It’s not uncommon for actors to leave popular TV shows, even when those shows are doing well. There are many different reasons why this happens. For example, Paul Schneider left *Parks and Recreation* after two seasons because his character’s storyline wasn’t going in a direction he found interesting. Chevy Chase left *Saturday Night Live* early in its second season to focus on movies. Christopher Eccleston left *Doctor Who* after just one season, explaining he didn’t like the atmosphere on set. Sometimes actors leave even after being on a show for several years – Steve Carell left *The Office* and Topher Grace left *That ’70s Show* after seven seasons each.
With a recent high-profile firing from a popular TV show, it’s a good time to look back at some of the biggest cast dismissals in television history. While actors may describe it differently, these firings generally stem from problematic behavior on the part of the actor.
7) David Del Rio — Matlock
The recent revival of the show *Matlock* on CBS may be the final project for acclaimed actress Kathy Bates. This comes after a complaint filed by her co-star, Leah Lewis, on October 2nd, detailing an incident that reportedly happened on September 26th.
CBS Studios looked into the claims and conducted an internal review, after which Del Rio was fired and removed from the set. The show *Matlock* is currently filming its second season, and Del Rio’s character, Billy Martinez, will no longer be part of the series.
Stream Matlock on Paramount+.
6) Charlie Sheen — Two and a Half Men
Among Chuck Lorre’s many successful shows, *Two and a Half Men* stood out for its portrayal of playfully mischievous characters. Unfortunately, Charlie Sheen’s actual off-screen conduct created too many problems for the show’s production and those involved.
Charlie Sheen was let go from the show in 2011 because of behavior the network described as reckless and harmful. His public arguments with the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre, made the situation worse. Sheen’s character, Charlie Harper, was a part of the show for eight seasons before being written off at the start of Season 9. Ashton Kutcher then joined the cast as the very rich Walden Schmidt. Although Sheen was missed, the show continued for another four years.
Stream Two and a Half Men on Peacock.
5) Roseanne Barr — Roseanne
As a big fan of the original, I was so excited when *Roseanne* came back after almost 21 years! Unfortunately, the revival was cut short pretty quickly. It all came down to some really problematic tweets Roseanne Barr posted – she compared Valerie Jarrett, who worked in the Obama administration, to something out of *Planet of the Apes* and involving the Muslim Brotherhood. That was it – the show was cancelled, and so was her involvement with it. It was a real shame, but the comments were just unacceptable.
Just under a month after the show *Roseanne* was cancelled, it returned as *The Conners*. This new series was both a spin-off and a continuation of the original. *The Conners* ultimately proved that the show wasn’t solely reliant on Roseanne Barr, as it went on to have seven successful seasons.
Stream Roseanne on Peacock & The Conners on Hulu.
4) Chevy Chase — Community
The TV show *Community* has struggled to achieve its fans’ hope for ‘Six Seasons and a Movie,’ and a movie still seems unlikely. The show nearly didn’t even get a sixth season. It originally aired for five seasons on NBC, where it consistently attracted a small but passionate audience. It then continued with a single season on Yahoo! Screen. Interestingly, when it first started, Chevy Chase was the only truly famous cast member. While Ken Jeong and Joel McHale had some recognition from roles in *The Hangover*, *Role Models*, and hosting *The Soup*, they weren’t major stars yet. However, Chase’s time on the show ended after Season 4. He made a brief appearance in one episode of Season 5 before his character, Pierce Hawthorne, was permanently killed off.
Chase was fired near the end of Season 4 after reportedly using a racial slur on set. This followed racist jokes he made towards Donald Glover, but it wasn’t an isolated incident – Chase had been challenging to work with since the beginning. He frequently complained about long hours and the writing, creating a tense atmosphere for everyone involved. While his departure was officially described as a mutual decision, he didn’t finish filming his last two episodes, making it clear the slur was the final, unacceptable issue. Chase’s difficult behavior had been noted since his time on *Saturday Night Live*, so few were surprised when his character, Pierce Hawthorne, was written off the show.
Stream Community on Peacock.
3) Janet Hubert — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Janet Hubert famously played Aunt Viv on the first three seasons of *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, leaving a lasting impact. Although she stated in *The Fresh Prince Reunion* that she wasn’t technically fired, it’s clear she was effectively forced to leave the show.
Hubert was going through a difficult time, as she was pregnant and in an abusive relationship, which created tension with the show’s cast and crew. When her contract came up for renewal after Season 3, she was offered less money and severely limited opportunities to pursue other work. This led to a long-standing conflict with Will Smith, whom she believed was responsible for her departure. The disagreement wasn’t resolved until a recent reunion. Although the show continued for another three seasons, many felt it lost some of its heart without the original Aunt Viv.
Stream The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Hulu.
2) Jeff Garlin — The Goldbergs
As a big TV fan, I really enjoyed *The Goldbergs* – it ran for ten seasons and over 220 episodes, which is amazing for ABC! But it’s interesting to note that Jeff Garlin, who you probably know from *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, wasn’t in every single one. He wasn’t a constant presence throughout the whole run of the show.
Jeff Garlin played Murray Goldberg for the first nine seasons of the show, but he was removed from the cast after an investigation into complaints about his behavior on set. Although Season 9 premiered on September 22, 2021, Garlin departed two months later. The show finished his remaining scenes using CGI and stand-ins, and his character was later written off before Season 10. While Garlin maintains he wasn’t officially fired, it’s clear he was asked to leave. His co-star, Wendi McLendon-Covey, hinted in a 2023 interview with Andy Cohen that this outcome had been expected for some time.
Stream The Goldbergs on Hulu.
1) Robert Downey Jr. — Ally McBeal
Robert Downey Jr. appeared on *Ally McBeal* during its fifth season, quickly winning over viewers as Larry Paul. His strong on-screen connection with Calista Flockhart was a major reason for his popularity, but his character didn’t remain on the show for long.
In 2000, Robert Downey Jr. was facing significant career difficulties due to ongoing legal and substance abuse issues, effectively leading to his ostracization from Hollywood between 1996 and 2003. In November 2000, he was arrested for drug possession while filming on location in Palm Springs, California. Still on parole from that arrest, he was arrested again in April 2001 for being under the influence. This led to his firing from the TV show *Ally McBeal* by creator and network Fox. Though he was originally slated to appear in Season 5, his role was removed, and any appearances were limited to brief clips from Season 4.
Stream Ally McBeal on Hulu.
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2025-10-10 17:11