Obsessed with Blue Bloods? These 15 mind-blowing shows will seriously ruin your sleep tonight!
CBS
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Premiering in 2010, the CBS crime drama “Blue Bloods” took on a more family-driven approach to the procedural genre. The show centered on the Reagan family, with one of its longstanding traditions including numerous members’ extensive service in various aspects of law enforcement in New York City. The Irish Catholic clan is headed by patriarch Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck), a police commissioner with his children having each taken on different roles in the justice system. This premise juxtaposes family drama with crime story stakes, often punctuated by the family reconvening for dinner together every Sunday.
Though the “Blue Bloods” cast fought to keep their show going, it concluded with its 14th season in 2024. Fortunately, there is no shortage of police series that feature a close-knit cast at their core. While often not a full-on family like the Reagans, the characters in these shows have their own surrogate familial bond while upholding the law. Here are the 15 best TV shows like “Blue Bloods” providing a procedural with a more personal approach.
ABC
Compared to contemporaries like the original “Law & Order,” the police drama “NYPD Blue” more prominently delved into its main characters’ personal lives. Premiering on ABC in 1993, the series ran for over 250 episodes across 12 seasons, pushing boundaries in what was permitted for scripted network television. Focused on a precinct of police detectives working primarily in Manhattan, the series highlights how their darkly intense career affects them on and off the clock. Amid the rotating cast, the series’ main constant is veteran detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), who partners with a variety of colleagues throughout the show.
Beyond its then heightened depiction of sex and violence compared to other network shows of its era, there is a cinematic quality to “NYPD Blue.” From its ambitious cinematography to the more mature stories that it tells within the procedural genre, the show broke fresh ground. Franz’s performance as Sipowicz also sets a more abrasive template for “Blue Bloods'” Frank Reagan, a curmudgeonly veteran who takes plenty of proteges under his wing. One of the best TV crime dramas of all time, “NYPD Blue” excelled when it closely examined the characters behind the police work.
Fox
Forensic anthropology is the driving concept behind the 2005 procedural series “Bones,” which ran for 12 seasons on Fox. The show is named for protagonist Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) whose nickname is inspired by her expertise in analyzing corpses in advanced states of decomposition. Bones works with the FBI to solve murders based on her forensic analysis, pairing her with special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz), with whom she eventually marries. The show expands to include the personal relationships between members of the team, including Bones’ best friend Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin) and the ensemble’s entomologist Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne).
As consistently entertaining as the usual crime-solving elements are, “Bones'” biggest moments are rooted in its interpersonal relationships. The show provides a sense of humor about itself, offering a nice counterpoint to its grim premise. Both the humor and characters’ personal arcs are borne from the main cast becoming a found family that grows throughout the series. A staple on Fox for over a decade, “Bones” wisely leans into the dynamic between its core ensemble.
TNT
A more hardlined cop drama than its network counterparts, despite starting on NBC, the 2009 series “Southland” revolved around the rough parts of Los Angeles. The show offered a look at both uniformed police officers and plainclothes detectives tackling crime throughout the City of Angels. The series’ primary characters are officers John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) and Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie), while Lydia Adams (Regina King) heads the detectives. As the characters toe a very delicate moral line in their attempt to uphold the law, their complicated personal lives become intertwined with their work.
“Southland” is the heir apparent to “NYPD Blue,” albeit obviously following cops on the opposite American coast. Each of the main characters’ domestic lives are thoroughly messy and affect their careers in different ways throughout the series. It’s that personal edge that fuels the show’s appeal, playing out more like a character drama than a run-of-the-mill cop drama. Magnificently acted from top to bottom and a juxtaposition of raw emotions and gritty crime action, “Southland” thrilled audiences for five seasons.
