All 9 CSI Characters Who Left The Show Before The Ending (& Why)

CBS’s Hit TV show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had several characters leave the cast for a variety of reasons before the show ended. There are several TV shows that feature teams of forensic experts who collect evidence at crime scenes that were influenced by CSI. The popular crime procedural drama ran from 2000 to 2015 for 15 seasons, and along the way some characters, including the original CSI cast, did not stay until the show’s completion. Some characters were killed off, while others left the CSI team to pursue other career opportunities.

Over the course of 15 seasons, CSI added some very influential actors to its cast, including Laurence Fishburne, who played Dr. Raymond Langston on the show. Even though there was speculation about why some characters were no longer on the show, it’s not always about behind-the-scenes drama. Sometimes, characters are killed off in TV because they are no longer a right fit for the show, or the actors are exhausted from playing the same role for several years. However, that’s not to say that every character who left CSI before its season finale parted on amicable terms.

9 Gil Grissom (William Petersen)

Left The Show In Season 9

Gil Grissom joined the cast of CSI at the beginning of the show and left in Season 9. Grissom was one of the most essential investigators on the CSI team. He was the leader of the Las Vegas Police Department’s forensic team and a brilliant forensic entomologist.

By the time CSI was reaching its seventh season, Grissom was getting burnt out, so he decided to take a break and instead teach at Williams College in Massachusetts. In CSI Season 9, Grissom eventually got tired of all the violence and decided to go on a vacation to Costa Rica with his wife, ending his time on the show.

The actor who played Gil Grissom, William Petersen, decided that nine years on the show was enough. There are only so many years that one can spend playing the same role before it starts to feel monotonous. Petersen wanted to expand his horizons and venture into theater acting, which he did. Petersen was successful after his return to theater (via Entertainment Weekly). He starred in many productions including Slowgirl and Blackbird which earned him a Jeff Award.

Even though Petersen was no longer part of the CSI team, he stayed on as executive producer and later starred in the first season of the revival series CSI: Vegas.

8 Riley Adams (Lauren Lee Smith)

Left The Show In Season 9

After Warrick Brown was killed off in CSI season 8, Riley Adams was brought onto the show as a crime lab analyst. However, Adams was only on the show for one season until she was written off in CSI season 9. Adams did not return to the show for its tenth season.

While it had seemed that Adams was starting to fit in with the CSI team, the producers of the show felt that she was not the right fit (via TV Fanatic). Adams left CSI after going through unresolved conflicts with another character on the show, Catherine Willows. After Adams left CSI, she was replaced by a character who had previously left the show, Sarah Sidle.

Though Lauren Lee Smith’s character was written out of the show, her voice was still used for the character in the CSI video game that was released the same year as her departure. Smith went on to appear in other crime shows as well, like Psych, Murdoch Mysteries, and Frankie Drake Mysteries. The latter became a lead role that lasted for five years. She has also appeared in recent made-for-TV movies The Wedding Ring and Doomsday Mom.

7 Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan)

Left The Show In Season 9

Warrick Brown was one of the most beloved characters who joined the CSI cast in season 1. Despite being a fan favorite and a major part of the cast, Warrick was killed off in the CSI season 8 finale then later died in Gil Grissom’s arms at the beginning of CSI season 9. Warrick was a popular character who was dealing with several issues, including a gambling habit.

While some characters returned for CSI: Las Vegas, Warrick’s death ensured that he wouldn’t be part of the CSI team again. Seeing as his sudden death was a shock, audiences wondered why Warrick wouldn’t be part of the CSI team anymore.

There have never been any statements made about why Gary Dourdan’s Warrick Brown left CSI. However, according to reports made by TV Guide, Duordan’s contract was about to expire and he and the CBS couldn’t come to an agreement. While at the time CBS refused to comment on the issue with Duordan’s contract negotiations, they had already put out a casting call for his replacement. Rumors about his departure from the show were confirmed when his character was shot in the CSI season 8 finale.

Since his work on the show, Dourdan has continued to work on television projects primarily. He’s appeared in series like Glee, Being Mary Jane, First Wives Club, and And Just Like That. He’s also tried his hand at directing and producing short films.

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6 Captain Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle)

Left The Show In Season 14

Captain Jim Brass was part of the CSI cast since season 1 and was one of the original cast members who appeared in the series the longest. Captain Jim Brass was written out of the show in CSI season 14. There was no behind-the-scenes drama with actor Paul Guilfoyle that led to his departure. The producers of the show felt that his character had reached a natural end in the show. Brass returned to the show in the season finale “Immortality”. Brass also appeared for a few episodes on CSI: Las Vegas (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Guilfoyle has continued to appear in both movies and TV shows since, though most of his roles have not been as series regulars, allowing him to play a variety of characters. Since leaving the show, he’s appeared in Colony, The Good Fight, The Morning Show, Star Trek: Discovery, and Evil. He’s also appeared in movies like Don’t Look Up and Arthur The King, crossing over into different genres.

