Elisabeth Shue – Then
After Catherine Willows, who was played by Marg Helgenberger, left the show, the producers were in a desperate search for another female lead. They decided upon Academy Award nominee Elisabeth Shue to take her place as Julie Finlay. As a blood splatter specialist with the team, Julie Finlay brought a unique specialty to the cast.
She stayed on the show for four seasons, joining during season twelve and staying on until the end of the show. The character of Julie Finlay, unfortunately, did not make it to the finale. This is because she fell into a coma following a brutal beating.
Lauren Lee Smith – Then
One of the most challenging circumstances that producers can find themselves in is the need to replace a long-standing role with a different actor. Lauren Lee Smith joined the cast during season nine as the main cast replacement for Jorja Fox's Sara Sidle. Surely enough though, Smith was a worthy replacement.
The character of Riley Adams, who initially got along with her colleagues, was tough and rebellious and was often combative with her superior, Catherine Willows. The character of Riley Adams disappeared well before "CSI" ended, as her contentious relationship with Willows resulted in a scathing review of Catherine during her exit interview.
Lauren Lee Smith – Now
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Lauren Lee Smith is probably not very well-known to American audiences outside of "CSI." Before joining "CSI," she was in a handful of lesser-known tv shows and tv movies, primarily for the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC).
After "CSI," Lauren managed to return to the CBC on the show, "The Listener," which unfortunately ended in 2014. She last had the starring role in the series "Frankie Drake Mysteries," but since then has not picked up any new projects. In 2017, Smith had a minor role in the Academy Award winner for Best Picture "The Shape of Water." And in 2022, she appeared in four episodes of "Departure."
Elisabeth Shue – Now
Before CSI, Elisabeth Shue was already a seasoned actress having starred in various movies and tv shows. She is probably best known for playing Jennifer, Marty McFly's girlfriend, in "Back to the Future" parts one and two. After "CSI," Elisabeth maintained a relatively low-key career, appearing briefly on a handful of TV shows.
However, she appeared alongside Tom Hanks in the World War Two drama, "Greyhound," and will also be seen on the tv series, "On the Verge," a show centered on women navigating life in their forties. Recently, Shue had a recurring role in the hit Amazon Prime series "The Boys."
Paul Guilfoyle – Then
Paul Guilfoyle began acting in the mid-seventies, and though he was not a blockbuster star, he did have a versatile career as he took on projects from different genres. Three decades into his acting career, Paul Guilfoyle played the captain of the homicide team, Jim Brass.
He was a former Marine and Vietnam Veteran before his career began in the homicide unit. Brass became a fan favorite from the very beginning and appeared in 317 episodes over the first fourteen seasons of the show. Sadly, the producers decided to discontinue the plotline for Jim Brass, and they wrote him out of the show.