These Actors Got Out Of Their Contracts Earlier Than Expected

Left: Breaking Bad

Reason: New Project

Est. Salary Loss: $150,000 per episode*

Breaking Bad fans may not have known that the departure of Norris’s character, DEA agent Hank Schrader, from the show was actually his personal request. Norris had his eyes on another project and, instead of having to pass it up, he wanted to be written off of the show.

Somehow he managed to get the show’s producers on his side and he was able to star in "Under the Dome", a Stephen King project. Recently Norris has a lot on his plate, as he announced in March of 2020 that he would be reprising his role as Hank Schrader in Better Call Saul.

Left: Downton Abbey

Reason: To Pursue Other Opportunities

Estimated Salary Loss: $50,000-$100,000 per episode*

The shocking death of Dan Stevens’ beloved character, Matthew Crawley, will forever be one of the most tragic plotlines in Downton Abbey’s history. Fans never saw the departure coming and, quite frankly, still aren’t over it.

Producers of Downton Abbey said that Crawley’s sudden car accident was the only exit that would be due justice to the character. Fans may have felt even more betrayed when Stevens revealed that he asked for the write-off. He didn’t want to resign a new contract and desired the freedom to pursue other projects. Though Stevens has moved on to many projects since he will always be “Matthew” to many.

Left: Grey’s Anatomy

Reason: Creative Differences

Est. Salary Loss: $350,000 per episode*

Grey’s Anatomy fans present another level of passionate devotion and investment in the plot of a show. T.R. Knight’s character (Dr. O’Malley) died a heroic but sudden death. But Knight’s desire to leave the show so soon, was to avoid a worse outcome. After working for five seasons, Knight was informed that he wouldn’t return for season six.

Apparently, this was the final blow for Knight as there was a list of things that made him eager to cut ties with the series, including creative differences with show creator, Shonda Rhimes. After contract negotiations between Knight and ABC, it was decided his character would be killed off “unexpectedly”.

Left: M*A*S*H

Reason: Demanded a Starring Role

Estimated Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode*

Colonel Henry Blake (played by Stevenson) was an icon of the Viacom-owned, CBS ensemble, M*A*S*H. Later, however, the actor told M*A*S*H writer Ken Levine that he was unsatisfied with his character on the show and was hoping to achieve leading man status elsewhere.

Mclean was written out of the show in season three’s finale. While Stevenson would go on to appear in memorable sitcoms and even got his own show (The Mclean Stevenson Show) he never seemed to obtain the caliber of career he was hoping for.

Left: The Aliens Franchise

Reason: To Pursue Other Acting Ventures

Estimated Salary Loss: $1 million per movie*

When Sigourney Weaver left the Alien franchise, it was hard to believe she wouldn’t be back. A multifaceted actress, Weaver continued to diversify her resume in the unique roles she chose. Shockingly, in the first Alien film, Fox paid her only $35,000 for what would quickly become a franchise-defining performance.

Thankfully, the director of the second Alien film, James Cameron, demanded that she be paid more for the sequel. Cameron was able to negotiate her to $1 million salary as well as a share of the profits. Weaver later confessed that she had at first agreed to the low pay in the original movie because she believed it was just a “small” film. She certainly must have never expected to become the face of the franchise many years later!

Left: Star Trek

Reason: He Lost Interest, to Pursue Other Projects

Estimated Salary Loss: $2.5 million per franchise movie*

It was unthinkable that Star Trek icon and veteran, Leonard Nimoy, would ever prematurely exit the franchise. Why would he leave? He was simply restless as an actor and ready to try new things.

Nimoy kept his departure plans to himself at first and none but Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer, the director, knew of Nimoy’s decision. But like a seasoned, showbiz professional, Nimoy personally finished out his character’s story arc as Dr. Spock and even directed his own death scene in Wrath of Khan.

Left: Lost

Reason: Long work hours

Estimated Salary Loss: $30,000 per episode*

Lost was one of the most gripping drama-thrillers on television that quickly garnered fans. Dominic Monaghan played Charlie on the show, but his role was short lived when he was dismissed after just thirteen episodes. Monaghan didn’t like the pressure and, rather than push himself to perform, he decided to leave. Disney financiers and ABC execs agreed to allow Monaghan to leave early after season three.

