31 TV Actors Who Parted Ways With Their Show — Whether They Wanted To or Not

Oh, you want to spread your wings in the film world, huh? How’d that work out for ya?
31 TV Actors Who Parted Ways With Their Show — Whether They Wanted To or Not
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Well, look who came crawling back! Thought you could bail on this list of TV facts for a list of movie facts did ya? Learning that the film fact world is a lot tougher than you thought is a tough pill to swallow, so we won’t give you too much grief. We also, of course, won’t give you your old TV fact job back either, if that’s why you’re here. 

We’ve moved on. We’ll do what these shows did and either replace you, pretend you never existed or find some fun way to kill you off. 

Good luck on the couch waiting for a Taco Bell commercial audition.

John Francis Daley

CRACKED John Francis Daley was beaten to death over a scheduling conflict. Dr. Lance Sweets was killed in the Season 10 premiere because Daley tried to juggle the show and directing a National Lampoon's Vacation remake. Не said, I really did feel like I was losing a part of me, and to see him die in such a grim way was shocking. BONES

Jon Polito

CRACKED Jon Polito got a disrespectful ending. After 2 seasons as Steve Crosetti, he had a major artistic parting of the ways with executive producer Tom Fontana, so they had his character kill himself. Не said, It makes no sense. It's the last thing in the world I would do. HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET

Selma Blair

CRACKED Selma Blair (like many) couldn't handle Charlie Sheen. She questioned his professionalism and told producers he was a menace to work with, so Sheen fired her himself via text. ANGER MANAGEMENT

John Amos

CRACKED Good Times canned patriarch James Evans. After actor John Amos mentioned that white writers weren't realistically writing black characters, his character was killed in an off-screen car accident. They completed 3 more seasons without him. adidas

Steve Whitmire

Steve Whitmire refused to lie to Miss Piggy. THE MUPPETS CRACKED.COM Whitmire became the spiritual (and literal) successor to Jim Henson, and as such, he was staunchly against a plot where Kermit lied to Miss Piggy. Disney said he was being overly hostile and unproductive, and kicked him to the curb.

Kevin Can Wait

CRACKED Kevin Can Wait insensitively killed off Erinn Hayes. Hayes played Kevin's wife Donna for all of Season 1, but was cast aside for Leah Remini. Fans were upset that her death was only mentioned in one line (that was capped with a corny joke), and the show was canceled shortly after. Sevent Form

Sarah Silverman

In 2019, Sarah Silverman got fired over a blackface sketch from 2007. I recently was going to do a movie, a sweet part, then at 11 pm the night before they fired me because they saw a picture of me in blackface from that episode, she said. CRACKED.COM

Janet Hubert

Will Smith and Janet Hubert had such a rocky relationship behind the scenes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that she blamed him for her getting fired from the show. VS After she got fired, Smith allegedly made some comments insinuating that Hubert wanted the show to be centered around her and would be bitter towards him regardless of his actions. Over 15 years later, Hubert - who wasn't done feuding -- said she'd never have a reunion with an asshole like Will Smith. CRACKED COM

Robert Irvine

Careers built on a lie Robert Irvine: Fired from Food Network for fibbing. Irvine, the star of Dinner: Impossible, got fired for lying on his resume. The Food Network did not renew his contract despite airing the remaining episodes of the season. CRACKED

Thomas Gibson

Hollywood feuds CRIMINAL MINDS VS THOMAS GIBSON Gibson had numerous verbal and physical on-set altercations. In 2010 he reportedly shoved an assistant director, and he was fired in 2016 for kicking a writer in the shin because of creative differences. CRACKED

Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers was fired from Three's Company for asking for equal pay. Her co-star John Ritter, was getting $150,000 an episode, so she asked to get that (and not the $30,000 she'd been getting). Instead, they fired her, saying that Ritter is the star. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM

David Herman

David Herman got fired from MADtv to appear in the movie. CRACKED.COM Не wasn't technically allowed to take the role while he was still a cast member, but he felt it was the right move for his career. So he loudly yelled all his lines at MADtv table reads until they fired him.

Chadwick Boseman

A soap opera gave Chadwick Boseman the boot. ALL MY CHILDREN ME CRACKED.COM When Boseman mentioned that his character-- a fatherless gang member -- was perhaps a lazy and hollow stereotype, they unceremoniously fired him (and replaced him with Michael В. Jordan).

