How Anderson Cooper Signed Off From 60 Minutes After Nearly 20 Years

by

Anderson Cooper‘s 60 Minutes clock has run out.

After two decades with CBS News, the correspondent said goodbye during his last appearance on the network’s newsmagazine program.

Following his appearance in a 60 Minutes report about London taxis and self-driving cars on May 17th, Anderson Cooper released a longer interview online. The interview concluded with an emotional farewell as he gave his final on-air sign-off.

The 58-year-old man paused, gathering himself, before repeating his line three times, his voice trembling with emotion. The crew applauded as he walked away from the set.

He previously mentioned that it had become too difficult to manage his duties with 60 Minutes alongside his full-time job hosting Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN.

Throughout my time contributing to 60 Minutes, my primary job has always been at CNN, and continues to be. It’s been difficult balancing both roles and producing the in-depth reporting 60 Minutes requires, Cooper said.

He explained that CNN wasn’t thrilled when he took time off to contribute to 60 Minutes, so he primarily worked on 60 Minutes projects during weekends and used his CNN vacation time for those stories. He enjoyed the work, but it was challenging to balance both commitments.

Above all, balancing two jobs didn’t leave Cooper—who started on the show in 2006—enough time to focus on raising his sons, 6-year-old Wyatt and 4-year-old Sebastian, whom he co-parents with his ex, Benjamin Maisani.

Cooper explained that he has children ages 4 and 6 and wants to cherish the time he has with them while they still enjoy being with him. He feels like those precious years are passing quickly.

Honestly, as a lifelong viewer, I really loved what he said. He expressed a wish that 60 Minutes will still be around for future generations – that someday, I’ll be able to watch it with my kids, and they can share it with their kids too. It just feels like a show that deserves to keep telling important stories for years to come.

Keep reading for more major stars who have left their shows…

And landing on the show ultimately served as a full-circle moment for Cooper.

Growing up, I was a bit of an oddball – I genuinely enjoyed watching the news. It became a strange comfort after my dad passed away; our family would often have dinner with the TV on, just seeking some noise to fill the quiet. So, to actually be on a show like 60 Minutes? It was unbelievable, honestly. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.

Keep reading for more major stars who have left their shows…

Bridget Regan, who plays Monica Stevens on The Rookie, revealed her character has a history of surviving dangerous situations. “She’s gotten out of being assassinated multiple times, avoided prison, and even survived being thrown into a woodchipper,” Regan told TV Insider, reflecting on Monica’s four seasons on the show.

Regan said she wasn’t shocked when the attorney’s character died in an April 2026 episode. “It felt right,” she explained. “She’d been on the show for four wonderful years, and I’m just thankful for the experience.”

After becoming well-known on Dancing With the Stars and then starring in Chicago on Broadway, the performer from Utah has announced that the fifth season of the popular Hulu reality show will be her last. She’s decided to pursue other career opportunities.

Samira Mohan is leaving the show The Pitt. According to Variety, actress Supriya Ganesh will also not be back for the third season of the HBO Max drama.

Fans aren’t surprised by the character’s departure, as it’s been established that Ganesh was planning to move to a new hospital for a residency program.

As a longtime fan, I was really moved by a recent storyline on the show! After 18 seasons, we said goodbye to Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll. It happened during the show’s 500th episode, and it was incredibly emotional. Vance was tragically killed in a shootout with a rogue agent, but the writers gave him a beautiful send-off, reuniting him with the beloved Ducky Mallard, played by Adam Campbell, in heaven. It was a truly touching moment for fans who’ve followed the series for years.

Fans were surprised in 2025 to learn that Mehcad Brooks was leaving the NBC crime show before its 25th season.

Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.

After almost 20 years playing Dr. Owen Hunt and Dr. Teddy Altman on the medical drama, Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver have announced they are leaving the show. Their last episode will be the season 22 finale, airing on May 7, 2026, which surprised many fans.

Okay, so some big news from the Real Housewives world! I’m hearing that Jenna Lyons won’t be back for season 16 of The Real Housewives of New York City. It seems she’s moving on to new things, and while we’ll miss her, it’s exciting to see what’s next for her!

Confirming the speculation, the former J. Crew Creative Director announced on Instagram on November 21st that she would be joining season 16 of RHONY as a ‘friend of.’ She explained that because of the private nature of her personal life, they had agreed this role was a good fit.

