Why did these 22 stars leave their successful TV shows? From Kourtney Kardashian on KUWTK and Jim Parsons on The Big Bang Theory, to Mischa Barton on The O.C., and America Ferrera on Superstore
- Sometimes, it’s not just about the money – comedian Dave Chappelle left his own show as Jerry Seinfeld did with Seinfeld, while Barbie Ferreira quit HBO’s Euphoria
- Kal Penn swapped starring in House to join the Obama administration, while Justin Chambers, Sandra Oh, Jesse Williams and T.R. Knight all left Grey’s Anatomy
Many big-name actors have walked away from the series that helped make them famous. After 15 years of playing Alex Karev, Justin Chambers left ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. Jim Parsons’ departure from CBS’ The Big Bang Theory led the series to its final season. So, here are 22 stars who left successful TV shows …
1. Barbie Ferreira
The actress, who played Kat on the HBO series Euphoria, announced her departure on an Instagram Story. “I put all my care and love into her and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez,” she wrote.
2. Jesse Williams
In 2021, Williams left Grey’s Anatomy after 12 seasons of playing Jackson Avery. Avery was originally introduced as a recurring character on season six and later became a lead person on the show.
3. America Ferrera
In February 2020, Ferrera, who is the lead on and executive producer of NBC’s Superstore, announced she’d be leaving the show after its fifth season.