The writers then worked an untimely death into the show’s plot for Charlie. Though Monaghan didn’t want to continue on the show, he still made quite an impact. The series director said that he cried over the loss of Monaghan’s character. Lindelof admitted he was surprised at the show’s success, crediting the loyalty of fans, which kept the ratings high.

Left: Batwoman

Reason: Long Work Hours

Estimated Salary Loss: $150,000 per episode*

When the CW Network launched the Batwoman series, it was shocking to learn that the lead actress, Ruby Rose, announced that she would be leaving after just one season.

Rose became a household name from her role in the edgy, Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black." Because Rose was accustomed to being a supporting role and wasn’t used to the long, grueling hours that came with a starring role, she wanted out. Although there was some friction on set, Rose was able to be released from her contract and the Batwoman role was recast with Javicia Leslie. Kudos to Rose for doing what was best for her!

Left: Bones

Reason: New Project

Estimated Salary Loss: $30,000-$40,000 per episode*

John Francis Daley was on the crime-drama show, Bones, for seven years. Daley played the role of Lance Sweets and, in season ten, his character was expecting a baby with his girlfriend, Daisy, when he was killed off of the show.

Within the plotline, the reason for the sudden death of Sweets was because he had become too involved in the FBI conspiracy, but in real life, Daley was ready to leave. He was preparing to take a leap in his own career and transition into directing and writing. Today, Daley is a successful comedy writer (he wrote Horrible Bosses, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and more).

Left: Arrow

Reason: She Wanted to Move On

Estimated Salary Loss: $40,000 per episode*

Emily Bett Rickards approached the Producers of "Arrow" to say she desired to leave the show, but the producers chose to wait until her contract expired before giving her an ending.

Rickards was reflective about playing the character of Felicity Smoak on the "CW show," recognizing it had been a sizable portion of her career to date. Rickards even confessed that she felt bad about leaving, as people had “fallen in love” with the character, making it difficult to “say goodbye”. Despite being a bit sentimental about the role, Rickards was content to leave after seven seasons.

Left: Law & Order: SVU

Reason: Contract Negotiations

Estimated Salary Loss: $400,000 per episode*

Christopher Meloni’s, Elliott Stabler, disappeared off of Law & Order: SVU when his character was written out with a sudden and grisly demise. Where did such a plot twist come from? It all came down to simple contract negotiations that failed to conclude.

Meloni was discontent with his salary and began negotiating for higher pay at the beginning of season twelve. The network, however, wouldn’t budge for Meloni’s request, so Meloni’s character was canned. But in a real-life plot twist, it was announced in April of 2020 that Elliot Stabler was going to make a comeback on SVU. How this will work with his premature death on the show will be interesting to see!

Left: The Walking Dead

Reason: To Spend More Time with His Family

Estimated Salary Loss: $1 million per episode*

Andrew Lincoln played Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead, he is actually British and a big family man. When he has time away from the show, he is in England with his loved ones. Also, a dedicated performer, when he was filming The Walking Dead, he was apart from his family for about half a year, as he had to return to Georgia to film.

A man of priorities, Lincoln decided that he didn’t like being away from his wife and kids so much, so he asked to be written off the show. Lincoln left in season nine. However, in July of 2019, he announced that he would return, but not as a show regular. Instead, he would reprise the role of Rick Grimes for three TV movies.

Left: Lost

Reason: Family Issues

Estimated Salary Loss: $30,000 per episode*

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje played Eko on Lost. Akinnuoye-Agbaje had signed to be on the show for four seasons but he quickly changed his mind after just one season. He requested to be let off the island after his parents tragically passed away and he wanted to move back to his native London. The producers of course agreed.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje was later offered a guest role on the show’s finale, but he turned it down, perhaps from the memories of losing his parents during his time on the show. The actor was hardly “lost” after the series though, and has had no shortage of roles. He went on to star in Suicide Squad and Thor: The Dark World just to name a few.

Left: The Good Wife

Reason: Wanted to Get Married

Estimated Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode*

Josh Charles played Will Gardner on The Good Wife and, quite ironically, was looking at having a wife himself. Near the time when Charles’ contract expired with the show and he had to make a decision for his career, he also proposed to his now-wife, Sophie Flack.

He decided not to return to The Good Wife, and his character, Will Gardner, was written off. So in a major plot twist, Gardner was killed off, surprising fans. Clearly fans were very sad to see this beloved character go but it was certainly for a good reason!