Steve Wilkie/ABC
True to its title, the 2010 Canadian procedural “Rookie Blue” centered on fresh-faced police officers learning the ropes on the streets. Set in Toronto, the show follows a group of recent graduates from the police academy getting their first major assignment. Among the bright-eyed new recruits in for a reality check are Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), Chris Diaz (Travis Milne), and Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan). Idealistic in what they want to accomplish with their jobs, the group quickly discovers what duty is actually like in the real world.
More than just charting a group of rookies starting their careers in law enforcement, “Rookie Blue” showcases the lives of young professionals taking a deep dive into their adult lives. Led by Andy, the group gets into serious relationships and struggles with balancing their work with their domestic goals. The expected genre action is still around but less harrowing and a more pronounced level of emotional investment. “Rookie Blue” was cancelled after six seasons but the procedural offered an interesting take on the genre from a Canadian perspective.
TNT
Tess Gerritsen’s “Rizzoli & Isles” novel series was adapted for television by TNT, with the show premiering in 2010. Set in and around Boston, the show centers on the partnership between police detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander). While differing in attitudes and perspectives, the two women are firm best friends and an effective crime-fighting duo, with Jane bringing the street smarts and Maura possessing forensic insight. In between taking on various cases, the pair’s personal lives often play a major role in the story, including their respective families and love interests.
The real draw to “Rizzoli & Isles” is the entertaining interplay between the show’s titular protagonists. The mysteries elements are consistently captivating but really just serve as excuses to see Jane and Maura play off of each other. Even as other characters play major roles in the protagonists’ lives, the crux of the show is the crime-solving partnership between its leads like a modern “Cagney & Lacy.” A celebration of friendship with a police procedural backdrop, “Rizzoli & Isles” offers seven seasons of relatively lightweight fun.
Netflix
Author Craig Johnson’s “Walt Longmire Mysteries” novel series was adapted for television as a show simply titled “Longmire” in 2012. Robert Taylor plays Longmire, the sheriff of a rural county in Wyoming next to a Cheyenne reservation. Longmire keeps his jurisdiction safe while working with his best friend Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) regarding crimes taking place on reservation land. Walt is joined by his daughter Cady Longmire (Cassidy Freeman) and his deputy Vic Moretti (Katee Sackhoff), a single mother and recent transfer from Philadelphia.
With its remote Wyoming location, “Longmire” is a neo-Western though not as self-serious as many other shows in its genre. Walt’s rapport with his family and friends fuel much of the show’s appeal, offering thematic parallels to “Blue Bloods,” especially between him and Cady. These similarities grow as the series advances, coming into focus with its sixth and final season on Netflix. A modern Western that relies effectively on its subtle charms and quiet pacing, “Longmire” is an understated and underrated crime show favorite.
TNT
The popular TNT crime drama “The Closer” received a sequel spin-off in “Major Crimes,” which premiered in 2012. Following the departure of the preceding series’ protagonist, the spin-off followed Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) taking the reins as the head of the LAPD’s major crimes division. Given Raydor’s past work in the department’s internal affairs office, her new team is wary about trusting her but she eventually earns their loyalty. This tension is exacerbated by Raydor’s approach to achieve convictions through plea deals with suspects, a strategy that’s divisively received.
“Major Crimes” finds an interesting direction to take the returning characters from “The Closer,” especially Raydor. McDonnell plays her protagonist role with normally unflappable cool, but a clear intensity and zeroed-in focus under the surface. The show also humanizes her character quite a bit as Raydor takes in a foster son while forming a romantic relationship with one of her colleagues. Largely accessible for those who missed “The Closer,” “Major Crimes” is a solid six-season procedural that breaks up the genre’s usual boys’ club perspective.
Fox
The 2013 Fox series “The Following” is a crime show that often veers into outright horror across its three-season run. The series stars Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, a former FBI agent who rejoins the bureau when a serial killer he apprehended escapes. The fugitive murderer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), begins to form a lethal cult of personality around himself while plotting his revenge against Hardy. Subsequent seasons feature different cults and killers surfacing to be pursued by Hardy and his team while Caroll and his legacy continue to loom heavily.
