Kelli Giddish is hanging up her shield.
The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress took to Instagram on Aug. 24 to announce that the NBC series' upcoming 24th season will be her last. "Playing Rollins has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life," Giddish wrote after explaining that she wanted to address recently surfaced rumors about her departure. "I've been so fortunate to be a part of the Law & Order family for the last 12 years."
Paying tribute to the dedicated and resilient detective she's portrayed since joining SVU in 2011, Giddish added, "There is simply no other character on TV like Rollins. She's grown and changed, and I have as well. I started on this show when I was in my late 20s and I'm grateful I got to spend so many of my adult years with Rollins in my life."
The 42-year-old went on to thank Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, SVU's long-running leading lady Mariska Hargitay and COO of Wolf Entertainment Peter Jankowski, as well as NBC and Universal Television. Giddish also gave a shoutout to her co-stars and "every single member on the crew and all the writers here for our incredible work together these last 12 years."
She continued, "I'm so excited to take all the things I have learned in my time on SVU, and put them toward everything that's next to come…#SVU."
Giddish became a member of the SVU squad during the show's 13th season, along with Danny Pino, following Christopher Meloni's exit. Her character quickly became a fan-favorite, and eventually—with help from Peter Scanavino's Carisi—one-half of the series' most beloved couples. The longtime partners got together during SVU's most recent season, and while there's no telling how Giddish's departure is going to play out on the show, one thing's for sure: fans are going to see a lot less of the long-awaited relationship.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns to NBC on Sept. 22 as part of a historic three-hour Law & Order crossover event. Get all the details here, and read on to see more stars who have recently left some of your favorite shows.
In October 2022, Henry Cavill announced that he was exiting The Witcher ahead of its fourth season. "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 four," he wrote on Instagram. "In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf."
Jesse Lee Soffer will exit his beloved Detective Jay Halstead role in Chicago P.D.'s 10th season. After thanking the cast and show's creator Dick Wolf, Soffer shared in a statement, "To create this hour drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show. I will always be proud of my time as Det. Jay Halstead."
Michael Fishman will not be back for The Conners' fifth season. However, Fishman indicated that his exit from the show was not his call, noting in a statement, "While I was told I would not be returning for season five, Lanford was a valuable place to grow up, learn and develop. I was incredibly lucky to return home and demonstrate my expansion. As I venture into the world to build the future, I send tremendous love and success to everyone involved in production."
The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress took to Instagram on Aug. 24 to announce that the NBC series' upcoming 24th season will be her last. "Playing Rollins has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life," Giddish wrote. "I've been so fortunate to be a part of the Law & Order family for the last 12 years."
In August, Warner Bros confirmed the role of Jonathan Kent will be recast after Jordan Elsass left the show citing personal reasons.
In July, it was reported that Christiane Paul has exited CBS' FBI: International. Actress Eva-Jane Willis has since joined the cast.
In July, Tanya Reynolds confirmed that she would not return to Sex Education for season four. "I loved every minute of it and I loved Lily with my whole entire heart," she told the UK's Radio Times. "Three seasons was just a really perfect amount for me."
Patricia Allison, who played Ola on three seasons of Netflix's Sex Education, announced her departure from the show in July 2022.
After appearing on all four seasons of The Handmaid's Tale as Emily/Ofglen, Alexis Bledel announced her exit from the show.
"After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid's Tale at this time," Alexis said. "I am forever grateful to [creator] Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support."
Say goodbye to Detective Bernard!
On May 27, E! News confirmed that Anthony Anderson will not star in season 22 of NBC's Law & Order.
In April, Simone Ashley confirmed that she would not appear in the fourth season of Netflix's Sex Education. "No," she said on Good Morning Britain. "I get asked that all the time, no."
But, she has a good reason: "I'm a Bridgerton gal now."
Charlotte Spencer has exited the PBS period drama.
On May 23, it was announced that Lina Enzo, who stars as Officer Christine "Chris" Alonso, will not return to the CBS series for its sixth season.
After playing Francesca Bridgerton for two seasons, the actress left to star in Netflix's new show Lockwood & Co.
Anatomy of a Scandal star Hannah Dodd will replace Ruby in season three.
F. Murray Abraham, the Oscar-winning actor who played C.W Longbottom on Apple TV+'s Mythic Quest for two seasons, left show abruptly in April 2022.
"F. Murray Abraham will not be returning to season three of Mythic Quest," said Lionsgate, the studio that produces the show. "Beyond that, we do not comment on matters concerning personnel."
After breaking the heart of Louisa Jacobson's Marian Brook in the Gilded Age, Thomas Cocquerel's Tom Raikes is gone. In April 2022, HBO confirmed he's no longer a series regular.
In April 2022, it was announced that Jesse L. Martin was leaving The Flash as a series regular after eight seasons. The actor, who plays Captain Joe West on the DC superhero drama, is still expected to appear as a guest star on the show's ninth season.
In April 2022, it was revealed that Miles Fowler had exited The Resident after only one season on the show. According to his rep, who told TVLine, the actor only had a one-season contract with the medical drama.
In March 2022, Gavin Leatherwood revealed that he will not be returning for season two of Sex Lives of College Girls. revealing to Us Weekly that he wanted to "keep spreading our wings and leading ourselves to other projects."
Francia Raisa (Ana), Emily Arlook (Nomi), Chloe Bailey (Jazz), Luka Sabbat (Luca), Halle Bailey (Sky), and Jordan Buhat (Vivek) left the show in the season four finale, which aired March 24 on Freeform. Having graduated from college, the characters are entering a new chapter in their lives.
After William Petersen decided to skip season two of the CSI: Las Vegas revival, Jorja followed suit. She explained in a Twitter post, "I personally just can't split Sara and Grissom up again. So goes Grissom…..So goes Sara. Wherever they go, they belong together."
A few days later, co-star Mel Rodriguez also decided not to participate in season 2, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Though the moment wasn't shown in the Feb. 28 episode, it's explained that Gwyn is hit by a car and dies. But 9-1-1 is known for its occasional dream sequence, so Edelstein hasn't ruled out a return. "I mean, the producers refused to give me the traditional ‘It's a series wrap for Lisa' send-off," she told TVLine, "so one never knows!"
Dr. Cormac Hayes resigned from his role as Head of Pediatric Surgery at Sloan Grey Memorial in the March 3 episode. According to Flood, he left the show because "three years on the show felt right for me," according to Deadline.
In the season seven finale, Nate Heywood, a.k.a. Steel, was stripped of his powers after running through a World War I battlefield and inhaling mustard gas. Left powerless, he returned to the totem to be with his girlfriend, Zari 1.0.
After playing Callie Foster in The Fosters spinoff Good Trouble for nine years, Maia decided it was time to exit the series. "While I have been so beyond fortunate to have this career and a job that I love, with not an iota of regret," she wrote on Instagram, "for quite some time I have suppressed an undeniable gravitational pull to return home to Australia to be closer to my nearest and dearest."
In the series, Callie and her boyfriend, Jamie, played by Beau Mirchoff, move to Washington D.C. to pursue new careers.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)