TV Shows Where Stars Demanded Top Billing and Got Replaced

Television history is filled with dramatic exits where lead actors clashed with studio executives over salary or creative control. These conflicts often result in the star leaving the series while the show attempts to continue without them. Sometimes the replacement revitalizes the program and other times the show struggles to maintain its audience. The following series experienced major casting changes after key actors made demands or caused conflicts that led to their departure.

‘Three’s Company’ (1977–1984)

Suzanne Somers became a breakout star as Chrissy Snow and demanded a significant salary increase to match her co-star John Ritter. The producers refused her request for a pay hike and reduced her role to brief phone calls at the end of episodes. She was eventually fired and her character was written out of the series completely. Jenilee Harrison stepped in to play her cousin Cindy Snow to fill the void in the apartment.

‘Two and a Half Men’ (2003–2015)

Charlie Sheen was the highest paid actor on television before his very public falling out with the show’s creator Chuck Lorre. The production halted when Sheen made disparaging comments about Lorre during radio interviews and demanded a higher salary. The studio fired him and killed off his character Charlie Harper in the premiere of the following season. Ashton Kutcher joined the cast as Walden Schmidt to keep the sitcom running for four more years.

‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ (1990–2000)

Shannen Doherty played the central character Brenda Walsh but reportedly clashed with cast members and arrived late to set. Her conflicts with the production team and co-stars led to her departure after the fourth season. The writers sent her character to drama school in London to explain her sudden absence. Tiffani Thiessen was brought in as Valerie Malone to fill the role of the female lead and antagonist.

‘NYPD Blue’ (1993–2005)

David Caruso became an instant star in the first season and decided he wanted a film career along with a massive raise. The writers and producers refused to meet his demands for more money and creative control. Caruso left the gritty cop drama only four episodes into the second season. Jimmy Smits was cast as Detective Bobby Simone and the show continued successfully for another decade.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–Present)

Katherine Heigl withdrew her name from Emmy consideration because she felt the writing for her character Izzie Stevens was not good enough. She later complained about the long working hours on set and eventually negotiated an early release from her contract. The show wrote her character out by having her leave Seattle after she was fired from the hospital. The medical drama continued to thrive without her and remains one of the longest running shows on television.

‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990–1996)

Janet Hubert played the original Aunt Vivian but clashed frequently with the show’s young star Will Smith. She claimed that the network offered her a bad deal that prohibited her from working elsewhere. The producers recast the role with Daphne Maxwell Reid for the fourth season. The character changed significantly in personality from a stern career woman to a more nurturing figure.

‘Charmed’ (1998–2006)

Shannen Doherty left this supernatural drama after three seasons amid reported tensions with co-star Alyssa Milano. The producers chose to kill off her character Prue Halliwell in the season three finale. Rose McGowan was cast as a long lost half sister named Paige Matthews to reconstitute the power of three. The show managed to run for five additional seasons with the new cast dynamic.

‘Criminal Minds’ (2005–2020)

Thomas Gibson played the team leader Aaron Hotchner for over a decade before an on-set altercation with a writer. He was initially suspended but the studio decided to fire him after reviewing the incident. The writers explained his absence by stating his character entered witness protection to keep his son safe. Damon Gupton and later Daniel Henney were brought in to fill the gap left by his sudden departure.

‘Lethal Weapon’ (2016–2019)

Clayne Crawford starred as Martin Riggs but faced accusations of creating a hostile work environment. His co-star Damon Wayans reportedly refused to work with him due to safety concerns during stunt sequences. The studio fired Crawford and killed his character in the second season finale. Seann William Scott joined the cast as a new character named Wesley Cole for the third and final season.

‘Hawaii Five-0’ (2010–2020)

Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park sought salary parity with their co-stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. The network refused to match the pay of the two lead actors and negotiations broke down. Both actors chose to leave the series simultaneously before the eighth season began. The show introduced new characters played by Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale to round out the task force.

‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)

Kevin Spacey was the lead actor and executive producer before allegations of misconduct surfaced against him. The production was halted immediately while the writers figured out how to proceed without their main character. The final season shifted focus entirely to Robin Wright as Claire Underwood took over the presidency. The series concluded with a shortened season that addressed the death of Spacey’s character.

