Nicollette Sheridan is leaving Dynasty

Nicollette Sheridan exits Dynasty as Alexis Carrington

Nicollette Sheridan is ending her run on Dynasty.

The CW confirmed the news of her exit Monday. Sheridan had been with the show as the scheming diva Alexis Carrington since midway through the first season.

“Nicollette Sheridan will be leaving Dynasty in order to focus on some personal family responsibilities,” the network said in a statement. “She was a valuable asset to the show and we wish her continued success in the future.”

This marks the third buzzy departure from the CW series, following James Mackay and Nathalie Kelley’s exits last year. Kelley originally portrayed Cristal but was replaced in the second season by Ana Brenda Contreras, after telling fans she would not return for a second season and her character’s fate being left in limbo in the season 1 finale.

Sheridan was promoted to a series regular for the second season, bringing her catty matriarch (portrayed by icon Joan Collins in the original series) to the show on a more frequent basis. This marked her first major TV role since Desperate Housewives and her messy 2009 exit there, which involved a much publicized lawsuit.

According to TVLine, which broke the news, Sheridan’s final Dynasty episode will air sometime in March. Dynasty has already been renewed for a third season, but it remains to be seen if Sheridan’s role will be recast.

Dynasty airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on the CW.