Among the most fundamental parts of a TV show are the characters in it. For a story to work, its lead actors must successfully embody their roles and conquer the interests and hearts of the audience. However,some TV series go on for years and their leads might not be able to keep up with a show’s schedule.Whether for personal or professional motives, whena lead TV actor leaves their role, it is always a painful moment for the fans who, after accompanying them through their journey, have usually grown to love the character.
Their absence creates a void. However, sometimes, the same actors can surprise the audience and honor the character’s arc by making one last return for the series finale. These heartfelt moments not only provide the audience with one last opportunity to shed tears (or laugh) with their favorites but also bring a sense of closure to the characters' journeys and their role in the story.
10Andrew Lincoln As Rick Grimes
Andrew Lincoln’s portrayal of Rick Grimes inThe Walking Deadis one of the TV series' defining highlights. Rick is a complicated character: He begins as an everyman and evolves into a leader whose strong moral principles and humanity are tested by the adverse and dangerous world he and his friends must adapt to. Lincoln brought many nuances to the character, embodying him as a fierce yet deeply haunted leading figure, burdened with enormous responsibilities and regrets.
The Walking Dead
Cast
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 07, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
Despite his popularity among fans,Lincoln leftThe Walking Deadafter season 9. Although the series is famous for killing off even its most beloved characters, the actor’s exit from the show still came as a shock. Nevertheless,as the creators could not kill off Rick Grimes, they left to hope for a possible return of the character, which happened in the series finale, and set up a spin-offcentered around him.
9Steve Carell As Michael Scott
The Office (2005-2013)
Steve Carell was the lead actor and face ofThe Office. His character,Michael Scott, won the audience’s hearts and became an iconic figure on television despite,or perhaps because of, his complete lack of competence, critical thinking skills, and emotional maturity. Carell’s performance infused the role with humor and charm, and Michael’s antics and absurd behavior will always be an indelible part of what made the show a comedic masterpiece.
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Michael Scott’s departure from The Office left a huge hole in the show. The writers brought in a bunch of characters to possibly replace him.
When Carell leftThe Officeafter his seven-season contract expired, the disappointment among fans was palpable. Although the creators did the character justice by making Michael move to Colorado with Holly, his love interest, his absence was deeply felt in the sitcom. That is why the moment he returned for the series finale will always remain in the memory of the audience. His return with the iconic line: “That’s what she said” was a testament to the character’s legacy and allowed the fans to say a proper goodbye to one of the best series of all time.
One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
Chad Michael Murray was not only the lead actor ofOne Tree Hill. He is also a narrating voice that accompanies the viewers through the bittersweet journey that his character, Lucas Scott, along with his friends, faces in the show. The story appears more often than not told through the highly observant perspective of Lucas. This aspect should not come as a surprise, given the character’s inclination as a writer.
One Tree Hill
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill’s community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
However,after season 6, Lucas and his historical love interest Peyton Sawyer leave the show,causing the fans to mourn the loss ofOne Tree Hill’spopular and highly debated romance. Although Murray’s character was given a well-deserved happy ending where he finally found some peace with the love of his life and followed his dreams, his exit was not well-received among the fans. Fortunately, the final season granted the audience one last glimpse at one of the most popular figures in the history of teen dramas when Lucas returns toOne Tree Hillto help his best friend, Hayley.
7Nina Dobrev As Elena Gilbert
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Nina Dobrev was the heart ofThe Vampire Diaries.Elena Gilbert is a beautifully complex character who, during her six seasons as part of the show, is put through helland misery. Her evolution from a lost high school girl to a fierce and confident woman makes her journey poignant and captivating. Elena’s relationship with Stephen and Damon Salvatore was central to the show’s success and popularity, which made Dobrev’s departure from the show at the end of season 6 a shocking twist.
The Vampire Diaries
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
The show-runners handled the unexpected exit in properThe Vampire Diariesfashion. They also did justice to the character’s selfless nature, having the young woman sacrifice herself and fall into a deep sleep to protect her friend, Bonnie, aware that she will one day see her loved ones again. Fans had long hoped for Elena’s possible return; these expectations were satisfied in the season finale, where Dobrev’s character eventually found the closure she deserved.
6Dianna Agron As Quinn Fabray
Glee (2009-2015)
Dianna Agron was not the only member of the originalcast to leaveGlee. However, her character was the first among the students to be demoted from a regular to a recurring presence after the third season of the show.Quinn Fabray was one ofGlee’s most tragic figuresfrom the very start. The story of a high-school queen bee who gets pregnant at 16 and constantly faces terrible hardships was captivating to explore.
Glee
In order to escape the stressful reality of high school, a group of misfits decides to join William McKinley’s glee club. Fox’sGleewas created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk,and Ryan Murphy, with Leah Michele, Jane Lynch, and Matthew Morrison leading the cast. The series ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2015 and won six Primetime Emmys.