Tim Curry

CRACKED.COM Tim curry would have made a sick Joker. Mark Hamill's Joker is one of the best things about Batman: The Animated Series. But Hamill was brought in as a replacement for Tim Curry. The producers weren't happy with Curry's take on the character (while Curry himself says he just had bronchitis.)

Mandy Patinkin

CRACKED MANDY PATINKIN GHOSTED CRIMINAL MINDS. After 2 seasons as Jason Gideon, he inexplicably went M.I.A for a week before quitting. They scrambled to write him out, so ultimately the character ventures off to find himself in a scene that Patinkin later agreed to shoot.

Anna Faris

CRACKED MOM WITH AN EMPTY NEST. Anna Faris wanted to pursue other opportunities. The 8th and final season opens on Bonnie (Allison Janney) dropping her off at the airport to begin her free ride at Georgetown Law School.

Meghan Markle

SUITS Meghan Markle CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Rachel Zane, Nevermind, she paralegal who worked hard to get quit to become out from under the a princess. But shadow of her father. are you sure But she finally that's as cool as passed the LSATS and now she's gonna it sounds? take the world by-

Anita Barone

FRIENDS Anita Barone CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Barone gave up Carol Willick, the part to Ross' pregnant ex-wife. A fine focus on larger role that pops in roles that, as of from time to press time, no time. one can name.

Wil Wheaton

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Wil Wheaton CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left when he Wesley Crusher, turned 18 to pursue an annoying, a film career. Не precocious kid, regretted it, but but a choice mainly because he missed his role to have. coworkers :'

Chevy Chase

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Chevy Chase TO 1743 1722 m1727 CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left after just one season - not for a One of the first film career, but for breakout a girl: I was a superstars of a young fellow who hit new series. was infatuated with the wrong person.

McLean Stevenson

M*A*S*H McLean Stevenson CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left for big roles in four doomed Lt. Col. Henry sitcoms: I thought Blake, laid-back everybody in commanding America loved McLean Stevenson. officer and fan That was not the favorite. case. Everybody loved Henry Blake.

Chris Latta

THE SIMPSONS Chris Latta GRAGKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE The voice of Lost the job two major after three characters on episodes the hottest new because he was animation on reportedly hard TV. to work with.

David Caruso

NYPD BLUE David Caruso CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Ducked out after 1 successful season to be a movie star! John Kelly, Totally blew it and police detective came crawling back and vunderkind. to procedurals, with a long and successful stint on CSI: Miami.

Shelley Long

CHEERS Shelley Long CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Tried to turn her Diane TV success into Chambers, film success, fish-out-of- with mixed water, waitress results. Popped and main love back in for the interest. finale.

Jason Priestley

BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 Jason Priestley CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left after the Brandon Walsh, penultimate season, which he says was main premature, and left protagonist, some major loose good guy ends for his super-hunk. character and the story.

Jeff Conway

TAXI Jeff Conaway CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Bobby Wheeler, actor. Didn't Totally left of his own volition, appear in one of his first episodes because the because character he Conaway played made allegedly got too actors look bad. high to perform.

Christopher Eccleston

DOCTOR WHO Christopher Eccleston CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Replaced after The Ninth just one season, Doctor, and the because he first Doctor of couldn't get his the comedy chops long-awaited worked out reboot. quickly enough.

Dave Chappelle

CHAPPELLE'S SHOW Dave Chappelle Y - THE CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Host of his own The show was controversial, so stressful to yet critically make that he walked away acclaimed, sketch comedy from a $50 show. million contract.

Sherry Stringfield

ER Sherry Stringfield GRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE The filming schedule left her so stressed, she got meningitis and Dr. Susan Lewis, pneumonia. Had to eager resident. agree not to work in TV for years just to get out of her contract.

Katherine Heigl

GREY'S ANATOMY Katherine Heigl CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Shortly after Izzie Stevens, turning down an surgical intern Emmy nom, she left to pursue who would work bigger and better her way up to things, like resident. Zyzzyx Road.

Mischa Barton

THE О.С. Mischa Barton CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left to pursue a Marissa Cooper, film career, but wealthy most notably Californian, one appeared in of four main mugshots and protagonists. Dancing With The Stars.

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