The Biggest Cast Exits of 2024 (So Far)

We’ve got something to add to that famously short list of life’s certainties: death, taxes and shocking cast exits in any given year of television. (A little wordy, we know. We’ll work on it.)

That last one is what we’re focusing on in the list below, which will keep track of all the cast departures announced — some of them in rather surprising fashion! — throughout 2024.

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And while most cast shake-ups tend to come from TV’s scripted side — FBI: International is losing star Luke Kleintank, for example — our list also includes notable unscripted exits. Thus far in 2024, Katy Perry has announced that her seat at American Idol‘s judging panel will be vacant after the current season, while Bravo’s Real Housewives-verse has lost quite a few familiar faces.

We’ll be updating this list all year long as more small-screen departures make headlines, so be sure to bookmark this page for all the latest reshuffles on your favorite shows. In the meantime, keep scrolling to see who’s leaving what (so far) this year, then drop a comment with the stars you’re sad to see go!

Josh Stewart, Criminal Minds: Evolution

Stewart, who made his debut as New Orleans Police Department detective William LaMontagne Jr. way back in Season 2 of Criminal Minds‘ original run, announced in January that he will not be back for Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s second season.

“[S]adly, my days of playing Will LaMontagne Jr. are over,” Stewart posted on X in response to a fan asking about his Season 2 status. “You guys have been the absolute best.”

Sam Waterston, Law & Order

NBC announced in February that longtime Law & Order actor Waterston would be stepping down from his role as D.A. Jack McCoy. His final episode aired Feb. 22, and he was replaced in March by Scandal vet Tony Goldwyn.

“The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me. There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next,” Waterston said in a statement. “An actor doesn’t want to let himself get too comfortable. I’m more grateful to you than I can say. Law & Order’s continuing and amazing long run, along with its astounding comeback, is all thanks to you and to Dick Wolf, but for whose vision, patience, perseverance, and unique combination of creative and business talents, none of this would have happened. I feel very blessed. I hope to see you all on the flip side.”

Kandi Burruss, The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Burruss, who has been a main cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta since Season 2, announced in February that she has chosen to depart the Bravo reality series ahead of its 16th season.

In a red carpet interview with our sister site Variety, Burruss said, “I decided I’m not coming back this year. It’s been 14 seasons, and they allowed us to sit around for a little too long, but during that time I had started working on a lot of other things, and I got some nice big projects coming soon, so I’m super excited about those things.”

Marlo Hampton and Sanya Richards-Ross later announced their RHOA departures, too, while Real Housewives of Potomac cast member Candiace Dillard Bassett opted to exit that series ahead of Season 9.

Katy Perry, American Idol

The current 22nd season of American Idol will be Perry’s last, she announced in February on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

“I think this probably will be my last season for Idol,” said Perry, who has served as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie since the series was rebooted at ABC. “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”

Sara Ramírez, And Just Like That…

After co-starring in the first two seasons of Max’s Sex and the City continuation, Ramírez won’t return as non-binary podcast host Che Diaz for Season 3. No official statement regarding Ramírez’s departure has been released, but sources told our sister publication Variety in February that the Che character had reached a natural conclusion, since their relationship with Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda had ended. (Max had no comment when reached by TVLine.)

Meanwhile, Karen Pittman — who played professor Nya Wallace on the series — has also exited ahead of Season 3 due to scheduling conflicts.

Stuart Martin, Miss Scarlet & the Duke

PBS announced in February that Miss Scarlet & the Duke would return for a fifth season… but it will simply be called Miss Scarlet, with Martin departing as William “The Duke” Wellington after four seasons.

“It has been such an incredible joy to bring Duke to life through [series creator] Rachael [New]’s beautiful, brilliant writing, and to get to play him for the past four years,” Martin said in a statement at the time. “But it felt like the time was right for Scarlet to explore new stories and challenges for now, as the show continues to grow and evolve. I will miss working with my amazing partner in crime Kate [Phillips] and the rest of our brilliant family and team, but I’m excited to continue following Eliza and her escapades as a huge fan and newly enrolled Scarleteer!”

Tom Durant Pritchard (Feel Good, This Is Going to Hurt) has since joined Season 5 as Alexander Blake, a handsome former soldier and respected detective inspector who joins the force at Scotland Yard to replace the Duke.

Olivia Colman, Heartstopper

Due to scheduling conflicts, Colman won’t return for Season 3 of Netflix’s Heartstopper, where she played Nick Nelson’s beloved mom, Sarah.