‘Roseanne’ (1988–2018)

Roseanne Barr successfully revived her hit sitcom with huge ratings before posting a controversial tweet. The network cancelled the show swiftly despite its massive financial success. The remaining cast members agreed to return for a spin-off titled ‘The Conners’ which killed off the matriarch. The family sitcom continued to address working class issues without its original creator and star.

‘Community’ (2009–2015)

Chevy Chase famously disliked the writing on the show and often clashed with creator Dan Harmon. He used an offensive slur on set during a disagreement about his character’s direction. Chase left the series by mutual agreement and his character Pierce Hawthorne was eventually killed off. The show struggled with further cast departures but managed to complete six seasons and a movie promise.

‘Desperate Housewives’ (2004–2012)

Nicollette Sheridan played the vixen Edie Britt but complained about her screen time and salary. Tensions with the show creator Marc Cherry led to her character being killed in a car accident. Sheridan later filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and battery against Cherry. The legal battle garnered significant press attention while the show finished its run without her.

‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ (2000–2015)

Jorja Fox and George Eads were fired briefly after they failed to show up for work during salary negotiations. The network held firm against their demands for higher pay and the actors eventually returned to work. Eads later left the show permanently following another on-set incident involving a writer. The procedural drama saw many cast changes over its fifteen year run on television.

‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)

David Duchovny sued the studio over syndication profits and sought to reduce his workload. His character Fox Mulder was abducted by aliens to explain his absence from most of the eighth season. Robert Patrick was brought in as Agent John Doggett to partner with Gillian Anderson. Duchovny returned for the series finale and the subsequent revival seasons years later.

‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ (1999–Present)

Christopher Meloni played Detective Stabler for twelve years before contract negotiations broke down. He wanted a raise that the network was unwilling to provide given the age of the series. The season thirteen premiere revealed that his character had retired from the force off screen. Meloni eventually returned to the franchise a decade later with his own spin-off series.

‘Chicago Hope’ (1994–2000)

Mandy Patinkin was the breakout star of this medical drama but wanted to spend more time with his family. He asked to be released from his contract midway through the second season. The writers had his character Dr. Jeffrey Geiger resign from the hospital to care for his daughter. Patinkin later returned as a guest star but the show never quite regained its initial momentum.

‘Ally McBeal’ (1997–2002)

Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast and revitalized the show’s ratings with his performance as Larry Paul. The writers planned for his character to marry Ally McBeal at the end of the season. His arrest on drug charges forced the producers to fire him and rewrite the season finale. The show was cancelled one season later as ratings plummeted without his character.

‘Scandal’ (2012–2018)

Columbus Short played Harrison Wright but faced serious legal issues in his personal life. The production studio decided to let him go after the third season due to the controversy. His character was killed off screen by a secret service agent. The show continued for four more seasons with the remaining gladiator team members.

‘Silicon Valley’ (2014–2019)

T.J. Miller played the fan favorite Erlich Bachman but became difficult to work with according to the producers. The showrunners decided to write him out of the series by having his character remain in an opium den in Tibet. Miller claimed he left to pursue other opportunities but reports cited his unprofessional behavior. The comedy continued to follow the Pied Piper team for two more seasons.

‘Laverne & Shirley’ (1976–1983)

Cindy Williams played Shirley Feeney but became pregnant and demanded better working hours. The studio refused to accommodate her schedule and she sued to be released from her contract. Her character left town quickly to marry an army medic and the show was renamed simply ‘Laverne’ for the final episodes. The series was cancelled shortly after her departure due to declining ratings.

‘Designing Women’ (1986–1993)

Delta Burke became the breakout star but clashed publicly with the producers about her weight and working conditions. She was fired from the sitcom after the fifth season along with co-star Jean Smart who left voluntarily. Julia Duffy and Jan Hooks were brought in as replacements for the vacant roles. The chemistry of the original cast was never replicated and the show ended two seasons later.

‘Castle’ (2009–2016)

Stana Katic was the female lead opposite Nathan Fillion but was told her contract would not be renewed for budget reasons. The network intended to continue the show with only Fillion’s character for a ninth season. Fan backlash was severe and the network decided to cancel the series entirely instead. A brief coda was added to the final episode to provide closure for the couple.

‘The West Wing’ (1999–2006)

Rob Lowe was initially billed as the lead actor but the ensemble cast and Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet took center stage. Lowe felt his character Sam Seaborn was being underutilized and demanded a release from his contract. He was replaced by Joshua Malina who played Will Bailey for the remainder of the series. Lowe eventually returned for a guest appearance in the final episodes of the show.