The fashion icon, who started on the Bravo show in 2022 for its fourteenth season, later decided she didn’t want to be just a supporting player.

After careful consideration, I’ve decided not to return to the show,” she explained. “I’d be the oldest and only openly gay woman there, and I think it’s a good chance for the show to explore some fresh perspectives and new relationships.

After nine seasons, the A-list realtor is done selling mega-mansions on the Netflix reality show.

In a November social media post, Chrishell shared that she’s reached a point where she no longer relies on the show for income. She explained that because she has other work, continuing with the show was negatively impacting her mental well-being.

Hey everyone, just wanted to share some news – I won’t be back for season three of The Valley. I’ve been hearing from you guys, and I understand there were concerns about my behavior last season. After a lot of thought, I think this is the right decision for me right now.

In July 2025, the Bravo star, who is going through a difficult divorce with Brittany Cartwright, explained that he needs to prioritize getting sober, improving his mental health, and being a good coparent. He believes this time is essential for his personal growth, particularly so he can be the best father to his son, Cruz.

Several cast members from Saturday Night Live recently announced they won’t be back for the show’s 51st season, with the news coming within just a few days of each other.

Longfellow and Walker each spent three seasons on SNL while Wakim exited after just one season.

As a longtime observer of the entertainment scene, I’m noticing quite a bit of change over at Saturday Night Live. Following the departures of Longfellow, Walker, and Wakim, two more beloved cast members, Gardner and Nwodim, have announced they won’t be back for season 51. Gardner spent eight seasons on the show, and Nwodim seven – both will be greatly missed, of course!

Sofia Mattsson finished her role on the soap opera after seven years of playing Sasha Gilmore in the summer of 2025. Her character moved to Paris as part of the storyline.

Tracy Ifeachor, who starred in the popular HBO Max series The Pitt, decided not to return after its successful first season.

The actress shared on Instagram on July 10th how honored she was to play Dr. Heather Collins in what she called a truly special season of the show. She also thanked viewers for watching and sharing their personal experiences with her.

As someone who follows pop culture closely, I wasn’t entirely surprised by Joel’s fate – the show was mirroring the storyline of the video game, The Last of Us Part II, and his death in the game happened in a similar way back in 2020. Still, even knowing it was coming, seeing Pedro Pascal’s character meet such a violent end was truly shocking. It was a powerful, if heartbreaking, moment.

I’ve always admired Pascal’s good humor, even when his characters meet unfortunate ends! It didn’t even faze him that he’s become something of a ‘killed-off’ pro, between Game of Thrones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He actually told Entertainment Weekly he’s totally fine with it – he joked that he likes to die on screen! It’s just part of the job for him, and he handles it with such grace.

Following what he called a “wild adventure,” Peter Krause finished his run as Captain Bobby Nash on the drama 9-1-1 with an episode airing in April 2025.

According to a statement given to the Hollywood Reporter, the character Bobby Nash was intentionally created to make a powerful sacrifice. Creator Ryan Krause explained that the character was designed to embody the bravery of first responders, who put themselves in danger every day to save others, and his storyline is meant to pay tribute to their dedication.

The decision to kill off a fan-favorite, though troubled, firefighter was definitely controversial, according to showrunner Tim Minear in an interview with Variety. He explained that after eight seasons, eliminating a main character was necessary to ensure future storylines felt genuinely important and had real consequences.

Summer just got a little less fun.

In June 2025, Paige DeSorbo revealed she was leaving the Bravo series after being on the show for seven seasons.

After sharing seven summers with you all, I’m so thankful for the memories, the support, and everything this journey has given me,” the Giggly Squad podcast host wrote on Instagram. “But it’s time to move on to something new, just like with all good things – and even some mistakes – in life.

The popular Netflix show won’t have the French actress in its fifth season, which is set to come out in April 2025. She has confirmed she won’t be returning.

In an Instagram post on April 23rd, the actress announced she’s leaving Emily in Paris. Sharing photos with her former co-stars, she described her time on the show as an amazing experience full of growth, creativity, and cherished memories.

Before the third season of The Sex Lives of College Girls begins, Reneé Rapp has announced she will no longer be part of the show.