“We tried absolutely everything we could, but it wasn’t meant to be, and that’s just the way the TV world works sometimes,” series creator Alice Oseman told fans in March. “Nick’s story from the comics is still there, still infinitely important to me, and Sarah’s role as emotional support for Nick will shift to other characters in the story for now. If we get a Season 4, I would love for Olivia to be a part of it again!”

Hunter Clowdus, All American

TVLine confirmed in March that Clowdus, who had co-starred as football player JJ Parker since All American‘s debut, would not be returning to the CW series for Season 6. A rep for the show told us JJ’s storyline had “organically wrapped” at the end of Season 5, though as far back as November 2023, Clowdus had been hinting in social media posts that it was not his choice to depart the show.

“That said I began to feel very unwelcome there and it was really taking a toll on my mental health,” Clowdus wrote in an Instagram comment. “I still wanted to come back for the fans but at the end of the day it was their decision to not continue JJ’s character.”

Rome Flynn, Chicago Fire

Flynn, who joined Chicago Fire as Derrick Gibson at the start of Season 12, ultimately had a short-lived run on the NBC series, exiting after just six episodes.

The actor told our sister site Variety that it wasn’t his choice to leave the show: “Just like all the fans, I was sad to see Gibson leave. He was a character I very much enjoyed playing,” he said in April. “I had a wonderful experience during my time on Chicago Fire and have great respect for the cast and crew and hope to team up with Dick Wolf again when the time is right.”

Crystal Kung Minkoff, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

After three seasons, Minkoff announced her departure from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on April 15, ahead of the Bravo reality show’s upcoming 14th season.

In an emotional video posted to Instagram, she called her exit “very bittersweet,” adding that it was an “honor” being the first Asian-American cast member.

Luke Kleintank, FBI: International

Kleintank, who played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester since FBI: International‘s debut, exited the CBS series near the end of its third season. His final episode aired May 7.

“After much thought and consideration, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave FBI: International,” the actor said in a statement to our sister site Deadline. “This decision is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life. I’m profoundly thankful for the extraordinary cast and crew of the show, who have not only been colleagues but also a family away from home. Their unwavering dedication and remarkable talents have made every moment on set an unforgettable journey that has enriched my life in countless ways. Lastly, I would also like to extend my thanks to the fans who have supported us through the first three seasons.”

Nicholas Alexander Chavez, General Hospital

Chavez — who had taken a leave of absence from playing General Hospital‘s Spencer Cassadine to shoot Season 2 of Ryan Murphy’s Monster — confirmed in May that he will not be returning to the ABC soap, after all.

“I’m so appreciative of the opportunity that GH gave me, and I wouldn’t be as busy as I am professionally if it weren’t for the talented producers, writers, directors and fellow actors,” Chavez wrote in an X statement. “[Executive producer] Frank Valentini is a mentor and a friend, and we’ve had some pretty extensive conversations about my future on the show. While there are no current plans for me to return, we are still talking very openly about future possibilities for Spencer in Port Charles.”

Eamonn Walker, Chicago Fire

Walker will exit the long-running NBC drama as a series regular after playing Deputy District Chief Wallace Boden for 12 seasons. The actor — who has starred on Fire since its 2012 debut and was one of five remaining original cast members — will appear in the May 22 season finale and is expected to return in a recurring capacity in the future, per Deadline.

Camryn Manheim, Law & Order

Manheim, who plays Lt. Kate Dixon on the NBC crime drama, will depart at the end of Season 23.

“I had the most incredible experience being a part of the Law & Order Universe, and more importantly the Wolfpack,” Manheim wrote in an Instagram post in May. “I’m so thankful for the three wonderful seasons that I spent with this wildly talented cast of merry pranksters… I loved showing up for work each and every day, loved keeping the boys in line at Precinct 27 and most importantly, loved spending time with the most hard working, professional and kindhearted crew. They are truly New York’s finest. Something wonderful awaits me around the corner, and I can’t wait to see what it is.”

Jake Borelli, Grey’s Anatomy

Borelli, who has played Grey’s Anatomy‘s Dr. Levi Schmitt for the past seven years, will exit the ABC drama during Season 21. According to our sister site Deadline, Borelli’s departure is due to budget cuts at the series, but he is “in negotiations to return next season for several episodes to wrap up the story of his character.”

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