Unfortunately, Agron is also not present in the episode dedicated to Cory Monteith, which is a shame considering their past. For this reason, when season 6 aired, it was pleasantly surprising to see Agron returning in Quinn’s shoes to say a proper goodbye along with her fellow cast members. Quinn makes an appearance in the first two episodes of the season, as well as the awaited finale when she sings on the notes of “I Lived” with the former Glee members.
5Shelley Long As Diane Chambers
Cheers (1982-1993)
Shelley Long was the perfect addition toCheers. As the leading female character, Diane perfectly contrasted her male counterpart and brought an air of intellectual sophistication and endearing haughtiness to the atmosphere of the show, making her differences from the other characters entertaining to watch. Her relationship with Sam, characterized by sarcastic banter and heartwarming moments, was an integral part of the comically brilliant sitcom.
Cheers
One of the most well-known American sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, Cheers is primarily set in Boston at the Cheers bar, and features and ensemble cast that includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, Kelsey Grammer, and George Wendt. Danson’s Sam Malone acts as the bar’s proprietor, and episodes depict the lives of Cheers' staff and patrons during the bar’s operating hours. The series ran for 11 seasons and gave rise to popular spin-off shows such as Frasier.
However, Long departed the show during season 5, prompting the creators to change her character’s trajectory. Her exit was quite a shock, but Diane was at least given the opportunityto pursue her dreams of becoming a writer, doing the character justice. Nevertheless,Long’s departure also caused an abrupt interruption toCheers’central romance.Fortunately, Long returned for theCheersfinale so Diane and Samcould briefly reunite, bringing a bittersweet closure to their relationship.
4Dylan O’Brien As Stiles Stilinski
Teen Wolf (2011-2017)
Dylan O’Brien played Stiles Stilinski, one ofTeen Wolf’s lead characters. Although his role was originally less important, starting off as Scott McCall’s sarcastic best friend, Stiles' sharp intelligence, detective skills, and wit made him a fan favorite throughout the show. Stiles became increasingly significant to the narrative and his impressive skills were often pivotal to the plot.
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Navigating character exits is one of the hardest parts of any TV series, but some shows consistently fail to send their characters off well.
For this reason,O’Brien’s reduced presence inTeen Wolfseason 6is a disappointment. By the end of the series,Stiles had become too important and popular for his absence not to leave a void inTeen Wolf.However, the choice appeared to be a result of O’Brien’s conflicting schedules. Fortunately, the writers and show-runners managed to successfully bring Stile back for the last episodes of the show, providing a sense of closure for the character and allowing him to shine one last time.
3Ashton Kutcher As Michael Kelso
That ’70s Show (1998-2006)
Ashton Kutcher doubtlessly contributed to the success ofThat ‘70s Showwith his lovable portrayal of Michael Kelso. The unmotivated and rather unintelligent character is only an endearing addition to the story. Popular for his handsome looks and often clueless remarks, he was quick to become a fan favorite. Although his role was initially less significant, the character grew in popularity andKutcher soon became one ofThat ’70s Show’slead actors.
That ’70s Show
That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.
However, Kutcher departed the series at the beginning of season 8, forcing his character to move to Chicago in the fourth episode. The moment marked a major change in the story’s trajectory but allowed Michael to have a strong ending to his arc, leaving as a mature young man. Fortunately, Kutcher returned for the season and series finale and reunited with his fellow castmates to bid farewell to the show.
2David Duchovny As Fox Mulder
The X-Files (1993-2018)
David Duchovny, the iconic lead actor ofThe X-Files, brought life to Fox Mulder, a highly intelligent and sarcastic FBI agent dedicated to uncovering the truth behind paranormal mysteries. Mulder’s inquisitive nature, paired with his tendency to emotionally attach himself to the cases investigated, and his relationship with Dana Scully, define the character’s charm. Mulder was a central figure in the sci-fi supernatural show for the first seven seasons until Duchovny decided to step away from the role, significantly reducing his presence in the series.
The X-Files
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
Fans were naturally deeply disappointed by Duchovny’s reduced role and Mulder’s absence left a gap inThe X-Files. The dynamic between the two leads is arguably half of the show’s appeal, the other half only being the supernatural mysteries. However,Duchovny returned in time to give the legendary character a proper farewell in the final episode “The Truth”.His appearance allowed a proper closure to the story, allowing him and his long-time partner Scully to finally reunite.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Although David Boreanaz was given a spin-off, Angel’s departure fromBuffy The Vampire Slayerwas a heartbreaking twist, putting an end to his tumultuous yet beautiful relationship with Buffy. As a previously heartless vampire who was cursed with a soul as a punishment for his past crimes, Angel is a fascinating character. His haunting guilt and regrets gave him a lot of room for exploration and potential for growth. The choice to give him his spin-off was therefore perfectly logical.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
Since the character did not die, there was always an opportunity for him to return and finally reconcile with the love of his life. That partially happened.InBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s final season, Angel surprises the audience by coming back for the finale to help Buffyin her last battle against evil. Seeing the couple reunite one last time is a powerful and poignant moment that serves as a grand conclusion to one of the most dramatic romances in TV history.
