Gone But Not Forgotten: Biggest Character Departures of 2024

Some of our favorite characters (or loathed characters) departed their series in a myriad of ways in 2024. Check out our list of biggest character departures!

The post Gone But Not Forgotten: Biggest Character Departures of 2024 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

We had to say goodbye to plenty of characters in 2024.

Some of them we’ll miss terribly, while others we may not quite as much. The year saw plenty of characters depart series, some in thoughtful and meaningful ways, others with satisfying conclusions to their arcs, others tragically, and many downright puzzling.

We’ve compiled a list of characters who may officially be gone but far from forgotten. Check it out!

Grace Ryder – 9-1-1: Lone Star

Not only did 9-1-1 Lone Star fans have to reel from the news that the series’ fifth season would be its last one, but we also learned that Sierra McClain, who played beloved Grace Ryder, wouldn’t return for it.

It felt like an impossible feat to write out a character who was genuinely the heart of the series, and frankly, the final season has struggled with doing it convincingly.

In the season premiere, we learned that Grace had a calling to go overseas to take care of children in need in some form of missionary work. In the interim, she left Judd, little Charlie, and everyone else behind after he gave her his blessing and supported her.

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Viewers have not seen Grace, and we likely will never see her as the season rapidly concludes. Still, her impact is felt heavily on the show as Judd struggles with loneliness and drinking while attempting to care for Charlie and Grace’s best friend, Tommy, who battles cancer without Grace’s support.

The explanation for Grace’s absence attempts to honor who she is as a person, but it’s a tough pill to swallow that Grace would ever leave her family and friends behind in this manner and often go radio silent because of shoddy connections in foreign places.

Watch 9-1-1: Lone Star Online

Jack McCoy – Law & Order

Jack McCoy’s exit from Law & Order embodies the phrase “the end of an era.’ With 19 seasons and 405 episodes under his belt, Sam Waterston’s run on Law & Order makes him a true paradigm of the franchise, as DA Jack McCoy.

It was shocking when news broke that he would be exiting the series after such a long tenure, but it was also an understandable decision after so many years.

McCoy exited the series in Law & Order Season 23 Episode 5, as he stood steadfast to himself and everything he’s been about for as long as we’ve known him. He was a staunch advocate for justice, fighting for justice and protecting those around him. This resulted in a resignation that he didn’t exactly foresee but still managed to be fitting.

McCoy’s exit placed him at the center of it all, embodying everything we’ve known and loved about the character for two decades. It left things on a nostalgic and reverent note.

While McCoy’s exit lacked some of the poignancy or tributes that one would’ve preferred, with some flashbacks or a montage that addressed the long-lasting impact a staple character has had on the series for so long, it was a powerful exit nonetheless.

Watch Law & Order Online

Kate Dixon – Law & Order

McCoy wasn’t the only big character to leave Law & Order in 2024; Kate Dixon also left the series.

Apparently, Camryn Manheim made the decision to leave, citing that she wanted to pursue other opportunities. She made the announcement ahead of Law & Order Season 23’s finale.

In the season premiere of season 24, they acknowledged Dixon’s absence when the character sent a text message claiming that she relocated to Florida to be with her son.

It was an underwhelming end to a prominent character in the series.

Hailey Upton – Chicago PD

When we learned that Tracy Spiridakos would be leaving the series, it wasn’t all that surprising. We spent a long time grappling with the impact her departure would have and making peace with the fact that it may have been necessary.

After seven seasons, we saw Hailey Upton forgoing her Intelligence badge for new opportunities and leaving Chicago behind her.

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Upton struggled with the abandonment of former partner and husband Halstead, and we saw her becoming more isolated, throwing herself deeper into work, and showing more concerning behaviors.

By Chicago PD season 11 Episode 13, we saw Hailey doing everything in her power to save Voight, acknowledging him as a father figure, and realizing that she couldn’t remain in Intelligence or Chicago; she needed a fresh start.

We last saw her staring out of the window at the Chicago skyline as she drove off for new opportunities, leaving us to ponder if she joined any number of federal agencies or, who knows, maybe even found her way back to Halstead somewhere.

Watch Chicago PD Online

JJ Maybank – Outer Banks

Nah, we’re still not over JJ’s exit from the series, and we probably never will be. You can always check out our Outer Banks Season 4 Overview for more details on how JJ’s death was one of many sore points of the season.

In a season that seemed heavily devoted to JJ and learning more about his background and roots, we saw the Pogues embark on another big treasure for the man we’d learn was JJ’s biological father.

As the Pogues were losing everything around them, including their beloved Poguelandia, due to zoning laws and other such foolery, they set sail to Morrocco in search of the Blue Crown.