She shared on social media in July 2023 that the show College Girls brought her to Los Angeles and connected her with many of her closest friends. She added that after two and a half years, it’s also given her a wonderful community of fans like you.

As a huge fan of the show, I was really sad to hear about Renee Rapp leaving! Mindy Kaling, one of the show’s creators, confirmed the news herself on Instagram. She said we’re all going to miss Leighton Murray so much, but she’s excited for Renee and can’t wait to see her shine on tour – and honestly, I feel the same way! It’s bittersweet, but I’m so happy for Renee and her music career.

After over a year of speculation, Kevin Costner confirmed in June 2024 that he won’t be back for the final season of the popular Paramount drama, following his departure after four and a half seasons.

In February 2023, Ellen Pompeo finished her run as Meredith Grey on the ABC drama after playing the role for 19 years.

Pompeo admitted on The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2022 that she needed to try new things. Despite already returning for a guest spot in May and continuing to narrate the show, she explained she’s 53 and feels like her brain needs a refresh. She compared it to needing a break from a daily routine, saying you can’t do the New York Times crossword puzzle every single day.

But she’s not gone for good. Pompeo still pops in and out of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Henry Cavill, known for playing Superman and Batman v Superman, has announced he’s leaving the Netflix series after its third season. Liam Hemsworth will take over the role of Geralt, starting with season four and likely continuing in future seasons.

In an October 2022 Instagram post, Henry Cavill announced that his time playing Geralt of Rivia was coming to an end. He shared that he wouldn’t be returning for Season 4, saying he would be stepping away from the character and his iconic weapons and medallion.

Jesse Lee Soffer, an original cast member, left the show in 2022 after playing Detective Jay Halstead for ten seasons.

Everyone involved with the show has poured their heart and soul into making each week’s episode, and it’s been a rewarding experience,” said Jesse Soffer in a statement following his last episode on October 5th. “I’m incredibly proud of my work as Detective Jay Halstead.

After five seasons, Damian Lewis departed Showtime’s Billions in Oct. 2021.

In August 2021, Emily VanCamp left the TV show The Resident on Fox, meaning she would no longer be playing her role as a doctor.

Madeleine Mantock, who played Macy on the CW’s Charmed reboot, decided to leave the show after three seasons. She announced her departure in 2021, calling the experience a great honor and expressing her appreciation for the show’s producers, writers, and cast and crew.

Elizabeth Keen will never learn the truth about Raymond Reddington. Actress Megan Boone decided to leave The Blacklist after eight seasons, and her character was killed off before she could read a letter containing all the answers. Boone described her time on the show as “a dream” in a 2021 Instagram post, marking the end of Liz’s story.

The second season of Bridgerton didn’t include Rege-Jean Page, who became a fan favorite in the first season of the popular Netflix drama. Fans were disappointed when it was announced he wouldn’t be returning in 2021.

He told Vanity Fair that he simply did the work he’d agreed to, and then took on additional assignments. He admitted he wished there was a more exciting story behind it all.

Ruby Rose first appeared as Batwoman (Kate Kane) in a 2018 Arrowverse event and then led the CW’s Batwoman series for one season. This was a landmark moment, as she became the first openly lesbian superhero to star in her own show. However, Rose announced her departure from the series just two days after the season one finale in 2020. In season two, Javicia Leslie took over the role, playing a new character named Ryan Wilder who became the new Batwoman.

Later on in season two, Kate got a bit of a face swap and returned played by Wallis Day.

America Ferrera left the show Superstore after its fifth season in 2020, which meant both Cloud 9 lost its manager and the series lost a main character. Though she appeared in the first couple of episodes of season six due to the pandemic, when season six became the show’s final season, she returned one last time to give her character, Amy, and Jonah (Ben Feldman) a satisfying conclusion.

As a longtime fan of The Magicians, I remember being really moved by the season four finale. Jason Ralph, who played Quentin, successfully completed his mission to save Eliot, portrayed by Hale Appleman, but it came at a huge cost – his character made the ultimate sacrifice. Now, the show does deal with loss – it’s part of what made it so compelling – but it was surprising to see Jason Ralph wasn’t back for the final season. It definitely left a mark on the story and its fans!

Read More

2026-05-18 15:49