Most actors wait their entire lives to land a lead role on a hit television show, with many never achieving their dreams. So when that dream comes true, it's surely one of the best moments ever, but sometimes that cloud-nine feeling might dissipate as the years go on. Playing the same character year after year is both a blessing and a curse that forces many actors to make difficult decisions.
While it might not make sense to many why an actor would choose to leave a successful show where they are a lead character, the truth is that it happens far more often than one might think. Sometimes the actors leave because of creative differences, sometimes they want more freedom to pursue other opportunities, and sometimes they leave because they feel like their character arc is completed.
Amy (America Ferrera) - Superstore
America Ferrera made headlines in early 2020 when she announced that she would be leaving Superstore at the end of its fifth season. This was quite a shock to fans since Ferrera's character Amy had just managed to work her way up the ladder, becoming the store manager of Cloud 9. Still, Ferrera was ready to take on new projects, and her Superstore family understood that.
Instead of writing her off completely, though, Amy's time on the series ended with her getting a corporate promotion which sent her to California. This left things somewhat open, and Amy returned for the finale to reunite with her on-and-off-again boyfriend, Jonah, for one of the best Amy and Jonah moments of all time.
Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) - The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries quickly became one of The CW's best shows of all time and it helped turn Nina Dobrev into a household name. Dobrev played Elena Gilbert on the show, an orphaned teen that falls in love with a centuries-old vampire.
After spending six seasons on the show, Debrov decided to leave when her contract ended in 2015 to pursue more adult roles, as reported by PinkVilla. Elena ended up in a coma because of Dobrev's exit but woke up in the series finale, two years later.
Emma (Jennifer Morrison) - Once Upon A Time
After six seasons on ABC hit drama series Once Upon A Time, Jennifer Morrison decided her time as Emma Swan was over. Morrison played Swan, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, who agrees to help her biological son break a curse placed on their hometown of Storybrooke, Maine.
According to Deadline, Morrison decided to leave the series to pursue more directing roles. Still, thankfully, her departure didn't affect the show too much since her character arc was already set to end in season six when she and Henry finally broke the curse.
Fiona (Emmy Rossum) - Shameless
Emmy Rossum helped make Showtimes's Shameless a massive hit by playing Fiona, the eldest Gallagher child who was forced to be the most put-together, despite having her own issues.
Rossum played Fiona for nine seasons before she departed the show to pursue other roles and projects (DigitalSpy). Though Fiona had many ups and downs in the show, she ends up leaving on a high note when she learns that a bad investment she made has finally paid off, leaving her a large sum of cash. Fiona leaves half the money behind with her family before finally chasing her own dreams in Chicago.
Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) - One Tree Hill
While One Tree Hill might be considered an iconic ensemble TV show, there is no denying that Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) was the lead character on the show. Despite this, Murray decided to part ways with the beloved teen drama series after six seasons.
Lucas's journey on the show ends when he becomes a parent alongside his wife and best friend, Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), and the new family moves on from Tree Hill. Rumors swirled for years over what led to Murrary's departure, with many speculating it had to do with contract negotiations, as reported by TVFanatic.
Christy (Anna Faris) - Mom
Many actors wouldn't think of leaving a consistently Emmy-nominated television series, but that didn't stop Anna Farris from making the tough decision to leave Mom. For seven seasons, Anna Farris played Christy, a recovering alcoholic single mother with a strained relationship with her mother.
Unlike other actors, though, Faris did not get a grand send-off for her or her characters because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted production early. Still, Faris stuck with her decision and as TheList reported, she chose not to return for season eight in order to pursue new opportunities.
Hannah (Katharine Langford) - 13 Reasons Why
When Netflix chose to adapt the bestselling teen novel 13 Reasons Why into a teen drama series, many were convinced the series would be one season and done. However, that wasn't the case, leaving actress Katharine Langford, who played Hannah, in an interesting place.
Though her character was killed off in season one, Langford did return for season two in the form of flashbacks. However, she departed the show for the final two seasons, feeling like her character arc had run its course (Insider) and it was time for her to look for other roles.
Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) - The Office
Steve Carrell shocked audiences when he announced he would not be returning to his role of Michael Scott, the eccentric and well-meaning but disastrous boss, on The Office. Carrell had been the face of the series for seven seasons, and many worried whether the show could continue without him - but it did just that.
Much like his character, Michael Scott, Parade reported that Carrell departed the series and Dunder Mifflin to spend time with his family. Carrell returned to The Office for the show's finale, which was a pleasant surprise for die-hard fans of the series.
Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) - The Walking Dead
Though Andrew Lincoln had a successful career in the UK, he became an international sensation when cast as Rick Grimes in the hit AMC television series The Walking Dead, which continues to be one of AMC's best shows. Lincoln spent nine seasons playing Rick Grimes, a former sheriff deputy who finds himself leading the charge against the zombie apocalypse.
Lincoln departed the show to spend time with his family but left things open in terms of his character. In fact, Lincoln is reportedly set to star in several movies about his beloved character.
Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page) - Bridgerton
Shonda Rhimes's latest hit series, Bridgerton, released on Netflix at the end of 2020 and quickly became a phenomenon, getting renewed for a second season. Despite Rege-Jean Page rising to fame because of his role as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, Page has decided not to return for the show's second season.
Page felt like Simon had done all he needed to do and that the second season would be better without him. Fans are interested to see if Page will return if the series gets more seasons later on.