13 Stars Who Were Replaced Midway Through TV Shows

Joyann JeffreySun, July 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC

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Jake T. Austin in ‘The Fosters’; Henry Cavill in ‘The Witcher’; Ruby Stokes in ‘Bridgerton’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Netflix (2)

Some actors leave TV shows long before their characters do.

Whether it be scheduling conflicts or creative differences, many TV shows have replaced actors on-screen once they’ve exited the series rather than writing their characters off. In Game of Thrones, many characters were recast mid-show, including Daario Naharis, who Michiel Huisman took over from Ed Skrein. Meanwhile, fans of The Fosters were surprised to see Noah Centineo on their screens in season 3 when he stepped into the role of Jesus following Jake T. Austin’s time on the series.

Another big casting change was announced in 2022, when Bridgerton creatives revealed that Hannah Dodd would be taking over the role of Bridgerton’s Francesca from Ruby Stokes, who exited the series after landing the starring role on another Netflix show.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Stokes told Variety in February 2023 about saying goodbye to Francesca. “But it was incredible being part of a cultural moment like Bridgerton.”

Below, here are 13 actors who were replaced midway through TV shows.

01 of 13

Ruby Stokes, Bridgerton

Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton; Hannah Dodd as Francesca BridgertonCredit: Liam Daniel/Netflix (2)

Stokes portrayed Francesca for the first two seasons of Bridgerton before the role was taken over by Dodd, who is getting her turn in the spotlight in season 5.

Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen told TVLine in March 2022 that Francesca was meant to have a larger role in season 2. However, after filming three episodes, Stokes had to leave the show because of her commitment to another Netflix series, Lockwood & Co.

That July, Dodd told TVLine that she was “so excited” about joining the cast. “I know how people feel about her as well, so I’m going to do my best,” the actress added.

02 of 13

Ross Butler, Riverdale

Ross Butler and Charles Melton in ‘Riverdale’Credit: The CW(2)

After playing Reggie Mantle in the first season of Riverdale,Ross Butler left the show to do 13 Reasons Why. “Before season two was confirmed for 13, I had to make the decision of whether I wanted to focus on one character or split two characters and have a smaller role on both shows,” the actor told Vulture in May 2018.

Reggie was then played by Charles Melton, who stayed on the show until it ended in 2023.

When the casting news was announced, Butler shared his thoughts in a May 2017 video on X, noting that he was happy the network and crew gave “an Asian American a chance to play a traditionally Caucasian character, Reggie.”

“And in light of recent casting news, I am even more excited and more proud that they decided to keep Reggie, Asian American,” he said. “It means a lot to me. It means a lot to the Asian American community. ... I support Charles Melton all the way, passing the baton off.”

03 of 13

Henry Cavill, The Witcher

Henry Cavill and Liam Hemsworth in their roles as Geralt on ‘The Witcher’Credit: Netflix(2)

Henry Cavill was a part of the original cast of The Witcher, but after three seasons on the show, he announced he would be leaving and said Liam Hemsworth would take over his role as Geralt of Rivia.

“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4,” he wrote in an October 2022 Instagram post. “In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf.”

As for why he left, showrunner Lauren Hissrich told Entertainment Weeklyin September 2025 that conversations about Cavill’s departure had been going on “for a while.”

“He had plans for other roles that he really wanted to commit himself to,” she said. “And for us, you don’t want to hold someone and force them to be doing something that they don’t want to do. I think that’s why it felt like a really symbiotic decision.”

04 of 13

Jake T. Austin, The Fosters

Jake T. Austin and Noah Centineo in ‘The Fosters’Credit: ABC; Getty

Austin played Jesus for two seasons of The Fosters. In March 2015, he shared on social media that he was no longer going to be on the show.

“I’m honored to have been a part of such a groundbreaking series, but I personally want to let you know that my time on the show ... has come to an end,” he wrote in two separate posts on X. “Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, it’s been a pleasure.”

Years later, Austin opened up to Flaunt Magazine in February 2019 about how he fell into “the trap of being in Hollywood, running with the wrong crowd, making some bad choices and also not taking the work seriously” during the time he played Jesus.

“Over time, I started losing the sense of the love and passion of things I took for granted. I started not remembering my lines, not taking my craft as seriously as an actor should,” he said. “I just think that there are certain decisions that I made in the past that looking back I would definitely do differently.”

Austin acknowledged the recasting, saying that being replaced “was probably the best thing that could have happened to me, because it prevented me from getting too big for my britches and really prevented my behavior from getting worse.”

The actor was replaced by To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before star Centineo.

05 of 13

Janet Hubert, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Janet Hubert and Daphne Maxwell Reid in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’Credit: Everett(2)

Janet Hubert originally played Vivian Banks, a.k.a. Aunt Viv, in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. However, in 1993, she exited the show after three seasons, citing “creative differences,” and was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid.

She later opened up about her exit on HBO Max during the show’s 30-year reunion special and said she wasn’t fired the show.

“They offered me this really bad deal in the third season. They said, ‘You’ve got two months and two weeks of work and you cannot work anywhere else,’ ” Hubert recalled, noting that meant her “salary was cut.”

“I had a new baby and a husband who was out of work, so I said no. I did not accept their offer,” she continued.

06 of 13

Ed Skrein, Game of Thrones

Ed Skrein and Michiel Huisman on ‘Game of Thrones’Credit: HBO(2)

When the third season of Game of Thrones premiered in 2013, it was Skrein who played the role of Daenerys Targaryen’s lover Daario Naharis. However, in season 4, Huisman took the role over and stayed until the character’s last appearance in season 6.