And just as it was in grasp during a pulse-racing season finale event that felt like a feature movie, the Pogues not only lost the crown but JJ Maybank to the hands of his evil and sadistic father, as JJ died in the arms of his first love, Kie.

The controversial exit is still living in Outer Banks Fanatics’ heads rent-free as they try to make sense of why we needed to lose a beloved character in such a bleak way and dissect all the bits and pieces that could’ve contributed to that decision that we’re told was always in the cards.

Watch Outer Banks Online

Crockett Marcel – Chicago Med

The One Chicago franchise has a revolving door regarding character exits. We lose one or two beloved characters across the entire franchise every season.

But Marcel’s departure hit particularly hard as he was such a beloved character on Chicago Med.

We learned that Dominic Rains would be leaving the show, most likely due to the broader casting shakeups caused by budget cuts across many series.

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Marcel’s exit was tied into the Chicago Med Season 9 finale that had Marcel after he lost a young patient due to complications, and it brought up the loss of his own daughter years ago.

In the Chicago MD Season 10 premiere, we learned via some throwaway lines that Marcel left the hospital for good and relocated to Boston for a fresh start. Still, it stung not having a proper sendoff for the character.

Watch Chicago Med Online

Tiffany Wallace – FBI

After four seasons of the series, Tiffany Wallace signed off as the character opted to relocate and be with her sister.

But it was another underwhelming exit for a character with whom we became familiar, showcasing that there really is a problem with writing off characters.

We learned that the actress chose to leave, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it was because the FBI did very little with her to expand her horizons.

But for Tiffany, viewers learned that she turned in her resignation in FBI Season 7 Episode 1, and it was all because the Hakim case took such a mental and emotional toll on her, especially after losing a fellow agent and friend. She couldn’t carry on as an FBI agent.

By the end of the hour, Tiffany was Georgia-bound to spend time with her sister.

Watch FBI Online

Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard – NCIS

Technically, David McCallum’s final episode was last year. But, sadly, we had no idea it would be the last time we’d see the beloved star. McCallum tragically passed away in September 2023.

However, in February 2024, the series got to bid him a proper farewell and pay tribute to the actor and his iconic role as Dr. Mallard.

On NCIS Season 21 Episode 2, the hour served as a full tribute to both character and actor, fittingly penned by Palmer himself, Brian Dietzen, and paid homage as we learned Ducky sadly passed away in his sleep.

The hour also saw Tony DiNozzo’s return, which was one of the most beautiful installments and a heartfelt goodbye to an iconic character. We’d be remiss if we didn’t give it some due here.

Watch NCIS Online

Aaron Thorsen – The Rookie

After three seasons, it was a shock that Thorsen would be exiting The Rookie.

We last saw Thorsen during The Rookie Season 6 finale, but nothing about how things ended would give fans a proper explanation as to why he’d be leaving the force.

However, in August, the actor announced that he would not be returning in The Rookie Season 7, and we’ll have to wait until the upcoming premiere to learn how they explain his absence.

Disappearances between seasons always suck and are often a disservice to the characters and the audience alike, so we’re definitely bummed about this one.

Watch The Rookie Online

John Dutton – Yellowstone

Listen, we don’t have the time or energy to unpack all the behind-the-scenes drama between Kevin Costner, Taylor Sheridan, and everything else that derived from Yellowstone.

John Dutton’s exit was one of the biggest character departures of the year and one of the most brutal. It truly has been a tough pill to swallow.

After a nearly two-year hiatus, Yellowstone returned for a handful of episodes for its “final” season, and we eventually learned that John Dutton was dead.

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The patriarch was the victim of a hit orchestrated by Jamie’s conniving sex buddy, as he was hog-tied and murdered, as it was made to look like a suicide before the truth rolled out.

We saw a stand-in for Kevin Costner, as the star never returned to the series. The storyline was a convoluted mess, but it marked the end of John Dutton.

Colby Mayfield – Yellowstone

Since we’re on the topic of Yellowstone, we also have to acknowledge Colby’s departure as well.

In a puzzling move, Denim Richards signed off as Colby in Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 12 after appearing in the majority of the series.

Senselessly, Colby died while attempting to save Carter from a defiant horse, sustaining a fatal kick that resulted in the end of Caleb’s chapter in the series and compounding the overwhelming grief cast over Dutton Ranch.

Watch Yellowstone Online

Levi Schmitt – Grey’s Anatomy

After nearly eight years, we had to bid adieu to a very special character on Grey’s Anatomy as budget cuts thinned out the cast.

Sadly, that meant saying goodbye to Jake Borelli.

On Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 7, Levi left Grey Sloan to pursue a job opportunity doing pediatric research, his newfound passion, in Texas. And his new boyfriend agreed to follow him there.

It was at least a pleasant goodbye for the character, and it leaves the door open for future reappearances.

Watch Grey's Anatomy Online

Mika Yasuda – Grey’s Anatomy

Mika quickly became another fan-favorite character, especially since the modernized second era of interns, MAGYK, has been so well-received and ushered in a new era of the series.

As a fan favorite, hearing that Midori Francis would be departing the series was devastating. This was a mutual decision since Francis wanted to pursue other opportunities, and the series was likely still grappling with budget cuts as well.

And Mika had an emotional road toward leaving the series. After she and her sick sister, Chloe, who had come to Grey Sloan to visit and seek medical attention, got into a car accident, Chloe didn’t make it.

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Mika tried to grieve and return to work, but she found the entire situation and being at the hospital way too triggering and decided to leave Grey Sloan for good. Sadly, this meant the loss of so many great dynamics, from her mentor/mentee relationship with Teddy to her friendships with Nico and the others.

But the worst was having to say goodbye to the beautiful relationship she was developing with Jules. The loss of one of the best ships in years is already taking its toll on viewers.

Scott Forrester – FBI: International

By now, we’ve grown accustomed to Dick Wolf Series losing series regulars like most people lose change in the couch cushions, but it doesn’t make it any easier or mean it doesn’t leave an impact.

Fans could barely celebrate FBI: International‘s renewal for a fourth season before we learned that Luke Kleintank wouldn’t be returning.

The actor, who had previously taken a break from the series when he went on paternity leave, wanted to focus on his family, and likely, filming on the other side of the world was taking a toll.

As for Forrester, we spent three seasons with him, helping this incredible team, and it was difficult to lose him.

Forrester officially got written out in the third season finale, despite his last appearance serving in two episodes before that. He and his mother, a double spy, disappeared to Alaska, and the Fly Team essentially covered for them.

Watch FBI: International Online

Kristin Gaines – FBI: Most Wanted

Kristin is one of the most puzzling of the FBI franchise exits. After serving as Remy’s right-hand woman for her entire, albeit brief tenure, we learned ahead of the fourth season finale that Alexa Davalos would be departing the series.

It was supposedly an amicable departure, but we still know little about whether it was what the actress wanted and whether there were genuine plans to write her out differently.

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In the fifth season premiere, there were allusions to Kristin leaving because of her close connection with Remy, rumors, and speculation about the two having a relationship.

However, there was zero follow-up on that or any actual or proper sendoff for the character, which was incredibly disappointing. Her departure resulted in Nina Chase shifting from FBI to FBI: Most Wanted, but for Kristin fans, this significant departure had little fanfare.

Watch FBI: Most Wanted Online

Sylvie Brett – Chicago Fire

Again with the One Chicago and Dick Wolf franchises, right? Frankly, when Matt Casey left the series, it felt like Brett was always on her way out, too.

So, it wasn’t particularly shocking to learn that Kara Killmer would be heading onto new things and would decide to exit the series. After nearly a decade-long tenure, it was a mutual decision for both the actress and the network.

And Brettsey fans had their wish come true when Brett left in Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 6 after marrying Casey and running off to Portland with him.

As far as departures and happily ever afters, it’s as good as it gets!

Wallace Boden – Chicago Fire

Another shocking and heartrending departure for Chicago Fire was Chief Boden exiting the series.

He is such a staple for the show that it’s still been hard to process what the series looks like without him. Not that we don’t have some love for the new chief and all, but Boden, he is not.

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Eamonn Walker departed the series after 12 full years of helming House 51. Boden did what he did best: He looked after the safety and care of all those first responders whom he constantly advocated for, and he took the job as Deputy Commissioner for the CFD.

Do we miss our fire daddy? Yes, but he’s doing bigger and better things and had a worthwhile sendoff during Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 13.

Watch Chicago Fire Online

Honorary Mentions:

Blake Gallo also departed Chicago Fire in January 2024.

During Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 1, he applied for a transfer to Detroit after discovering he had an aunt and other extended family.

As someone who lost his family at a young age, it was important to him to connect with the family remaining, prompting him to leave Truck 81 for good.

It was apparently Alberto Rosende’s decision to depart.

Derek Gibson also left the series after only six episodes, which utterly shocked fans who were excited about Rome Flynn’s addition and Gibson’s potential and promise.

In such a short period, he established himself as a strong and intriguing character, but we learned that he had a prescription drug addiction.

And suddenly, by the end of Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode 6, he left the series to foc

Che Diaz – And Just Like That

If you polled the masses who tuned into And Just Like That about Che Diaz, chances are that most people would say that they positively loathed them.

