Best examples of actors quitting of a show

[TMC]

In other words, what were some examples of success when someone quit a show? Of course, it could depend on what you think like a role on the show that improved or said actor/actress leaving for a "better" career?

[JSP]

Originally Posted by TMC

In other words, what were some examples of success when someone quit a show? Of course, it could depend on what you think like a role on the show that improved or said actor/actress leaving for a "better" career?

John Travolta leaving Welcome Back Kotter is probably representative of the best case scenario that can happen to an actor that leaves a hit show before it ends. Usually it doesn't seem to work out in situations like that, though. Shelley Long and McLean Stevenson are the prime examples of it going the other way.

[tlc38tlc38]

Happens all the time in soap opera land. A ton of stars have come from soaps, especially "General Hospital".

[Nordy]

Probably the best example of this would be Valerie Harper leaving her show Valerie. Sandy Duncan took over and the sitcom was re-named a few times. I think the last time it was called The Hogan Family

[scrapple]

One of the first cases of this was Pernell Roberts leaving Bonanza at the height of its popularity. Of course his career remained in the toilet until many years later with Trapper John M.D. Speaking of Trapper, Wayne Rogers left MASH at its height, as well.

Sometimes the show is hurt, sometimes not. When Dick York left Bewitched for medical reasons, the show's downward spiral began. When Rogers left MASH, he was replaced by the spectacularly un-funny Mike Farrell, but ratings stayed high. Same thing on Cheers....when Shelley left, the ratings stayed good, but to me the show was just never the same.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by scrapple

One of the first cases of this was Pernell Roberts leaving Bonanza at the height of its popularity. Of course his career remained in the toilet until many years later with Trapper John M.D.

Pernell Roberts' career was never in the toilet after leaving Bonanza. Granted, it would be nearly 15 years before he landed a starring role on another hit series but between that time he never lacked for work.

Pernell Roberts IMDb

[Edward216]

I really don't understand the hate for Mike Farrell's character B.J. Hunnicutt on M.A.S.H. I liked B.J. as much as Trapper. But to each their own sometimes. But I really disagree that B.J. wasn't funny or was a terrible character.

Ed.

[Wiseguy2]

Originally Posted by JSP

John Travolta leaving Welcome Back Kotter is probably representative of the best case scenario that can happen to an actor that leaves a hit show before it ends. Usually it doesn't seem to work out in situations like that, though. Shelley Long and McLean Stevenson are the prime examples of it going the other way.

Mark Hamill leaving Eight Is Enough (after the pilot) to do a little movie called "Star Wars" probably was a good career choice.

[factsoflife]

If you mean success for the actor than George Clooney is the epitome of this. After leaving "E.R." (upon completing his contract nonetheless) he found much bigger success in film, and has frankly completely eclipsed that show.

If you mean success for the show, I'd say that the following series are great examples:

"Cheers": Following the exit of Shelley Long the show could have easily folded or gone downhill. Instead the introduction of Kirstie Alley as Rebecca reinvigorated the series and it continued to run for another five or six years.

"Beverly Hills, 90210": The exit of Shannen Doherty easily could have killed this popular teen drama, but instead the addition of Tiffani Thiessen as Valerie Malone helped stabilize the series, creatively for a few years. Nobody really ended up missing Brenda at all (well, not the viewers at least).

"Saturday Night Live": Probably the best example of a show that found continued success following the exit of a big name, this TV institution has gone through many periods of success after one or more big stars leave.

"NYPD BLUE": the exit of David Caruso easily could have derailed this drama, at the time the most popular drama on TV. Instead it gave the series room to focus on other characters, such as Dennis Franz's Andy Sipowicz; an unlikely leading man if ever there was one. The show actually improved in the ratings following Caruso's departure and well, we all know what happened to David.

[megamanj2004]

Mark Harmon w/ St. Elsewhere. While his film career was stagnant somewhat, his TV career hit new peaks on NCIS.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by factsoflife

If you mean success for the actor than George Clooney is the epitome of this. After leaving "E.R." (upon completing his contract nonetheless) he found much bigger success in film, and has frankly completely eclipsed that show.

If you mean success for the show, I'd say that the following series are great examples:

"Cheers": Following the exit of Shelley Long the show could have easily folded or gone downhill. Instead the introduction of Kirstie Alley as Rebecca reinvigorated the series and it continued to run for another five or six years.

"Beverly Hills, 90210": The exit of Shannen Doherty easily could have killed this popular teen drama, but instead the addition of Tiffani Thiessen as Valerie Malone helped stabilize the series, creatively for a few years. Nobody really ended up missing Brenda at all (well, not the viewers at least).

"Saturday Night Live": Probably the best example of a show that found continued success following the exit of a big name, this TV institution has gone through many periods of success after one or more big stars leave.

"NYPD BLUE": the exit of David Caruso easily could have derailed this drama, at the time the most popular drama on TV. Instead it gave the series room to focus on other characters, such as Dennis Franz's Andy Sipowicz; an unlikely leading man if ever there was one. The show actually improved in the ratings following Caruso's departure and well, we all know what happened to David.

An opposite example somebody leaving a show (let alone ER) and then........never having another big role again, was arguably, Sherry Stringfield. She left ER, breaking her contract to do so (which led to her being prohibited from doing anything else on TV for the remainder of that ER contract) and thus walked away from the show just as NBC execs were about to work a deal with the main cast to ensure them future earnings for the show's cable & syndication sales - so she was "blackballed" from TV for a while and walked away from a fortune.

For Cheers, I've heard the argument that when Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) replaced Diane (Shelley Long) as the female lead, Cheers actually became more of an ensemble show w/ Sam and Rebecca just happening to be the lead characters.

[MRPITT]

After Larry Wilcox left CHiPs his acting career was never the same.

Cindy Williams leaving Laverne & Shirley turned out not so well for her career.

Ron Howard leaving Happy Days to pursue a directing career turned out to be a great move.

[UMFaninMD]

I remember when Jean Smart quit Designing Women it was a big thing because Charlene was pretty popular, right behind Delta Burke. I think she left to focus on being a mom. Then she came back to TV and has been pretty successful, with her most recent role being on Fargo.

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

Happens all the time in soap opera land. A ton of stars have come from soaps, especially "General Hospital".

Ray Liotta started in a soap called Another World. He would later make it big as Henry Hill in GoodFellas.

Topher Grace and Ashton Kutchner got some good roles after leaving That 70's Show.

[Nordy]

Ashton should have stayed away from Two and a Half Men though....