Left: Breaking Bad

Reason: The Show Was Too Draining

Estimated Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode*

Breaking Bad fans love the show for its edgy, gritty storyline but it is certainly not a “feel good” series. Tuco Salamanca was a wild, psychotic character that was brought to life by Raymond Cruz. Cruz put so much of himself into the role that he actually asked to be written off. Why? He admitted that the twelve-to-fourteen-hour days on set were “physically, emotionally, and mentally” exhausting.

Apparently Cruz really could not wait to finish his time on Breaking Bad as he said he was “happy” when Tuco was killed off. Cruz confessed that he struggled with the brutality of Tuco’s character but he ended up reprising the role for the Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul.

Left: Nashville

Reason: Personal Differences, Wanted to Move On

Estimated Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode*

When shows switch networks, the move can sometimes come with changes that greatly affect the stars. After the show Nashville was moved from ABC, a major network, to CMT, Connie Britton left shortly after due to “creative differences.” Britton played one of the main characters, Rayna Jaymes, but wanted to move on.

Britton cited creative differences with her character, the plot’s direction, and the show switching networks for her reasons for leaving. She said she loved the show itself but that couldn’t keep her as part of the cast. The show premiered with amazing reviews and decent ratings, but Nashville was canceled after six seasons.

Left: Star Wars

Reason: Worried About Typecasting

Estimated Salary Loss: $20 million*

Harrison Ford was probably one of the best things about the Star Wars franchise, and it broke the fan's hearts that he reportedly wanted out. How could this be? Ford said he was worried that his role as Han Solo would lead to him being “typecast” and that this would lead to him only ever being offered “tough guy, action hero” roles.

Well, that’s exactly what happened. Ford is a tremendous actor but has more often than not been cast as the tough guy, action hero. He also took on another iconic role when he entered the Indiana Jones franchise. Though Ford has, in fact, been typecast, he has gone on to star in many remarkable films including "The Fugitive," "Blade Runner," "Patriot Games" and so many more.

Left: Grey’s Anatomy

Reason: To Focus on His Family

Estimated Salary Loss: $400,000 per episode*

Patrick Dempsey revealed to People Magazine in a 2019 interview that he was looking to leave Grey’s Anatomy. Dempsey was one of the heartthrobs on the show, but in real-life he was also a big-hearted family man and a race car enthusiast. He asked to leave because he wanted to focus on his family, as well as his auto-racing career.

Even after so much success, Dempsey told People that he actually had wanted to move on from the show earlier. Thankfully, he said that there were no hard feelings between him and show creator Shonda Rhimes, and he called the decision “amicable.” After an incredible 11 seasons, Dempsey rightly described his departure from Grey’s as merely the “end of a chapter” in his life. What a legacy.

Left: NCIS

Reason: The Work Was Too Difficult

Estimated Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode*

Though being an actor can appear to be a life of continual privilege, it comes with some hefty working hours. Sasha Alexander played Caitlin Todd on "NCIS," could not endure the heavy hours placed on her as an actress for the show and wanted out.

"NCIS" is not known for its light and fluffy plotlines and Alexander confessed that the work was physically and mentally draining for her. The common fix the producers used in this case was to write Alexander off the show. The official diplomatic reason for her character’s departure was that she was released from her contract in order to “pursue other opportunities.” But in an interview with TV Guide, Alexander felt she had her life back and affirmed that she had no regrets after leaving the series.

Left: Grey’s Anatomy

Reason: To Diversify His Acting Roles

Estimated Salary Loss: $125,000 per episode*

Another departure from "Grey’s Anatomy" was that of Justin Chambers, who was on the show for fifteen years. Chambers left after 16 seasons and admitted that there was “no good time” to leave.

As an actor, he felt that "Grey’s Anatomy" had “defined [his] life” for the majority of his career to date and he was ready to stretch himself as an actor, diversifying his roles. Fans were sorry to see him go, and his last appearance aired in November of 2019.

Left: The Office

Reason: Didn’t Renew His Contract

Estimated Salary Loss: $175,000 per episode*

"The Office" fans were devastated when Michael Scott, played by Steve Carrell, left the series, leaving a gaping wound in the show. In fact, Carrell’s departure proved to be the death of the show completely, leading to declining ratings and an ultimate cancelation after season nine.

