These Characters Got The Boot From Popular TV Shows Because Actors Couldn’t Behave Themselves
Usually, when a character is killed off or written off of a TV show, it's because that's what's best for the plot of the series or because the actor wants to move on and pursue other projects. Sometimes, on rare occasions, a character is written off of a TV show because the actor who plays that character can't behave him or herself.
Whether it was excessive drug use, abuse, or just the inability to get along with their peers, the actors on this list stepped out of line in a big way.
Lisa Bonet Got Pregnant
Lisa Bonet's character on The Cosby Show was one of the main reasons for the show's success. Bonet even got her own spinoff show that followed Denise Huxtable as she moved out of her parents' house and headed off to college.
Bonet got pregnant after the first season of the show, and the network decided to cancel the show altogether. We may have lost out on A Different World, but Bonet's pregnancy led to the birth of Zoe Kravitz, and for that, we are eternally grateful.
Jussie Smollett Staged His Own Attack
Remember the day that it was announced that actor Jussie Smollett was attacked by two men wearing MAGA hats for being black and gay? And then remember the day that whole incident was revealed to be a hoax. That's right, Jussie Smollett staged the attack to boost his own clout. He was unhappy with his pay on the TV series Empire and he thought that staging an attack would help him get more money from the production.
Apparently, Smollett didn't get the memo about not leaving a paper trail. He paid those "attackers" $3,500 for their service. When the truth came out, Empire producers announced, "We have decided to remove the role of 'Jamal' from the final two episodes of the season."
Isaiah Washington Said Some Homophobic Things To His Grey's Anatomy Co-Star
Isaiah Washington, who played Dr. Preston Burke on Grey's Anatomy, was fired from the show after verbally abusing several castmates. Washington used a homophobic slur to refer to T.R. Knight on set. Washington publically apologized, and Knight came out a gay shortly after.
Washington also got into a verbal altercation with Patric Dempsey on set. It was all too much for Shonda Rhimes who fired him and wrote his character off the show. Burke left Christina at the altar and went on his merry way.
Two And A Half Men Just About Had It With Charlie Sheen
Back in 2011, Charlie Sheen was heading down a dark path. He was all over the news talking about "tiger blood" and looking like a deranged drug addict. It took a while, but eventually, the team behind Two and a Half Men had enough. Charlie Harper, sheens character on the show, met his death at the beginning of season 9.
At the beginning of season 9, his death is reported by his lover Rose who said he was hit by a train.
Jeffrey Tambor Was Kicked Off Transparent Due To Sexual Harassment Claims
Even though Jeffrey Tambor's acting was a huge reason why Transparent was such a success, many critics of the show didn't like that showrunner Jill Soloway had hired a cis actor to play a major trans role. Soloway hired lots of other trans actors to help her tell a very personal story inspired by her parent's own transition, but she needed a recognizable name at the helm to get her show off the ground.
Once Transparent had proven itself, Jill fired Tambor for the final season. She had heard the criticism and took it to heart. In addition, Tambor was facing several sexual harassment claims.
T.R. Knight's Exit From Grey's Wasn't His Choice
We already know that T.R. Knight, who played Dr. George O'Malley on the ABC show Grey's Anatomy, had some altercations with other cast members (one in particular) on set. According to Knight, he was fired from the show because of a "breakdown of communication" with show creator Shonda Rhimes.
Knight believes that he was forced out after he came out as gay, Rhimes says that Knight's sexuality had nothing to do with her decision. A much as we hate that George is gone, you have to admit that the season 5 finale was pretty epic.
Nicollette Sheridan Caused Drama On The Set Of Desperate Housewives
Most of the original Desperate Housewives made it all the way to the end of the series, but Nicolette Sheridan's character was dead by the end of season 5. It was death by electrocution for Edie— not a very nice way to go.
Sheridan was causing a lot of drama off-screen. Apparently, the series creator, Marc Cherry, was being pressured to cut costs. Since Sheridan was making as much as $200,000 per episode and her character's story felt like it has run its course, she got cut.
Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros Got Cut From Lost For The Same Reason
Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros had a little bit too much fun while they were in Hawaii filming Lost. It's easy to start living on "island time" when you're in a beautiful setting and forget the responsibilities you have as an actor. While filming for Lost, Michelle and Cynthia were spending a little too much time partying. They both ended up receiving DUIs.
After the incident, producers saw these ladies as liabilities and both of their characters were killed off the show.
Naya Rivera Was Fired From Glee
For five seasons, Naya Rivera played the often mean, sometimes sweet Santana Lopez on Glee. The show went on to see one more season, but Naya didn't get to stay on the show for season 6. It's rumored that her relationship with the producers crumbled, probably due to poor behavior.
Since leaving Glee, Rivera has starred in Devious Maids and been a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. She's not letting this incident slow her down in the slightest.
Dominic Monaghan Had Issues With His Lost Co-Stars
Dominic Monaghan played the troubled Charlie Pace on the series Lost. His character died heroically in season 3, sacrificing himself to help fellow survivors on the island. Although Charlie may have been killed for the greater good, the reason for his character dying wasn't as glamorous.
Monaghan had been having issues with co-star Matthew Fox and was outspoken about the direction of his character. However, Monaghan said that he was relieved to learn that his character was going to die because he was frustrated playing a smaller role in a large cast.
Isaac Hayes Didn't Appreciate South Park's Humor
Isaac Hayes voiced the character of Chef for many years on the Comedy Central animated series South Park. The show is well-known for always pushing the boundaries for television while simultaneously pushing people's buttons. However, at one point, the show's creators went so far as to offend Isaac Hayes enough to the point that he quit.
He didn't appreciate how the show made fun of the Scientology religion. Because he was mad and quit the show, the creators of South Park gave him an extremely gruesome death on the show.
Michael Pitt's Attitude Got Him Fired From Boardwalk Empire
At the end of season 2 of Boardwalk Empire, Michael Pitt's character Jimmy Darmody is unceremoniously shot in the face and killed. Although this may have helped the plot move forward, it was also a way to get Pitt out of the show. He was known to have a casual work ethic, an unenthusiastic attitude, and was always forgetting his lines.
He was also known to go off-script, all of which cost production money and led to him being released from the show. Even his own agent told Deadline that UTA fired Pitt as a client because he's really difficult on set.
Mandy Patinkin Had His Own Ideas About Criminal Minds
Mandy Patinkin played Special Agent Jason Gideon in the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. Although he was in the show from the start, he was killed off for two reasons. Gideon has admitted to New York Magazine that "I thought [Criminal Minds] was different. I never thought they were going to kill and rape all these women every night, every day, week after week, year after year. It was very destructive to my soul and my personality."
For that reason, he became a terrible employee, not showing up for work until he was killed off and both sides got what they wanted.
Jeremy Clarkson Was Fired From Top Gear
Jeremy Clarkson was one of the most recognizable faces of BBC before getting unceremoniously fired from Top Gear. In 2015, Clarkson was suspended after getting into a fight with one of the show's producers. Soon after the suspension, he was fired and the show went on with Matt LeBlanc as the host.
Clarkson survived the break-up, taking his talents to Amazon, where he hosts The Grand Tour. He even brought his Top Gear co-host to the house of Prime with him. For three seasons and 36 episodes of The Grand Tour, Amazon reportedly paid $185 million!
Thomas Gibson Got Into A Fist Fight
Thomas Gibson was enjoying a 10-year run on Criminal Minds when his temper finally got the best of him. Gibson got into a fight with a producer in 2016, two episodes into filming the new season. He apologized, claiming his frustration arose from creative differences.
CBS and ABC announced very quickly that Gibson was being terminated from his contract. On the show, his character was placed on "special assignment" and was never heard from again.
Alec Baldwin's Temper Got The Better Of Him
Not many people remember Alex Baldwin's short-lived late night show Up Late With Alec Baldwin. The program aired on MSNBC and was canceled after Baldwin got into a fight with a paparazzi. During the fight, Baldwin verbally assaulted the person, using several homophobic slurs.
Baldwin bounced back quickly, become an SNL darling for his impersonation of Donald Trump. He also plays a pivotal role in the ongoing Mission Impossible franchise starring Tom Cruise.