5 Sofia Curtis (Louise Lombard)

Left The Show In Season 8

Sofia Curtis joined the CSI team as a police detective who would later be promoted to deputy chief. Curtis joined the show in season 5, where she was an inconsistent part of the cast until season 7, when she became one of the regular characters on the show. However, she only lasted for one season as a regular character and left the show abruptly in the first episode of season 8. The reasons for Curtis’s departure are unknown, but she did make an appearance in an episode of CSI season 11 as a guest star.

Even while appearing on CSI, Louise Lombard continued to nab guest-starring roles all over television, so it’s no surprise that she hasn’t slowed down since. She appeared in both pilots for The Selection, inspired by the young adult novel of the same name, but the show didn’t move forward. She also appeared in Star-Crossed, How To Get Away With Murder, and more recently, the After series of movies. She was also a member of the award-winning ensemble in Oppenheimer.

4 Wendy Simms (Liz Vassey)

Left The Show In Season 11

Another shocking departure from CSI was that of Wendy Simms. Wendy was one of the most beloved characters on the show who made her debut in CSI season 6 as a recurring character. However, in CSI season 11, Simms was written out of the show.

In the season 11 episode, “Pool Shark”, Simms announced that she would be moving to Portland. Liz Vassey, who played Wendy Simms on the show did an interview with CSI Files where she explained that it wasn’t her decision to leave the show. The writers of CSI simply did not know which creative direction to take with Wendy Simms (via CSI Files). That can often happen with large ensembles in television, leaving characters underserved by the storyline.

Since playing Wendy, Liz Vassey has largely continued to work in television. She’s had roles in sitcoms like Two And A Half Men as well as dramas like A Million Little Things. She also appeared in the final season of NCIS: Los Angeles.

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3 Julie Finlay (Elisabeth Shue)

Left The Show In Season 15

Julie Finlay joined the CSI cast in season 12 of the show as a main character. Finlay appeared in the last episode of CSI season 15, “Endgame”, where she was left in a coma after being attacked by a serial killer. However, Finlay did not appear in the special CSI season 15 finale movie “Immortality”. Her absence in the special episode was not explained by the show’s creators, but fans will spot a plaque in remembrance of her. This would indicate that she died from her wounds while in a coma, but the death happened off-screen.

Since playing Julie Finlay, Elisabeth Shue has appeared in a handful of movies, like Battle of the Sexes, but seems to enjoy working in television. She’s appeared in such popular series like The Boys and its spinoff Gen V. She also reprised her Karate Kid role in Cobra Kai. She’s also lent her voice to podcasts like From Now, varying up her work in the entertainment industry.

2 Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger)

Left CSI In Season 12

Marg Helgenberger joined the CSI cast in 2000 as Catherine Willows when the show aired its first season. Helgenberger was part of CSI until season 12. Willows left the show after Helgenberger decided that she would like to explore other opportunities (via International Business Times). However, Helgenberger returned to CSI in a season 14 cameo. Along with William Petersen who had also left the show, Helgbenger appeared in the CSI season 15 finale. She also reprised her role in CSI: Vegas.

In between her appearances in the original series and the revival series, Helgenberger appeared in a few other long-term TV projects. She appeared in the series Intelligence and was one of the leads in Under The Dome, inspired by the Stephen King book of the same name. More recently, she appeared in the legal series All Rise.

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1 Raymond Langston (Laurence Fishburne)

Left The Show In Season 11

Laurence Fishburne, who played Dr. Raymond Langston was one of the biggest stars to join the CSI cast. Langston was added to the show in season 9 to fill in the gap left by William Petersen’s departure. However, Langston made his final appearance in CSI season 11.

This was because Laurence Fishburne wanted to return to making movies after starring in the show for two seasons. Fishburne’s decision to leave the show after his contract came to an end was no surprise to the creators of CSI given that he was an Oscar-nominated actor and had lasted longer than they thought he would (via Deadline).

Following his time on CSI, however, it might surprise movie fans to know that Fishburne continued to appear in quite a bit of television. He appeared in Black-ish and the spinoff series Grown-ish. He also voiced characters in the Marvel animated projects Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and What If…? Fishburne, of course, continues to do movies as well, with projects like John Wick 4 on his resume as well.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

In this long-running, classic crime procedural, a team of investigators searches crime scenes to collect forensic evidence, analyze it, and use it to catch the criminal of the week.

Release Date

October 6, 2000

Seasons

15

Showrunner

Anthony E. Zuiker

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, TV Fanatic, TV Guide, The Hollywood Reporter, CSI Files, Deadline