In season seven, Carrell had left the show under the public impression that is was so he could focus on his film career. However, it was revealed in the spring of 2020, that Carrell’s contract was up at that time and he had also requested a raise, which was denied by executives. NBC falsely believed that the show could survive without Michael Scott, but it ended up being the death blow to the series, proof that a good actor deserves his raise!

Left: The O.C.

Reason: To Pursue Other Projects

Estimated Salary Loss: $15,000-$25,000 per episode*

Many remember their childhood framed by the teenage soap opera, "The OC." Mischa Barton was a major actress as she played angst-ridden, Marissa Cooper on the show. But Barton felt that, after a few seasons, she had outgrown the series and was ready to head to movie making. So, in season three, poor Marissa Cooper left the show via a tragic car accident.

Unfortunately for Barton, her movie career has never taken off, though she will always be the face of "The OC."

Left: Home Improvement

Reason: To Focus on Schooling

Estimated Salary Loss: $500,000 per episode*

Jonathan Taylor Thomas starred as the dimple-cheeked, Randy on Home Improvement and became a teenage crush for many young girls watching the show. Taylor Thomas left the hit show to focus more on his schooling and later took a total hiatus from Hollywood, much to the disappointment of loving fans.

A very grounded individual, Thomas said that he had no regrets about walking away from Hollywood. He recognized the cost of being a child actor and said that he’d been “going nonstop” since he was eight years old.

Left: Blue Bloods

Reason: Wanted to Move On

Estimated Salary Loss: $200,000 per episode*

Amy Carlson announced her exit to fans from Blue Bloods on her Instagram in 2018. As with many actors, Carlson was ready to try something new in her career and was all set to hang up her role as Linda Reagan, Danny Reagan’s wife.

As to be expected in the circumstances, producers had Linda killed off in a helicopter crash on the show. Fans were shocked, confused, and upset that Carlson’s death had occurred between seasons. Carlson had a nice comradery with her castmates and said that Donny Wahlberg was “generous” and “sweet about her departure.”

Left: Baywatch

Reason: Wanted A Break From Acting, Focusing on Her Family

Est. Salary Loss: Over $300,000 per episode*

Most everyone is familiar with the Baywatch beach jog made famous primarily by blonde bombshell, Pamela Anderson. Anderson had the role of C.J. Parker on the eye-candy laden, action-drama series. But after five seasons and having just given birth to her first child, Anderson was ready to set her sights elsewhere.

She admitted she wasn’t looking to be a big-name star and simply wanted the freedom to explore other options. Though she hasn’t been known for much since "Baywatch," Pamela Anderson is still a household name because of the show.

Left: ER

Reason: Wanted to Develop His Directing Career

Est. Salary Loss: Over $350,000 per episode*

Anthony Edwards had it really good on the show "ER." He reportedly had a $35 million contract and played a starring role (that of Dr. Mark Greene). But for the character of Dr. Greene, the grass was a little greener behind the camera.

Edwards was allowed to direct an episode of the show and afterward, Edwards expressed that he wanted to take a pause on acting to pursue directing. Producers complied and Dr. Greene sadly succumbed to cancer in season 8, leaving Edwards free to direct. Unfortunately for Edwards, he hasn’t had nearly as much success with directing as he has with acting.

Left: NYPD Blue

Reason: Contract dispute

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

David Caruso became one of the best-known faces on the CSI franchise with his signature one-liner and sunglasses. Unfortunately, he was also renowned to be difficult to work with as an actor. He certainly had earned his time having been on CSI Miami for a whopping ten seasons, but when he left the franchise and entered into the show, "NYPD Blue," Caruso had some pretty high expectations.

Rumored to have requested a 38-foot trailer as well as at least $100,000 per episode (among other things), this was totally unacceptable to producers. Reaching a stalemate, Caruso hit the road after just a handful of episodes in season two.

Left: Saturday Night Live

Reason: Wanted to Grow His Career

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Comedian Joe Piscopo is probably best known for his hilarious Frank Sinatra impression on "Saturday Night Live." Through all the ups and downs of the show, including a new TV executive overseeing everything, Piscopo remained an SNL regular.

But in 1984, Piscopo had enough of the SNL scene and wanted to see if he could go higher in his career. He departed the show but his career nearly halted entirely after that.