An effective thriller needs to have uncomfortably personal stakes and “The Following” certainly qualifies on that score. The show is also surprisingly dark and violent for a network television series, bringing a noted brutality to its twisted characters. The evil family-like cult that Carroll leads provides a direct contrast to Hardy and his own personal relationships, informing the conflict. For an intense psychological thriller take on familial crime stories, “The Following” is powered by blood and fury in equal measure.
Matt Dinerstein/NBC
The hit 2012 series “Chicago Fire” spawned an entire line of spin-offs, including 2014’s “Chicago P.D.” The show focuses on an elite unit within the Chicago Police Department led by volatile veteran Hank Voight (Jason Beghe). Voight’s father was a Chicago police officer who died in the line of duty while Hank occasionally takes on a surrogate father figure role for several of his colleagues. The show expands to feature the interpersonal relationships by the rest of its ensemble cast, including romantic relationships that form between them.
“Chicago P.D.” has a bit of a harder edge and less immediately likable main characters than most contemporary network procedurals. That helps distinguish it a bit, leaning into a greater sense of moral ambiguity than many of its counterparts do. The individual character arcs aren’t quite as pronounced as they are in shows like “Blue Bloods,” but they are present and evolving in their own way. A fixture in the growing line of network civil service shows set in and around Chicago, “Chicago P.D.” doesn’t shy away from putting flawed characters in the spotlight.
CBS
A remake of the 1975 series of the same name, the 2017 iteration of “S.W.A.T.” is a high-octane update of the classic procedural. The show is led by Hondo Harrelson (Shemar Moore) as he leads his team to defuse major crime situations around Los Angeles. As someone who grew up in the city’s rough neighborhoods, Hondo brings a more socially conscious approach to his work, sometimes butting heads with his superiors. The show also examines its main characters’ personal lives, including those of Hondo’s close associates Deacon Kay (Jay Harrington) and Jim Street (Alex Russell).
Running for eight seasons, “S.W.A.T.” featured procedural action with a memorable main ensemble that audiences got increasingly invested in. Seeing Hondo and Deacon’s personal lives grow and endure numerous challenges because of their line of work fuels much of the show’s underlying emotional stakes. The show received a continuation spinoff, with “S.W.A.T. Exiles” tapping original cast members to rejoin Hondo as he inspires a new generation. A long-running procedural that consistently balanced its action and dramatic elements, “S.W.A.T.” successfully reinvigorated a television classic.
Michael Parmelee/CBS
After creating the perennially popular “Law & Order” franchise, Dick Wolf took his knack for crafting audience-pleasing procedurals to a federal level with “FBI.” Premiering on CBS in 2018, the series focuses on an FBI office based out of New York City and protagonist Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym). Coming from a family with a longstanding tradition of careers in law enforcement, Bell is a special agent with the bureau who often takes point out in the field. Bell’s primary partner is undercover veteran O.A. Zidane (Zeeko Zaki) as their team takes on major crime cases around the city.
Another fan-favorite procedural led by a strong performance from Missy Peregrym, “FBI” is another crime show built right in Wolf’s usual comfort zone. From those looking for another protagonist hailing from a multigenerational line of crime-fighters, as with “Blue Bloods,” Peregrym’s Maggie Bell certainly fits the bill. She has a strong ensemble cast around her, including Zaki and Jeremy Sisto, with the latter having previously starred in Wolf’s “Law & Order.” Powered by its memorable leads, “FBI” hits plenty of familiar tropes but it employs them well.
Raymond Liu/Disney
Fan-favorite actor Nathan Fillion headlines the ABC police procedural series “The Rookie,” starring as protagonist John Nolan. After getting divorced and happening to stop a bank robbery, Nolan decides to relocate to Los Angeles and become a police officer. Despite being the oldest rookie on the force, Nolan is determined to prove himself as he makes a difference around the city. While advancing through the ranks, Nolan’s fresh start extends to his personal life as he gets remarried.
