance in a later season.

Roseanne Barr – Roseanne (1988)

The revival of the sitcom Roseanne was canceled in 2018 after its star, Roseanne Barr, posted a racist tweet about a former government official. The network quickly condemned her remarks and announced that the show would not be returning for a second season.

In its place, a spin-off series called The Conners was created, which featured all of the original cast members except for Barr. Her character was killed off by an opioid overdose, allowing the rest of the family’s story to continue without her.

Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent (2014)

Jeffrey Tambor was fired from the Amazon series Transparent after multiple allegations of sexual harassment were made against him by his former assistant and a co-star. The accusations led to an internal investigation by Amazon.

Following the investigation, Tambor was officially let go from the show. The final season was rewritten to continue without his character, Maura Pfefferman. The show’s conclusion was a musical episode that dealt with the death of his character.

Lori Loughlin – Fuller House (2016)

Lori Loughlin was fired from the Netflix series Fuller House after she was indicted in the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal. She and her husband were accused of paying bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California.

Her character, Aunt Becky, was written out of the show’s final season. The explanation given for her absence was that she was “in Nebraska” helping to care for her mother. The show did not directly address the real-life controversy surrounding the actress.

Luke Grimes – True Blood (2008)

Luke Grimes, who played the vampire James Kent in the sixth season of True Blood, abruptly left the show before the start of its final season. The role was later recast with actor Nathan Parsons.

Initial reports stated that his departure was due to creative differences. It was later reported that Grimes was uncomfortable with a potential same-sex storyline for his character and refused to play the scenes as written, leading to his exit from the HBO series.

Robert Downey Jr. – Ally McBeal (1997)

Robert Downey Jr. was a popular addition to the cast of Ally McBeal in its fourth season, and his character was set to marry the show’s title character. However, he was written out of the show after being arrested on drug-related charges in 2001.

Due to his legal troubles and time in rehab, the show’s producers decided to fire him. The planned wedding storyline was scrapped, and his character’s departure was explained as him leaving to be with his ex-wife and son.

Nicolette Sheridan – Desperate Housewives (2004)

Nicolette Sheridan’s character, Edie Britt, was killed off in the fifth season of Desperate Housewives. Sheridan later filed a lawsuit against the show’s creator, Marc Cherry, and the network, claiming she had been wrongfully terminated.

She alleged that Cherry had assaulted her on set and that her complaints about the incident led to her character being written out of the show. The case went to trial, but the jury was deadlocked, and a retrial was denied.

Erinn Hayes – Kevin Can Wait (2016)

Erinn Hayes, who played the wife of Kevin James’ character on the sitcom Kevin Can Wait, was fired after the first season. The show’s producers decided to kill off her character in order to bring in Leah Remini, who had previously starred with James on The King of Queens.

The decision to kill off her character and replace her with Remini was met with criticism from many viewers. The show’s ratings declined, and it was ultimately canceled after its second season.

Stana Katic – Castle (2009)

Stana Katic, who played one of the main characters, Kate Beckett, on the crime series Castle, was let go from the show just before its potential ninth season. Her on-screen husband, played by Nathan Fillion, was set to return, but the network decided to cut Katic for budgetary reasons.

The decision to remove her character caused a significant backlash from fans. Shortly after the announcement of her firing, the network decided to cancel the show altogether, making the eighth season its last.

Patrick Dempsey – Grey’s Anatomy (2005)

Patrick Dempsey’s character, Dr. Derek Shepherd, was a central figure on Grey’s Anatomy for eleven seasons. His character was killed off in a surprising turn of events, which was reportedly due to on-set clashes with the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes.

Reports suggested that Dempsey’s behavior on set had become a problem, leading to the decision to write him out of the show. His departure was a major turning point for the long-running medical drama.

Mackenzie Phillips – One Day at a Time (1975)

Mackenzie Phillips, who played the rebellious teenage daughter Julie Cooper on the sitcom One Day at a Time, was fired from the show twice. Both dismissals were due to her struggles with substance abuse.

The first time she was fired, she was given a six-week leave of absence to seek help, but she was let go after she was arrested for disorderly conduct. She later returned to the show, only to be fired a second time after collapsing on set.

Leah Remini – The Talk (2010)

Leah Remini was one of the original co-hosts of the daytime talk show The Talk, but she was fired after just one season. Remini has claimed that she was let go at the request of her co-host, Sharon Osbourne, who she said found her to be “too ghetto.”

Osbourne has denied these accusations, and the network never gave a clear reason for Remini’s dismissal. Her departure was part of a larger cast shake-up that also saw Holly Robinson Peete leave the show.

Jay Thomas – Cheers (1982)

Jay Thomas had a recurring role as Eddie LeBec, a hockey player and the husband of barmaid Carla Tortelli, on the popular sitcom Cheers. His character was killed off in a freak Zamboni accident after he made negative comments about his co-star, Rhea Perlman, on his radio show.

When a caller asked him what it was like to be on Cheers, he complained about having to kiss Perlman. After Perlman heard his comments, the writers decided to write his character out of the show permanently.

John Amos – Good Times (1974)

John Amos, who played the patriarch James Evans, Sr. on the sitcom Good Times, was fired after the third season. His dismissal was the result of disagreements with the show’s creator, Norman Lear, over the direction of the series.