Patrick Dempsey Had An Affair
Patrick Dempsey played Derek Sheperd, AKA "McDreamy," on Grey's Anatomy. He was Meridith Grey's love interest for the entirety of the series, and he was the main male character on the show. In the show's eleventh season, Derek Shepard was killed when a car slammed into him while he was trying to help a couple who had gotten injured on the road.
There were rumors that Dempsey wanted off the show for years, but his exit from the show was prompted by the affair he was having with one of the show's younger staff members. An informer said that "It got very messy and emotional on set and became a huge liability."
Robert Downey Jr. Was Tempted By Drugs
Robert Downey Jr. won a Golden Globe for his performance in FOX's Ally McBeal. The show loved him so much it even supported him after he got arrested for cocaine possession. When he got busted a second time, FOX cut ties with the troubled actor and suddenly he was leaving Ally at the season's end instead of marrying her.
Downey Jr. credits the firing for getting himself cleaned up. He has remained clean and sober since the embarrassing firing. In 2008, he starred in Iron Man and launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Jay Thomas Couldn't Keep His Mouth Shut On Cheers
Jay Thomas played the hockey star Eddie LeBec on the sitcom Cheers between 1982 and 1993. While working on Cheers, Thomas was also a morning DJ for KPWR-Power 106 in Los Angeles. When asked on air what it was like working on Cheers, he responded by complaining about having to kiss Rhea Perlman who played his wife Carla Tortelli on the show.
Supposedly, Perlman was listening to the show at the time and Thomas was never seen on-screen on Cheers again. In the show, his character was killed in a freak Zamboni accident out on the ice.
John Rhys-Davies Couldn't Get Along With Sliders' Writers
John Rhys-Davies starred as Professor Maximillian Arturo in the sci-fi series Sliders between 1995 and 2000. However, his character was eventually shot and killed after the writers and creators of the show were fed up with his disrespect. Rhys-Davies called the scripts to the show "incomprehensible gibberish" and would continually clash with the writers, calling them unintelligent and useless.
After he was killed off in season 3, he claimed it was because the writers "screwed up because they didn't have the vision," yet it seems that the writer envisioned killing him off for years.
John Amos Was Fired From Good Times
Back in the 1970s, John Amos starred as James Evans on the show Good Times. The show featured an African-American family living their best lives while living in the projects. At the beginning of the second season, Amos threatened to leave the show, claiming that it was negatively portraying African American culture.
However, the showrunners beat him to the punch and killed his character off in a car accident. He admitted later in an interview that he did not quit and was fired after being labeled as a disruptive factor. The show's creators didn't even talk to him in person. Instead, they just called him on the phone.
Shannen Doherty Wasn't Easy To Get Along With On Beverly Hills: 90210
After being fired from Beverly Hills: 90210, it became clear that Shannen Doherty was not the easiest actress to get along with. So, it came as no surprise when her character Prue killed in the show Charmed. Her character's death wasn't so much a plot point, but rather because Doherty had been feuding with her co-star Alyssa Milano.
In an interview on Watch What Happens Live, Milano admitted "I can tell you that we were on the air with her for three years and there were some rough days. Not only was the feud known to the public, but the reason for her character's death was quite noticeable.
Columbus Short Rocked The Boat On Scandal
Luckily, for the creators and crew of Scandal, Columbus Short didn't cause any direct problems for the show. However, they were forced to let him go from the show and have his character Harrison Wright assassinated by the Secret Service.
Short had been having personal issues and had been arrested for attacking his then-wife in front of his children, assaulting a man in a bar fight, and threatening his wife with a knife. Although he hadn't been a problem on-set, the show's creators felt it was best to let him go and even helped to send him to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.
Mischa Barton's Co-Workers On The OC Were Fed Up With Her
Actress Mischa Barton scored her breakout role as Marissa Cooper in the series The O.C. She was a very well-liked character of the show, so audiences were heartbroken when her character died in a car accident in season 3. While fans were wondering why she was killed, the showrunners reported that they couldn't put up with Barton anymore.