Left: Girls

Reason: Creative Differences

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Tall, dark, and handsome, Christopher Abbott played Charlie Dattolo, boyfriend to Marnie (played by Allison Williams) on the controversial show, "Girls." Though many fans adored "Girls" for its writing, Abbott wasn’t as enthused. As an actor, he seemed to do his best work when he was connected to his characters and the world they were living in.

Abbott shared with show creator, Lena Dunham, that he could no longer relate to his character, which only frustrated his performance. Since exiting the show, Abbott has done well for himself professionally, having starred in other shows such as "The Sinner" and "Catch-22" and films like "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" and "Black Bear."

Left: The West Wing

Reason: Contract Dispute

Est. Salary Loss: $70,000 per episode*

Some may forget that, before he became a bigger name in Hollywood, Rob Lowe starred as Sam Seaborn on "The West Wing." The character was an important one as Seaborn was the White House Director of Communications. After three seasons, however, Lowe was very dissatisfied with his character’s screen time as well as his salary.

When NBC was unwilling to address both of Lowe’s concerns, he decided it was time to go. Today, Lowe says he has no regrets about leaving "The West Wing" and why should he? Lowe has gone on to create a substantial (and well paying) career for himself as he has starred in many films and TV series since (and is worth $60 million).

Left: Blue Bloods

Reason: Creative Differences

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Denise Crosby got her start in front of the screen on the daytime soap "Days of Our Lives." She was involved in other projects but she is probably best known for her role as Security Officer Tasha Yar on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Though her role may have appeared to be successful in the eyes of fans, Crosby was dissatisfied and wanted her character to be a higher caliber.

After having no luck in changing the minds of producers, Crosby immediately exited in the middle of season one, as Tasha Yar was killed by an alien.

Left: Beverly Hills 90210

Reason: Difficulties on Set

Est. Salary Loss: $17,500 per episode*

Shannen Doherty has earned a reputation of being difficult to work with, having had more than one run-in with both castmates and show executives. Of the shows she has worked on, Doherty played Prue Halliwell on the supernatural sitcom, "Charmed," a show about three sisters who were witches.

In keeping with her bad-girl reputation, Doherty had developed a big feud with castmate Alyssa Milano, leading to the request that Doherty be fired! Doherty got wind of the plan and she decided to leave on her own terms before she could be fired.

Left: Criminal Minds

Reason: Creative Differences

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Mandy Patinkin has become a prolific actor, displaying his talents in "The Princess Bride," "True Colors," and "The Doctor," among others. When Patinkin took the role of Jason Gideon on "Criminal Minds," he eventually found the plotlines so dark and disturbing that it became psychologically taxing for the actor.

Apparently, he did not fully grasp the show’s concept when he signed and decided to leave after just two seasons. Patinkin’s career did not suffer, however, and he has since had success as Saul Berenson on "Homeland" among a slew of other projects.

Left: The Egyptian

Reason: Bad Health

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Early in Marlon Brando's career, he was set to take lead in the film of "The Egyptian." The role eventually went to Edmund Purdom, with Brando just making it through one rehearsal. After that, as the book Casting Might-Have-Beens describes, 20th Century Fox received a letter from Brando’s psychiatrist, which told the studio that the star was “too sick” to appear in the film.

Fox didn’t take this well, and in turn, sued Brando for reneging on his deal. Fox won, which wasn’t surprising given this was an era where studios ruled supreme over actors as the norm. Brando had to pay $75,000 for the delay he caused to "The Egyptian," and he also had to appear in another movie for the studio, which would be "Desiree."

Left: Blue

Reason: Unknown

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

The little production of "Blue" eventually saw Terence Stamp take the lead role. But originally Robert Redford had signed up to this role. Redford, though, dropped out of the movie with just a week left before cameras were set to roll, and Paramount Pictures duly gave its lawyers a call.

Redford was sued for breaching his contract. It’s said that because of this, he refused to work with Paramount on Rosemary’s Baby shortly after when director Roman Polanski offered him the role of Guy Woodhouse.

Left: Benny and Joon

Reason: Wanted to Pursue Other Opportunities

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

The quaint "Benny And Joon" worked well with Johnny Depp in the lead role, but the original plan had Woody Harrelson in mind as the lead role.

But Harrelson, however, left the picture, when he was subsequently offered the main role in Adrian Lyne’s "Indecent Proposal" which become a much bigger hit.