Amos was unhappy with the lack of positive storylines for his character and the show’s focus on his son, J.J., played by Jimmie Walker. His character was killed off in a car accident, and the show continued for three more seasons without him.

Brett Butler – Grace Under Fire (1993)

Brett Butler, the star of the sitcom Grace Under Fire, was known for her erratic behavior on set, which was fueled by her addiction to painkillers. Her struggles with substance abuse caused numerous production delays and led to the show’s eventual cancellation.

As her behavior worsened, the network decided to cancel the show in the middle of its fifth season, rather than continue production. The show ended abruptly without a proper series finale.

Lisa Bonet – The Cosby Show (1984)

Lisa Bonet, who played Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show, was fired from the series in 1991 due to “creative differences.” She had previously starred in her own spin-off, A Different World, but was brought back to the parent show after she became pregnant.

Her return to The Cosby Show was short-lived, as her off-screen life and a controversial role in the film Angel Heart reportedly clashed with the wholesome image of the show. Her character was written out by having her move to Africa.

Selma Blair – Anger Management (2012)

Selma Blair was fired from the sitcom Anger Management after she reportedly complained to the show’s producers about the work ethic of its star, Charlie Sheen. Sheen, who had a significant amount of creative control over the show, allegedly had her fired in response.

Her character, Dr. Kate Wales, was abruptly written out of the series and was replaced by a new character played by Laura Bell Bundy. Blair’s dismissal was sudden and led to a great deal of media attention.

Lynn Redgrave – House Calls (1979)

Lynn Redgrave was fired from the sitcom House Calls after she insisted on being able to breastfeed her newborn baby on set. The producers claimed that her request was unreasonable and that it would disrupt the production schedule.

Redgrave filed a lawsuit against the studio, alleging that she was fired for wanting to breastfeed her child. The studio maintained that the dispute was over a salary increase. Her character was written out of the show and replaced by a new character.

Maggie Roswell – The Simpsons (1989)

Maggie Roswell, the voice actress behind several recurring characters on The Simpsons, including Maude Flanders and Helen Lovejoy, left the show in 1999 due to a pay dispute. She was living in Denver and had to pay for her own flights to Los Angeles for recording sessions.

When she asked for a raise to cover her travel costs, the studio refused. As a result, her character Maude Flanders was killed off in a now-infamous episode. Roswell did eventually return to the show a few years later after reaching a new contract agreement.

Valerie Harper – Valerie (1986)

Valerie Harper, the star of the sitcom Valerie, was fired from her own show after the second season due to a salary dispute with the network. The show was later retitled Valerie’s Family and then The Hogan Family.

Harper’s character was killed off in a car accident, and a new character, played by Sandy Duncan, was brought in to serve as the family’s matriarch. Harper sued the network for wrongful termination and was awarded damages.

Jeremy Clarkson – Top Gear (2002)

Jeremy Clarkson, the long-time host of the popular car show Top Gear, was fired by the BBC in 2015 after a physical altercation with one of the show’s producers. The incident occurred while on location for filming and was the culmination of a series of controversial events involving Clarkson.

Following his dismissal, his co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May, also left the show. The trio went on to create a new car show for Amazon Prime Video called The Grand Tour. Top Gear continued with a new lineup of hosts.

Suzanne Somers – Three’s Company (1977)

Suzanne Somers, who played Chrissy Snow on the hit sitcom Three’s Company, was fired from the show after she demanded a significant pay raise that would have put her on par with her male co-star, John Ritter.

When her demands were not met, she began to phase out of the show, with her character only appearing in brief, phone-in segments. She was eventually replaced by a new character, and her departure marked a major turning point for the series.

Martin Lawrence – Martin (1992)

While Martin Lawrence was not officially fired from his own sitcom, Martin, his co-star, Tisha Campbell, who played his wife Gina, left the show due to his alleged on-set behavior. Campbell filed a lawsuit against Lawrence for sexual harassment and verbal abuse.

As a result of the lawsuit, Campbell refused to film any scenes with Lawrence during the show’s final season. The writers had to create storylines that kept their characters separate, and the show ended after its fifth season.

Mandy Patinkin – Criminal Minds (2005)

Mandy Patinkin abruptly left the crime drama Criminal Minds after its second season, citing the show’s dark and disturbing content as the reason for his departure. He later stated that he was deeply troubled by the violent nature of the series and that it was negatively affecting his personal life.

His character, Jason Gideon, was written out of the show by having him leave a letter for one of his colleagues and simply disappearing. The character was later killed off-screen in a subsequent season. Patinkin has since said that he regrets ever having done the show.

LisaRaye McCoy – Single Ladies (2011)

LisaRaye McCoy played Keisha Green on the VH1 series Single Ladies, but she was fired after the first season. Her dismissal was reportedly the result of on-set conflicts with her co-star, Stacey Dash, as well as her own behavior.

There were rumors of a physical altercation between McCoy and Dash, and the show’s producers decided to let McCoy go. Her character was written out of the series, and the show continued with a new lead character.

Nicollette Sheridan – Dynasty (2017)

In a move that mirrored her departure from Desperate Housewives, Nicollette Sheridan left the reboot of Dynasty after playing the character of Alexis Carrington for just over a season. The network announced that her departure was for “personal, family reasons.”

However, her character was not killed off but was instead recast, with actress Elizabeth Gillies temporarily taking over the role before another actress was brought in. This allowed the character to remain a part of the show’s ongoing storyline.