She thought that she was too good for TV and her attitude drove the creators up the wall. Her co-stars also thought she had a bad attitude but didn't wholeheartedly agree that she should have been killed off since her character was so well-liked.
Raymond Cruz Wanted To Be Killed Off Of Breaking Bad
Raymond Cruz played the psychopathic meth-fueled drug dealer Tuco Salamanca in the AMC hit series Breaking Bad. However, opposite of Tuco, Cruz is a relatively laid back person who actually asked to be killed off from the show. He said he wasn't looking forward to returning to the show because the part was incredibly hard to play.
This is because Cruz's character's energy was violent, uneasy, and through the roof. The showrunners asked if he could do eight more episodes which he declined. When they said they've never heard of somebody wanting to be killed off he said they didn't understand what it took to pull that part off.
Maude Flanders' Voice Actor Didn't Want To Fly Anymore
Maggie Roswell was the voice actor of the character Maude Flanders on the animated series The Simpsons. However, she threatened to leave the show because she didn't want to commute from Denver to Los Angeles anymore since the travel was too expensive. She claimed to make much less than she actually did and said she couldn't afford the flights on her salary.
Fox refused to pay for her travel expenses, and she left the show. Her character was taken over by a few other actors until her character was finally killed off. Fox preferred to have the character gone rather than pay for Roswell's travel.
Valerie Harper Wasn't Appreciated On Her Own Show
Valerie Harper starred in her own show called Valerie. However, her character was killed off and replaced by actress Sandy Duncan. The show was renamed Valerie's Family and eventually The Hogan Family. Apparently, Harper was killed off because of a contract issue surrounding compensation and creative input.
Yet, the show's lawyers argued that it was her behavior that got her booted. In response, Harper sued the production company and won, receiving a large payout from the show's later success. She got all the money with no work.
Jon Polito's Big Mouth Got Him Written Off Homicide: Life on the Street
John Polito played Steve Crosetti on Homicide: Life on the Street. When the producer informed him that he was going to be temporarily written off the show, he overreacted and went on to make harsh comments about the shows and its creators.
Because of these comments, the next season, his character graphically committed suicide with his body being discovered after floating in the bay for days. Polito went on to admit that he was wrong and made amends with the producer. The two even went on to work together again on a different project.
Brett Butler Got Her Show Cancelled
From 1993 until 1998 Brett Butler starred in Grace Under Fire on ABC. When she became addicted to Vicodin and was unreliable, the network made the decision that she had to go.
Unlike most shows where an actor gets fired, however, Butler was the lead actress in the show. Unable to come up with a solution to remove Butler and keep the popular show on the air, Grace Under Fire was canceled. She was escorted off the ABC lot by armed security guards!
Billy Bush Got Caught Up In A Presidential Scandal
Billy Bush was co-host of Today until he was caught talking about women off camera. The infamous incident occurred behind the scenes with Donald Trump. A recording device caught the two having a conversation about grabbing women inappropriately.
Bush was suspended and fired from his show. He has owned up to the tape, admitting the voices are his and Trumps. His career never recovered. One-year later, Bush was hospitalized after getting hit in the head with a golf ball. You know what they say about karma!
Phil Robertson Stepped Back From Duck Dynasty
Duck Dynasty is one of the most popular shows to ever air on A&E. When Phil Roberston was suspended for homophobic remarks, the network found themselves in hot water with the fans. Despite his statements, fans rallied for Robertson to return to the show.
Ultimately, the network conceded to the fans and allowed Robertson back. Not many shows on cable could match Duck Dynasty's ratings, so this decision isn't too surprising. Since his return, Robertson has refused to apologize for his insensitive remarks.
Drake Made A Hard Choice
Early in his career, Drake was earning his dues starring in Degrassi while recording music. The only problem was his music team had no idea he was acting on the side. The forced him to choose which career he would rather have. Despite the popularity of the TV show, Drake chose music.
Although he wasn't technically fired, the decision he was forced to make could have been career-threatening. Instead, it was career defining. Drake went on to become one of the most profitable rappers of his generation.