And that may be why it wasn’t that much of a shock when Sara Ramírez exited the series when Che broke up with Miranda in the season two finale.

It was a natural ending for the characters and nothing more that the series wanted to explore with them.

Still, chances are, the incredibly polarizing character had to bite the bullet because fans didn’t respond well to them at ALL. Oh, well. Toodles!

Watch And Just Like That Online

Dominic Luca – S.W.A.T.

Luca has had a tough time with this series from the beginning, so it wasn’t entirely surprising when he was written off it.

Unfortunately, he was one of the casualties from S.W.A.T. reversing a cancelation, which meant they had wrapped his story up well enough during S.W.A.T. Season 7 only for the show to return with an eighth season.

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Luca already had a reduced role throughout the season, as he was participating in some counterterrorism training in London and eventually taking a vacation.

Unfortunately, shortly after he returned to the team, he got shot, and when he could no longer physically pass the requirements to be a S.W.A.T. officer, he retired. But it was a decent enough sendoff for the character, and he got his due.

Jimmy Street – S.W.A.T.

Like Luca, Street also had a reduced role in SWAT season 7.

Street opted to leave S.W.A.T. and return to his old stomping grounds, the Long Beach Police Department.

Only this time, he served as a team leader, a significant step up for his character and a strong career move.

Unfortunately, the cancelation reversal left Street’s absence a gaping hole in the team that lost at least half of its original members. This meant a shift for the series, which often centered on Street.

Watch S.W.A.T. Online

“The Duke” – Miss Scarlet and the Duke

How do you have Miss Scarlet and the Duke without the Duke?

Fans were reeling when they discovered they’d face that in the newly titled Miss Scarlet season 5. Sadly, Stuart Martin exited the series at the end of season 4, leaving the show sans Duke and Scarlet seeking a new chapter in her life.

Unfortunately, it also put the kibosh on the love story that fans were clinging to, as shortly after Scarlet nursed William back to health and their feelings came to the surface, he confided in her that he would be leaving for a year to NYC.

Sure, we got a kiss and everything, but did that make it feel any better? Not particularly. It will be interesting to see how the show continues with such a massive departure!

Watch Miss Scarlet and the Duke Online

Olivia Moore – Night Court

It’s such a bummer when shows write out characters between seasons, and we never get much of a proper sendoff.

While there was no indication that India de Beaufort would be exiting the series during Night Court Season 2, we learned in between seasons that she was departing, and we had to wait for the third season to find out how the show would address her absence.

Olivia sought a job opportunity that she couldn’t pass up, and the door may still be open for her to return someday.

Watch Night Court Online

All of All-American’s Characters

First, we had the misfortune of losing JJ, which was disappointing. After the character who used to be somewhat of the heat of the group and comedic relief faced many challenges,

In All American Season 5, JJ struggled a lot with his mental health and a troubling arc with a fraternity that prompted his friends to have an intervention for him.

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But before the sixth season, we learned that Hunter Clowdus wouldn’t return to the series. He shared that he no longer felt welcome on the set with everyone, even though he would’ve loved to wrap up JJ’s story.

Instead, JJ disappeared offscreen.

Meanwhile, Spencer James, Olivia, Asher, Grace, Laura Baker, and Patience exited the series after All American Season 6.

The All American Season 6 finale saw Spencer and Olivia get married. He also won the Superbowl and asked her to move with him to NYC. And Grace would naturally disappear as she no longer had ties after Spencer left.

Jordan and Layla took over the deed to Laura’s house, explaining why she would be gone. And Patience headed to the Big Apple to perform on Broadway.

Watch All American Online

Laura Peterson – The Morning Show

Technically, Laura officially departed during The Morning Show Season 3, which aired in 2023. However, filming and other activities were at a standstill due to the strikes.

We didn’t learn that Julianna Margulies wouldn’t be reprising her role, including the planned single episode that was presented to her in season four, until June 2024.

While many believe the decision resulted from some controversial, bigoted statements Margulies made on a podcast, the showrunner did allude that Laura’s storyline was wrapped up. The decision to write her out was something in the cards well before that.

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We’ll let you all speculate as to what’s true and what isn’t, but nevertheless, Laura left the series after becoming disillusioned with UBA’s ethics, company practices, and social dynamics.

Her relationship with Bradley was already rocky, as they had different priorities and trust issues, making it easy for her to leave in search of something bigger and better that suited her.

Watch The Morning Show Online

Over to you, TV Fanatics.

Which departure was the most difficult for you? Who do you miss the most? Sound off below!

The post Gone But Not Forgotten: Biggest Character Departures of 2024 appeared first on TV Fanatic.