Last fall, CSI's Jorja Fox left the show. Two weeks ago, it was confirmed that William Petersen signed a one-year contract to stick around for the show's ninth season. This week, we learn that series regular Gary Dourdan decided to quit the show at the end of the current season.Dourdan, who plays CSI Level 3 Warrick Brown, and CBS/Paramount came to a mutual decision not renew the actor's contract with the show.
It is unknown when exactly the actor will leave the series. However, since there are only four original episodes of the series left to air this season and casting for the season finale started today, it's more than likely that he'll appear in all of them.
For Gary Dourdan fans who are not happy with this announcement, Entertainment Weekly reports that the actor could guest star in episodes of upcoming seasons.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation airs Thursdays on CBS.
[via TV Guide]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-14-2008 @ 9:42PM
Darren said...
What is going on with that show with everyone quitting! How can you quite one of the best shows on TV?
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4-14-2008 @ 9:52PM
Isabelle Carreau said...
Some actors decide to leave series, even if the best ones, to tackle on other projects. Sometimes, it's not totally their choice since series want to bring on new blood but have to get rid of some of the current cast in order to have money to pay the new actors.
4-14-2008 @ 11:13PM
John Gross said...
I'm not sure CSI will last with so much actor turnover in such a short amount of time. As they say, time will tell...
The Law and Order franchise has survived with a revolving cast door, but it hasn't survived with that great of ratings.
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4-15-2008 @ 10:11AM
eric f. said...
meh, he's not even close to a reason why I watch the show. They will most likely fill the spot with someone fresh, who will add some personality to the show. His problems and story-lines were not very intriguing.
4-15-2008 @ 3:13AM
Anita said...
Ditto, Darren. Man, I loved Dourdan, he was so hot! Now, with both D and Jesse leaving their respective crime shows, my TV eye candy is totally diminished -
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4-15-2008 @ 7:27AM
Bash said...
To me the episodes centering on Warrick felt off. I guess both CBS and Dourdan found that out via test screenings and might think that both for the series and for his career it could be best to pursue other things. I think it's the same with Jorja Fox. Everything was said.
Grissom still remains a mystery because both the actor as well as the authors give him that deph. And we didn't find out too much about the others on the show (except Willows who was pretty much covered in the first four to five seasons and then left alone for the last three years), which for them seems to be good. Because I really think once everything is said about someone on the team you aren't as interesting anymore because your part of the mystery is gone, or better the feeling of things left to be discovered or explored the viewer likes.
Eight years really is a long time for just one role and in the past years the guest actors as well as the new ones really worked on the show. And let's be honest isn't this amount of new workers on a job kind of normal? People quit to get out of the rut, find something new they can tackle and new people come in. I think standing still is going backwards.
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4-15-2008 @ 7:49AM
Kate said...
I never really connected with Jorja Fox's character so I wasn't upset when she left the show, but Dourdan leaving is a bummer. I love his character. But he has been on the show for a while, so maybe he'd like to do other things and I wish him luck. Hopefully the CSI writers will give him a really cool storyline to send him off with. Without killing him.
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4-15-2008 @ 8:24AM
gooby said...
It's good if the show shakes things up a bit and if the actors want to leave, then so be it, I just hope they'll get more good ones (interesting characters) to replace them.
I'm really digging the lab gal Wendy Simms (Liz Vassey). I wouldn't mind if they made her a regular and she moved to full on CSI or made her role as a "labrat" more substantial. They've done a couple of the lab rat episodes which I've really enjoyed and I wouldn't mind seeing them more. Hodges, Archie and Wendy.
Warrick's been in a downward spiral for a while now and I think that they need some a bit more... I don't know cheerier people around. Or something.
I just hope they won't get rid of Marg. Because then I'll just stop watching :)
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4-15-2008 @ 9:01AM
Lenny said...
I'm 100% with you, gooby. The character of Warrick has been, as you said, in a downward spiral and he's been very underused, at least lately. I, too, would like to see more of Liz Vassey and the other lab people on screen with one or more being promoted to the field.
As Bash said, a turnover like this in a real job is pretty normal and after 8 years on the air some new blood (pardon the pun) might be just what the show needs.
I like Gary Dourdan as an actor and will be sorry to see him leave, unlike Jorja whom I never cared for even a little bit. Maybe we'll see Dourdan on something new in the future, perhaps even a movie or two. He's a good actor and I wish him the best.
4-15-2008 @ 10:03AM
jessie said...
Oh, I loved watching Gary Dourdan - those eyes!! Seems he hasn't made waves with the show like Jorja and the other guy - the show is doing very well - if he is going to exit - might as well do when your at the top and liked. I am sure he'll find some good projects - perhaps with a little less clothing - he he he he!!! I will be sad to see him go though.
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4-15-2008 @ 10:49AM
Jez said...
I don't mind him leaving. His character does not do much to me. I am waaaaaaay much sadder when Jorja left. Oh how I loved Sara.
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4-15-2008 @ 2:52PM
Boomfoxx said...
The writers never seemed to know what they wanted to do with his character. If you look back over the shows history you see one dropped storyline after another. Start with his gambling problem, then his light flirting with Willows, then his marriage, subsequent divorce, dead stripper in the car. They kept giving him these good starts, but then the writers would trail off on his stories and never give any sort of follow through or conclusion.
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4-15-2008 @ 8:07PM
Dan Chichian said...
While the departure of the one trick pony otherwise known as Jorja Fox made me happy the departure of Gary Dourdan does not.
If all the press he has been getting lately is any indication he may need some time off to get his life back on track. He is slated to do some guest spots so it sounds like he is not gone for good.
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4-16-2008 @ 1:39PM
ArcLight said...
Like him and not happy to see him go but if it gets Liz Vassey on the show more, I'll consider it a more than fair trade.
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4-29-2008 @ 3:09PM
Danielle said...
Oh just lovely...and now it seems like he just got arrested for suspected possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs....
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5-20-2008 @ 10:01PM
kate said...
Will miss Gary but not as much as I miss Jorja.
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6-27-2008 @ 9:09PM
jackie262pooh said...
OH MY GOD!! I cannot believe how this show ended!! I started to cry when they were in the diner. It was one of those shows where you knew it was coming but not when or how. To be shot in cold blood; especially after things were starting to look up-whoa. I didn't care about Sara leaving-she had too much baggage. And Sara and Grissom? PLEASE! But Warick-his eyes -the way he cared for his team. I CAN"T BELIEVE THIS!!! I am still SAD!!!! jackie
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