Kal Penn Joined The Obama Administration
Of all the fellows on House, fans appreciated Lauren Kutner for his open-mindedness to new experiences and his willingness to go along with House's risks. Unfortunately, the cast and crew didn’t jib with Kal Penn quite as much.
While Penn didn’t necessarily cause any on-set drama, he was heavily involved with politics throughout filming. In early 2009, he joined the Obama Administration as an Associate Director of Public Engagement for the White House. His involvement in politics necessitated that his character be written out of the series.
Taylor Momsen Had A Bad Attitude On Gossip Girl
Taylor Momsen started her career as Cindy Lou Who in 2002’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! But the child star quickly shed her good-girl image when she was cast as Jenny Humphrey on the CW series Gossip Girl.
At first, Momsen was a regular on the show, but when her appearances became increasingly sporadic, many questioned if it had to do with her bad behavior. By the end of the fourth season, Momsen was out. She claimed that she was taking a break from acting to pursue her music, but according to Hollywood Life, she was actually forced off the show thanks to her “unreliable and erratic behavior” on set.
Danny Masterson Faced Sexual Assault Allegations
Danny Masterson made a name for himself as Hyde on That ‘70s Show. In 2016, he teamed up with his old castmate, Ashton Kutcher, for the Netflix series The Ranch. The series was well-received by fans and critics alike until Masterson was accused of raping four women in the early 2000s.
After increasing pressure to act on the allegations, Netflix decided to fire Masterson from the show in late 2017. Masterson, who also served as an executive producer for the series, joined a long list of other Hollywood actor facing accusations of sexual assault. For now, the show will continue production in 2018, san Masterson.
Kevin Spacey Got Fired From House Of Cards
In late 2017, Kevin Spacey joined a growing list of actor accused of sexual assault. Following accusations against the star, Netflix fired Spacey from the hit series House of Cards. Going a step further, the streaming company later announced it would no longer work with Spacey in any capacity.
Before allegations against Spacey surfaced, production was well underway for the series’ sixth season. In return, Spacey gave a rather lackluster apology, instead coming out as gay via his Twitter account in an attempt to divert attention away from the accusations.
Mario Batali Got The Chew Cancelled
In May of 2018, ABC revealed that after seven seasons, The Chew won’t be returning. The talk show first aired in 2011 and is currently hosted by chefs Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, and, until late last year, Mario Batali.
In December 2017, Batali was fired from The Chew following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct over the last 20 years. Despite the chef’s firing, the controversy negatively affected ratings with the number of female viewers plummeting 17 percent.
Roseanne's Infamous Tweet
Roseanne was controversially brought back to ABC to reboot her sitcom Roseanne in 2018. The reboot made the network nervous. Roseanne is known more recently for her controversial points of view than her comedy. When 22 million people watched the season premiere, ABC held its breath, hoping the bubble wouldn't burst.
Burst it did when Roseanne when on a late-night Twitter rant she contributed to Ambien. Using the social network, she called Valerie Jarrett the child of the "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes." ABC canceled the show the next day and is looking to reboot it again without Roseanne so hundreds of people don't lose their jobs.
Jenette McCurdy Wasn't Clean Enough For Nickelodeon
Jenette McCurdy starred in the short-lived series Sam and Cat on Nickelodeon. The hit kids program was undone when the actress posted racy photos to her Twitter account. She doubles up on her new image by posting similar photos to Instagram. Nickelodeon had no choice except to cancel the show after.
McCurdy said after, "I am not a role model." She may not think she is, but when you star on a kids show, you're kind of forced to be one! She has chosen her work more carefully since then, starring in Between on Netflix, a much more adult program.
Jeremy Piven Was Accused Of Sexual Misconduct
In late 2017, Jeremy Piven was yet another actor accused of sexual misconduct against three women. Earlier that year, Piven joined the cast of Wisdom of the Crowd as Jeffrey Tanner. He starred in 13 episodes before the network not only nixed Piven but pulled the plug on the entire show.
Piven responded to the claims saying, "I unequivocally deny the appalling allegations being peddled about me. It did not happen." Still, CBS decided they wouldn't be ordering another season of the series given the accusations and weak ratings.
