After Law And Order And 9 Other Shows Lost Major Stars In 2024, These Are The Beloved Actors I Want To Return The Most

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As a dedicated fan of television, I can’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia when I think about these talented actors who graced our screens in the past and are now absent from their beloved shows. Each one brought something unique to the table, and their absence leaves a void that, while fillable, is still noticeably empty.

As winter approaches and the 2024 TV programming winds to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on the significant transformations in the world of television from the past year. Besides the regular arrivals of new shows and cancellations of established ones, some of the most striking changes occurred due to notable cast departures from various series. For instance, an actor who played their character for decades on Law & Order decided to leave, and this was just one of many memorable farewells.

Before the 2025 TV scheduling starts from scratch, let me share my wish list of series where key actors departed last year, whom I’d love to see return – either permanently or just once to wrap up any lingering storylines.

Tracy Spiridakos – Chicago P.D.

The departure of Tracy Spiridakos as Detective Hailey Upton from Chicago P.D., which was revealed ahead of the eleventh season, wasn’t a shock to fans since she chose to leave Chicago in the spring finale. Showrunner Gwen Sigan has expressed that Spiridakos is always welcome to rejoin whenever she chooses, but there have been no signs of her return so far. There’s speculation that Upton might make another appearance on NBC for the Burzek wedding.

Katherine Renee Kane – FBI

For four seasons, Katherine Renee Kane was a key member of the main field agents on CBS’ FBI. It was anticipated that she would return for Season 7 in the fall, but news surfaced during the summer that Agent Tiff Wallace was departing the show. This decision came following some erratic behavior from Tiff at the end of Season 6, and she chose to leave the Bureau (and New York City) to relocate to family in Georgia. Unfortunately, her replacement was written out of the series before she even made her debut, leaving me longing for Tiff’s return even more.

Sam Waterston – Law & Order

In a surprising turn of events, Sam Waterston, who was the foremost actor from the original “Law & Order” series to return for the revival, departed the show fairly quickly after appearing in his 400th episode, portraying DA Jack McCoy. Despite my preference for Tony Goldwyn’s performance as DA Nick Baxter, taking over from McCoy, Waterston’s character chose to resign from the position following a trial aimed at preserving Price’s job. The finale left room for speculation, and it’s possible that he might make an appearance as a guest star in the upcoming season.

Eamonn Walker – Chicago Fire

Eamonn Walker’s departure from NBC’s Chicago Fire was likely one of the most significant since Jesse Spencer’s a couple of seasons ago, as Chief Wallace Boden had been the cornerstone of Firehouse 51 since the very first episode. However, it’s important to note that he didn’t leave entirely, as he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner and now works elsewhere within the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). As of Season 13, Walker hasn’t made an appearance yet, but it would be exciting to have him back to share his insights on Chief Dom Pascal.

Sierra McClain – 9-1-1: Lone Star

As a dedicated fan of “9-1-1: Lone Star,” I’ve been a part of this incredible journey for five seasons, portraying the beloved character, Grace. The connection between Grace and Judd was undeniably my favorite aspect of the show. Regrettably, Sierra McClain didn’t rejoin us for the sixth and final season. The series creators explained that Grace chose to pursue her passion for aiding underprivileged children off-screen. Despite not seeing Grace again before the finale, I can’t help but yearn for even a brief cameo to savor one last moment of Grace and Judd together on screen.

India de Beaufort – Night Court

As part of the main cast in the reboot of NBC’s Night Court, I stepped into the role of Olivia Moore, a tenacious prosecutor often squaring off against John Larroquette’s Dan Fielding, the witty defense attorney. In the heart-wrenching finale of Season 2, my character was still very much present, but when the curtain rose on Season 3, I was nowhere to be found, replaced by Wendie Malick’s Julianne Walters. I must admit, I’m enjoying her regular appearances now, and it makes sense for Olivia to pursue a more lucrative opportunity. But it would have been nice to bid farewell to Abby’s court before I moved on.

Molly Kearney – Saturday Night Live

During the transition from Season 49 to the historic Season 50, Saturday Night Live bid farewell to three of its cast members – Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney, and Chloe Troast. Each of them contributed significantly to the show’s humor during their tenure, but it is Molly Kearney who I find myself missing the most. Kearney, the first openly nonbinary cast member on SNL, left a lasting impression on me with her portrayal of Molly in the “American Girl Doll Movie Trailer” back in 2023. With its rich history of welcoming back former cast members, I can’t help but wonder why Kearney wasn’t invited back for an episode or two.

Dominic Rains – Chicago Med

In its tenth season, the television show Chicago Med embarked on a new chapter with the introduction of new showrunner Allen MacDonald and the exit of Dominic Rains from his role as Dr. Crockett Marcel. The premiere episode implied that Crockett had chosen to leave Chicago for Boston, though his farewell party was not shown and his last appearance occurred in the Season 9 finale. It would be delightful to see him reappear on the show, particularly since Med has recently welcomed back Sarah Reese. If she could come back after being absent for a while for a guest role, it seems plausible that Rains as Crockett might make an earlier return instead.

Josh Stewart – Criminal Minds

Josh Stewart might not have been as prominent a character on Criminal Minds as Paget Brewster or Joe Mantegna, but his portrayal of Will LaMontagne, Jr., particularly as JJ’s husband, was nonetheless integral to the series. Regrettably, he didn’t reappear in the second season of Criminal Minds: Evolution despite a significant storyline for JJ, and the only significant casting announcement for the upcoming third season is Matthew Gray Gubler reprising his role as Spencer Reid. If Will is planning to make a comeback, such news has yet to surface!

Robin Weigert – Tracker

It was announced during the summer that Robin Weigert would not be appearing in Tracker Season 2, even though the ending of Season 1 didn’t hint at her departure. The reason given in the premiere is that Teddi, her character, was occupied helping her mother off-screen, which was causing strain on her marriage with Velma. Since then, we’ve been seeing more of Reenie and Teddi, which adds an interesting twist, but having Weigert reappear might offer some resolution.

Camryn Manheim – Law & Order

During the initial two seasons of the rebooted “Law & Order”, Camryn Manheim portrayed Lt. Kate Dixon. However, she departed from the team during Season 23, and Season 24 followed. While I enjoy Maura Tierney’s character, Lt. Jessica Brady, in 2024, it would be intriguing to see Manheim reprise her role as a guest star, perhaps consulting on a case, verifying facts, or even just making an appearance to add depth to the storyline.

It’s uncertain if any or all of these actors will return to their previous series in 2025, but I believe some have a greater chance than others. Additionally, many of these shows haven’t been renewed beyond the 2024-2025 television schedule, so it’s unclear how long they may continue and if they’ll have another opportunity to appear again.

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2024-12-16 05:07