Left: The Student

Reason: Unknown

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

This film from 1954 was originally set to see Mario Lanza star as Prince Karl. But soon after he was cast, he quit the role, and MGM sued him accordingly for $5 million.

Yet, a settlement was reached and Lanza provided the voice for the character of Prince Karl. With Edmund Purdom replacing him, thus he had to move his lips in time to the dialogue that Lanza had prerecorded for the role.

Left: 10 Things I Hate About Life

Reasons: Personal

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

The film was set to shoot at the start of 2013, but production was delayed four weeks after filming. What was the problem? She reportedly left the film back in 2013 for personal reasons, allegedly saying she couldn’t return until the end of the year.

It was revealed that a lawsuit was filed against the actress, claiming over $30 million in damages. That amount was made up of alleged lost profits, equity investments, and special damages. Evan Rachel Wood’s representatives declared the lawsuit “a bullying tactic from the broke producers,” claiming that they’d run out of money. Evan Rachel Wood denied the accusations in the lawsuit. The film remains unfinished, and it’s unclear just what happened with the lawsuit.

Left: The Double

Reason: Creative Differences

Est. Salary Loss: $17 million

John Travolta was back near the top of his peak in 1997, and he was set to star in "The Double," with director Roman Polanski. But after signing he dropped out of the movie, which prompted a lawsuit to be aimed in his direction.

The suit demanded that Travolta “insisted screenplay rewrites without the director's knowledge.” Travolta had been set to bag $17 million for this film, but his lawyer insisted that he had hadn’t signed the contract. No more details were forthcoming.

Left: The Vampire Diaries Reason: Creative Differences Est. Salary Loss: Unknown Nina Dobrev shocked her fans around the world when she announced she would be leaving "The Vampire Diaries." Her choice was apparently something long in the making, as she chose to leave because she was simply ready to get some rest, reclaim some of her freedom, and move on to other opportunities.

We assume a tiny factor for her leaving was how tiresome it must have been to work with Ian Somerhalder after they broke up, and having to watch him fall in love with someone else and quickly marry them.

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 since exiting the show.

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 as 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.

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?

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.”

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.

Left: Cheers

Reason: Contract Ended and Wanted to Pursue Other Projects

Est. Salary Loss: $450,000 per episode*

Shelley Long is probably best known for her role as Diane Chambers on the hit show, "Cheers." "Cheers" became a classic show for many households across America and, with multiple Emmy nominations and even one win, it was surprising Long wanted out.

She was ready to move on in her career but the hours were too demanding for her to pursue anything else. Long was able to slip out of her contract and was missed by devoted Cheers fans. But in the world of show business, it’s always good to keep your eyes on the horizon.

Left: Ally McBeal

Reason: Personal Struggles

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Courtney Thorne-Smith played Georgia Smith on the iconic show "Ally McBeal" during the 90s. Thorne-Smith had the role of Georgia for just three seasons because of some sobering, personal problems. She had battled trying to maintain a certain weight for the show and this ended up taking a toll on her emotionally.

Thankfully, she recognized the severity of the problem and, for her own wellbeing, quit the show. Georgia Smith disappeared from "Ally McBeal" at the opening of season four. Happily for Thorne-Smith, she recovered from that difficult season of her life and has since gone on to appear in other shows.

Left: Superstore

Reason: Unknown

Estimated Salary Loss: Unknown

America Ferrera announced she'd be leaving the show after its fifth season. "Superstore" has already been renewed for a sixth season.

She said in an interview, "Being part of this wonderful cast and crew gave me opportunities to grow as a person and storyteller. I'm so thankful for the support they have always placed in me, and I'm most grateful to the amazing Justin Spitzer for creating the hilarious, smart, and relevant world of 'Superstore' and allowing me to be a part of it."

Left: The Big Bang Theory

Reason: Unknown

Est. Salary Loss: Unknown

Jim Parsons decided that after 12 seasons it was time for him to say goodbye to Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory." Even an incredible deal that would have reportedly grabbed the actor more than $50 million over two years couldn't persuade the actor to stay.

In a heartfelt and lengthy post on Instagram, Parsons thanked everyone connected with the show, as well as his fans. "I will miss each and every one of you and all of this more than I can say and more than I can begin to know at this time," he wrote. After his departure was published, CBS decided it would end "The Big Bang Theory" after 12 seasons, too.