Wayne Rogers
Left: M*A*S*H
Reason: Creative differences
Est. Salary Loss: $150,000 per episode*
Another “M*A*S*H” exit was that of Wayne Rogers. Rogers played Trapper John McIntyre who was one of many comic relief roles on the series. Rogers asked to leave the show because he wasn’t getting as many appearances on screen as he expected, and he believed Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce character was upstaging his role.
Interestingly enough, acting ended up becoming a sort of side gig for Rogers as his primary career was being an investment and money manager! But the real bombshell of Roger’s exit from “M*A*S*H” is that he reportedly never signed his contract…so did he actually “leave” the show?
Katherine Heigl
Left: Grey’s Anatomy
Reason: Creative Differences
Est. Salary Loss: Unknown
Katherine Heigl is yet another "Grey’s Anatomy" cast member to make a premature exit. Heigl played Dr. Izzie Stevens and was on the show for six seasons when major, behind-the-scenes problems, arose. Though all may have seemed well on the outside, Heigl harbored major disapproval of the show and the writers.
With bad blood brewing between Heigl and major players behind the scenes, Izzie Stevens was dismissed with a tragic melanoma diagnosis. Sadly for Heigl, this may not have been the best move as she has struggled in her acting career after exiting the show.
Topher Grace
Left: That 70s Show
Reason: Wanted to Pursue Other Projects
Est. Salary Loss: $250,000 to $350,000 per episode.
Topher Grace was another actor who wanted to break out of the world of tv and onto the big screen. For seven seasons, Grace played Eric Forman on the sitcom "That 70s Show," but when Grace said he was ready to move on, the producers accommodated him. In a curious write out, Eric Forman was sent to Africa to teach English and was never seen again.
The exit of Topher Grace (and simultaneously of Ashton Kutcher) signaled the death of the show and it was over after eight seasons. Since then, Grace has made a relatively successful film career for himself.
Lisa Bonet
Left: A Different World, The Cosby Show
Reason: Pregnancy and Creative Differences
Est. Salary Loss: Unknown
Lisa Bonet starred as Denise Huxtable, the cool, free-spirited, second eldest daughter of the family pack. Bonet was on the show for seven seasons as both a regular and recurring cast member. She was set to star in the Cosby Show spinoff, "A Different World," but she became pregnant by the end of the first season and had to exit.
She returned for the seventh season of "The Cosby Show" but was, unfortunately, let go due to “creative differences.”
Alicia Goranson
Left: Roseanne
Reason: To Pursue Higher Education
Est. Salary Loss: Unknown
"Roseanne" became a weeknight sitcom staple in homes across the U.S. Alicia Goranson played Becky Conner on the hit show from 1988 to 1995. Still, she took a hiatus to attend Vassar College.
It appears that Goranson was able to bend her contract, and thankfully, the producers were willing to comply. Goranson was able to return to the show with an English degree behind her as well. Today she is worth an estimated $3.5 million.