‘Shameless’ (2011–2021)

Emmy Rossum demanded salary parity with her co-star William H. Macy after years of carrying the show’s storylines. She successfully negotiated a raise but decided to leave the series two seasons later to pursue other projects. The writers had her character Fiona Gallagher leave Chicago to start a new life elsewhere. The family drama continued for two final seasons focusing on the remaining Gallagher siblings.

‘Batwoman’ (2019–2022)

Ruby Rose starred as the titular superhero but left unexpectedly after just one season. She cited a back injury and the difficult shooting schedule as reasons for her departure. The producers chose not to recast her specific character Kate Kane initially. Javicia Leslie was brought in to play a new character named Ryan Wilder who took up the mantle.

‘Transparent’ (2014–2019)

Jeffrey Tambor won multiple awards for his role as Maura Pfefferman before facing sexual harassment allegations. Amazon Studios conducted an investigation and subsequently fired him from the series. The show concluded with a musical finale that focused on the character’s death. The remaining cast members took center stage to wrap up the family’s storylines.

‘The Ranch’ (2016–2020)

Danny Masterson starred alongside Ashton Kutcher but was fired after multiple sexual assault allegations surfaced. The writers ignored his character Rooster Bennett’s disappearance initially before revealing he was threatened into leaving town. His character was later presumed dead in a motorcycle accident. Dax Shepard was brought in as a cousin to fill the void in the cast dynamic.

‘Sliders’ (1995–2000)

John Rhys-Davies was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the show’s writing and the lack of scientific accuracy. He was written out of the show midway through the third season when his character Professor Arturo was shot. The actor later revealed he had been very critical of the scripts which led to his departure. The series moved to a different network and replaced almost the entire original cast over time.

‘Northern Exposure’ (1990–1995)

Rob Morrow engaged in a contract dispute for higher pay and threatened to leave the show. The producers reduced his role significantly in the final season to accommodate his demands and eventual exit. His character Dr. Joel Fleischman moved deeper into the wilderness and eventually left the town. The show was cancelled shortly after he departed as ratings dropped.

‘American Gods’ (2017–2021)

Orlando Jones was fired from the series and claimed it was because his character sent the “wrong message” to black America. The production company stated his option was not picked up because the character was not in the book section they were adapting. Jones publicly criticized the showrunner for the decision and the handling of race. The show struggled with multiple showrunner changes and cast departures throughout its run.

‘Mom’ (2013–2021)

Anna Faris played the lead character Christy Plunkett for seven seasons before announcing her surprise departure. She stated she wanted to pursue new opportunities outside of the sitcom. The show continued for one final season focusing on her mother played by Allison Janney. The writers explained that Christy had moved to Washington D.C. to attend law school.

‘Bewitched’ (1964–1972)

Dick York played Darrin Stephens but suffered from severe chronic back pain that delayed production. He eventually collapsed on set and had to leave the show to recover. Dick Sargent was cast as his replacement without any explanation given to the audience. This became one of the most famous examples of the “Two Darrins” phenomenon in television history.

‘NCIS’ (2003–Present)

Sasha Alexander played Agent Kate Todd but found the grueling physical production schedule too demanding. She asked to be released from her contract after just two seasons. The writers killed her character in a shocking season finale sniper attack. Cote de Pablo was brought in as Ziva David and became a fan favorite replacement.

‘Army Wives’ (2007–2013)

Kim Delaney was the lead of the ensemble cast but was written out after the sixth season. The show underwent a major creative reboot that removed several original cast members. Her character Claudia Joy Holden died off screen from heart failure. The series lasted one more season with new cast members before being cancelled.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ (2013–2017)

Nicole Beharie played the co-lead Abbie Mills but asked to leave the supernatural drama. Her character was killed off in the season three finale which sparked a massive backlash from fans. The show attempted to continue for a fourth season with a new setting and partner for Ichabod Crane. The rebooted version failed to capture the audience and the series was cancelled.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)

Frank Dillane asked to leave the zombie drama to pursue other artistic projects and music. His character Nick Clark was killed by a child spy in the fourth season. The show had already undergone a soft reboot with the arrival of Lennie James from the parent series. The narrative focus shifted entirely to the new ensemble cast following his death.

Tell us which of these casting changes ruined the show for you in the comments.