In a September 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed he left the show because of “politics.”

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“My plan was to stay with Game of Thrones for the long haul. That was always my plan,” he said. “I would have loved to. It was a wonderful experience, but politics led to us parting ways. And from there I just said, ‘Okay, look forward, be positive. Keep calm and carry on.’ That’s my mentality when things go well, so I stay grounded and not get to overwhelmed by the hype, and it’s my mentality when the plans change.”

07 of 13

Jane Levy, Shameless

Jane Levy and Emma Greenwell in ‘Shameless’Credit: Showtime; Everett

Jane Levy was the first actress who brought Mandy Milkovich to life on Shameless. After doing one season of the series, she left after landing the starring role as Tessa Altman in the ABC sitcom Suburgatory.

“I was told by everyone to keep my expectations low, so I did,” she told Backstage in August 2012 about landing the Suburgatory role. “But when I found out it was actually going to happen, I went crazy.”

Levy’s role as Mandy was then given to Emma Greenwell, who stayed on until the character’s last appearance in season 6.

08 of 13

Ruby Rose, Batwoman

Ruby Rose and Wallis Day in ‘Batwoman.’Credit: CW; Everett

Ruby Rose only did one season of the CW’s Batwoman — in which she played Kate Kane — before she left the series. In May 2020, she announced her departure in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season,” Rose said. “This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles.”

According to NBC News, Rose later alleged on her Instagram Stories that she was recast after she had to undergo an “emergency surgery” that caused her to miss work. She alleged that former Warner Bros. Television Group Chairman Peter Roth threatened to replace her because she had “just lost the studio millions (by getting injured on his set).”

Warner Bros. Television Group then denied the allegations in a statement, saying that the actress was fired over complaints about her behavior, per NBC News.

Rose was then replaced by Wallis Day.

09 of 13

Jo Marie Payton, Family Matters

Jo Marie Payton and Judyann Elder in ‘Family Matters’Credit: CBS(2)

Jo Marie Payton rose to fame playing Harriette Winslow on Family Matters. Though she stayed on for all nine seasons, Payton decided to leave the show midway through the final season of the sitcom.

Her role was then given to Judyann Elder, who played Harriette for the show’s remaining episodes.

During a September 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Payton said she has no regrets about leaving the popular series.

“I actually made the decision to leave the show two years before I left. I was unhappy about a lot of things; I was going through a divorce, I wasn’t happy on the show — it didn’t mean I did not want to perform as an actress or an artist,” she said. “The way I explain it is that, when you’re a baker, you don’t always want to bake cakes or cookies; you want to bake pies, you want to bake bread. I wanted to do something else.”

Payton added, “I don’t regret that I left.”

10 of 13

Shailene Woodley, The O.C.

Shailene Woodley and Willa Holland in ‘The O.C.’Credit: FOX; Everett

Shailene Woodley was replaced by Willa Holland as Marissa Cooper’s younger sister, Kaitlin Cooper, on The O.C.

In an August 2013 interview with The Huffington Post, the show’s creator Josh Schwartz explained why Woodley’s character was difficult to continue developing.

“Shailene was really, really young when she was on the show,” he said. “It was hard to keep her folded into the show as we were following these four teenagers and [Kaitlin’s parents] Jimmy and Julie were splitting up.”

Kaitlin went to boarding school by the end of the first season, and when her character returned later in the show, the role was recast to Holland.

“The version of Kaitlin Cooper that we were going to bring back to the show was a little bit older than Shailene would’ve been able to achieve on her own and was kind of a very different character, which Willa was great for,” he said. “But obviously, Shailene is super talented and it’s awesome to see her take off.”

11 of 13

Lisa Robin Kelly, That ‘70s Show

Lisa Robin Kelly and Christina Moore in ‘That ‘70s Show’Credit: Everett(2)

Lisa Robin Kelly is known for playing Eric Forman’s older sister, Laurie, in That ‘70s Show. Though she kept the role for several seasons, she was ultimately replaced by Christina Moore in season 6.

In an April 2012 interview with ABC News, Kelly explained that she was going though a lot at the time.

“With That ‘70s Show, I was guilty of a drinking problem,” she said. “And I ran.”

Kelly died in August 2013, with her rep telling PEOPLE that she had “voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility” earlier that week and had been “battling the addiction problems that have plagued her these past few years.”

12 of 13

Jaden and Ella Hiller, Modern Family

Jaden/Ella Hiller and Aubdrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily in ‘Modern Family’Credit: Everett; Getty

Aubrey Anderson-Emmons wasn’t the original actress who played Lily Tucker-Pritchett in Modern Family. In fact, the role was originally played by twins Jaden and Ella Hiller before co-creator Steve Levitan and the creative team decided the toddler needed to grow up.

“At some point, Lily has to stop being a silent baby and has to become a little girl — a laughing, acting little girl,” he told Entertainment Weeklyin May 2011 before the role was recast for season 3. “We all may determine that as gorgeous and sweet as Jaden and Ella are, it’s not what they signed up to do or what they love. Maybe they don’t love to be on a set and have to listen to us do a scene 10 times. Maybe they would be happier being kids.”

13 of 13

Lecy Goranson, Roseanne

Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke in ‘Roseanne’Credit: Everett(2)

Lecy Goranson played Becky Conner in the ‘90s sitcom Roseanne for five seasons before she exited the series to attend college, leaving Sarah Chalke to take on the role.

However, in the final seasons of the series, the pair went back and forth playing the character. When the series was revived through the form of a spinoff titled TheConners, Goranson reprised her role as Becky, while Chalke appeared in one episode as a character named Andrea.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”