Saying goodbye is the hardest part. Chicago Fire, Castle,

and Law and Order are just some of the TV shows that have

gifted fans with memorable and beloved characters over the

years, but unfortunately, not all of them have stayed.

From failed contract negotiations to creative decisions and

on-set disputes, Rome Flynn, Stana Katic, Daniel Dae Kim and more actors have been forced to wave goodbye. Here’s what happened behind the scenes…

Rome Flynn
In April 2024, it was announced that Rome Flynn had departed Chicago Fire. After joining the hit procedural drama for six episodes, the actor was “sad” to learn that his character had been written out of season 12, with Jake Gibson leaving to get help for a prescription pill addiction.

Speaking to Variety about his exit from the show, Rome said: “Just like all the fans, I was sad to see Gibson leave. He was a character I very much enjoyed playing.”

Suggesting that the decision was out of his hands, he added: “I had a wonderful experience during my time on Chicago Fire and have great respect for the cast and crew and hope to team up with Dick Wolf again when the time is right.”

Stana Katic
Stana Katic is known and loved for her portrayal of detective Kate Beckett in ABC’s Castle, but after appearing on the show for eight seasons, the actress was mysteriously let go. While her co-star, Nathan Fillion, was offered a contract for series nine, Stana received no such offer, leaving her “hurt.”

A month later, however, Castle was canceled altogether, so Stana was able to complete the series, waving goodbye to Kate Beckett in the season eight finale. Reflecting on how everything went down in 2020, Stana told News Corp: “I was confused by the entire experience. I was hurt.

“But look, time has passed and I am so thankful to have been a part of that project, for it to have affected as many people as it did. People loved that couple and loved the story we told, loved all of those characters. It would be a disservice to the work that I did, which I feel partly contributed to the success of the show, if I looked back on it and was anything but grateful for the awesome run.”

Daniel Dae Kim
Daniel Dae Kim announced his departure from Hawaii Five-0 in 2017, following failed contract negotiations. The actor, who played Chin Ho Kelly for seven years, and his co-star Grace Park had failed to acquire pay parity with castmembers Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan.

Addressing his fans on Facebook, Daniel explained: “Though transitions can be difficult, I encourage us all to look beyond the disappointment of this moment to the bigger picture. The path to equality is rarely easy. But I hope you can be excited for the future. I am.”

Following Daniel’s post, CBS followed up with a statement, explaining that Daniel and Grace had been offered “large and significant salary raises” but were unable to reach an agreement. The network concluded by wishing the stars all the best with their future endeavours.