Beyond its protagonist and his efforts to build a new family, “The Rookie” keeps its core cast particularly close together. This includes fellow rookie Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) who, echoing “Blue Bloods,” is following in his father’s footsteps to become a police officer. Also mirroring the Reagan family saga, Nathan Fillion has a 10-year plan for “The Rookie,” going deeper with its main characters. A procedural that takes advantage of Fillion’s usual charm, “The Rookie” balances its police action with genuine heart.
AMC
Tony Hillerman’s “Leaphorn & Chee” novels get an engrossing television adaptation with the AMC series “Dark Winds.” In addition to serving as an executive producer, Zahn McClarnon stars as protagonist Joe Leaphorn, a tribal police officer in Navajo County during the ’70s. He is joined by fellow officers Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) in investigating violent crimes committed around reservation land. Their work ranges from bank robbers hiding out on the reservation to a domestic terrorist menacing their jurisdiction with federal authorities uninterested in their plight.
“Dark Winds” earns a place on this list because of the rapport between Leaphorn and his closest officers juxtaposed by his tragic home life. At the start of the series, Joe and his wife Emma (Deanna Allison) are still reeling from the loss of their son. This gives his dynamic with the younger Chee and Manuelito a subtle fatherly resonance that deepens across the show. Powered by violent twists and an authentic ’70s vibe, “Dark Winds” has provided consistent crime thriller entertainment since 2022.
Virginia Sherwood/Peacock
After an extended hiatus from “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Christopher Meloni returned to the franchise to reprise his fan-favorite role as Elliot Stabler. The veteran New York City police detective takes point in the spin-off series “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” which premiered in 2021.
The show gives Stabler a very personal reason for getting back into action as he uses his new position in the NYPD to search for his wife’s killer. This has him working as part of a special task for investigating organized crime throughout the city, with the squad led by Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt).
“Organized” makes the list above other “Law & Order” shows because of the personal nature of Stabler’s mission this time around. The family focus expands to include Elliot’s brother Randall Stabler (Dean Norris), who becomes a major part of the show as it progresses. This is matched by recurring antagonists pitted against the team in contrast to other series in the wider franchise. While it may not rank as highly as other “Law & Order” shows in terms of overall quality, “Organized Crime” brings a welcome sense of character investment to the franchise.
CBS
The “Blue Bloods” series finale was thankfully not the last that audiences saw of the Reagan family. The series received its own continuation spin-off series with “Boston Blue,” following Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) after he takes a job with the Boston Police Department.
Danny’s new partner is Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green), a detective whose own family has an extensive history of working in law enforcement in the city. The series has Danny acclimating to working in a new jurisdiction and becoming a fixture in Lena’s own familial traditions as they keep Boston safe.
Premiering the year after “Blue Bloods” wrapped, “Boston Blue” feels like an organic sequel to its long-running predecessor. The show brings familiar characters back in a big way, providing interesting new directions for them in the wake of Danny’s relocation. Given Lena’s family and their traditions, the show feels like a gentle remix of the preceding series, though not overly derivative. Any major fan of “Blue Bloods” should check out “Boston Blue” to see where the Reagan family story goes next.
CBS
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Thousands of TV shows have come and gone over the years, and only a small fraction have hit the big time. Those that do often catapult their casts to fame and fortune, turning unknown actors into household names seemingly overnight. It’s all fun in the sun until ambition rears its ugly head and leads cast members to spin their newfound success into something bigger.
No judgment here. A television series can certainly produce the role of a lifetime, but many actors would rather take a risk than spend their careers typecast as one particular character. It’s an old story, and sometimes it ends well. George Clooney, for example, made a smooth leap from “ER” to the big screen. Will Smith transformed from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” into a genuine action star with “Bad Boys,” while Michael J. Fox struck gold with “Back to the Future” during his run on “Family Ties.”
