Ashton Kutcher
Left: “That ’70s Show”
Reason: Unknown
Est. Salary Loss: $250,000 per episode
The same year that Topher Grace as Eric Foreman decided to say goodbye, his fellow actor and main cast member Ashton Kutcher, who played “bad boy” Kelso, also decided to leave.
Unlike the quick, clean cut that Topher Grace wanted, however, Kutcher hung around a little bit, appearing a few times in season eight before leaving for good. Fans were, as a whole, sadder to see Kelso depart than Foreman. Kutcher has had plenty of roles but hasn’t exactly made it to A-list status. At least he wasn’t in “Spider-Man 3.”
Chad Michael Murray
Left: “One Tree Hill”
Reason: Contract Disputes and to Work on Other Things
Est. Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode
After six seasons of playing pretty-boy Lucas Scott, CMM decided to et off the tree. In preparation for the seventh season, Murray was up for a contract renewal, but it's possible the CW didn't want to pay out too much, seeing as how Sophia Bush was the biggest star of “One Tree Hill” by that point.
After the contract talk stretched on and on, Murray decided it was time to go, and gave the classic excuses that actors use when they don't think they are given enough money: contract disputes.
Tyler Hoechlin
Left: “Teen Wolf”
Reason: Wanted to work on his film career
Est. Salary Loss: $35,000 per episode
“Teen Wolf” has seen plenty of its actors and actresses leave for one reason or another, but the biggest blow by far was when Tyler Hoechlin, who played the hunky main cast member Derek Hale.
When he announced his departure from the main cast, he also relayed to fans and media that he would be returning for smaller roles, yet he didn't appear in a single episode of season five. He would go on to appear as a guest star in season 6, but that was him working around his movie schedule.
Claire Holt
Left: “The Originals”
Reason: She Missed Los Angeles
Est. Salary Loss: Unknown
Claire Holt first appeared in “The Vampire Diaries,” but when she signed on to be part of the spin-off show “The Originals,” she only intended for it to be a short gig. The show continued through a few seasons, and then Holt broke the hearts of fans when she announced that she was leaving the show.
Her reasoning was she missed living at home in Los Angeles (for some reason), and since the show filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, she had to either live away from home or spend a lot of time traveling. She was grateful for her time on the show, but she was ready to move on.
David Duchovny
Left: “The X-Files”
Reason: Contract Disputes and to Work on His Film Career
Est. Salary Loss: $225,000 per episode
Duchovny was half of the main pair of this legendary sci-fi thriller show, but he wanted too much after the seventh season. He made brief appearances during seasons eight and nine, but he wasn't part of the main cast.
He wanted a lot more money to keep working, and he also wanted to work less. There was a lawsuit, and things got messy. He was hoping to build up a big film career, which in hindsight we can see never really happened, but he was right to try anyway. He returned for a six-episode reprise of his role with Gillian Anderson.