Most of the time, though, the story doesn’t end quite so happily. Many actors have left a hit TV show in search of something greater, only to look back with regret. Here are 14 examples of that very thing, ranked in no particular order.
Fox
Sometimes an actor doesn’t realize when they’ve got it really good. For Brian Dunkleman, that reality hit like a sledgehammer. In 2002, the actor landed the gig of a lifetime as co-host of “American Idol” alongside Ryan Seacrest. The gig paid him $17,000 a week, which, for him — and let’s be honest, for most of us — was a crazy amount of money. Despite the show’s success, Dunkleman decided to step down after the inaugural season to focus on his acting career. Little did he know that “American Idol” would soon become an international sensation that turned Seacrest into a very wealthy man.
Dunkleman went on to appear in shows like “Las Vegas,” “How I Met Your Father,” and the recent “Delco: The Movie,” and while he has enjoyed a certain amount of success, it’s hard not to wonder how high he might have flown had he stayed with “American Idol.”
At least he has a sense of humor about his decision, telling Variety in 2016 (during which time he appeared on the Fox series finale of “American Idol”) that he has regrets about leaving the show, “especially when I open my bank statements.”
CBS
For three seasons, McLean Stevenson portrayed Col. Henry Blake on the legendary series “M*A*S*H,” winning over fans with his Golden Globe–nominated performance, sharp comic timing, and effortless chemistry with his co-stars. Despite the show’s massive success, Stevenson decided to parlay his sudden stardom into more lucrative leading roles and left “M*A*S*H” after its third season. His departure forced the writers to kill off his character in a shocking twist that left viewers angry, saddened, and frustrated.
Stevenson went on to headline several short-lived TV projects, including “The McLean Stevenson Show,” but never recaptured the same success he’d enjoyed from 1972 to 1975. Reflecting on the decision years later in a 1991 special titled “Memories of ‘M*A*S*H'” (via the Los Angeles Times), he admitted his real mistake wasn’t leaving, it was misjudging what audiences truly loved. “The mistake was that I thought everybody in America loved McLean Stevenson,” he said. “That was not the case. Everybody loved Henry Blake.”
Ouch.
Still, Stevenson remained busy until his death in 1996, frequently appearing on “The Tonight Show” and maintaining his trademark humor even after his star had faded.
ABC
In 1993, a little show called “NYPD Blue” premiered and immediately made waves for its gritty, realistic portrayal of police work. Starring David Caruso, Dennis Franz, James McDaniel, and Sherry Stringfield, the series was an instant hit with both audiences and critics, racking up a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Caruso even snagged a Golden Globe for his performance… then left to pursue a film career.
To be fair, Caruso already had some big-screen experience under his belt with roles in “First Blood” and “King of New York.” Hoping to leverage his newfound stardom, he demanded more money and a bigger spotlight on “NYPD Blue,” neither of which creators Steven Bochco and David Milch were willing to meet.
And so, Caruso walked away in search of greener pastures, only to find a string of box-office flops waiting for him. It wasn’t until 2002, with the launch of “CSI: Miami,” that he managed to regain his footing. While Caruso hasn’t outright said he regrets leaving “NYPD Blue,” he did admit the experience was humbling. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, he said, “It’s been hard. I had to go through a difficult period, but I wasn’t allowed to perish. There is a real serendipity to this project [‘CSI: Miami’] for me.”
Fox
Jason Priestley shot to instant fame thanks to his role as Brandon Walsh on the 1990s hit series “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Teenage girls adored him, and his face graced magazine covers, notebooks, and school lockers for nearly a decade. At the height of his fame, Priestley decided to exit the long-running melodrama, believing his character had “run his course,” as he told CNN in a 2014 interview.
In Season 9, Episode 5, Brandon accepted a job offer that sent him from the glitz of Beverly Hills to the political scene in Washington, D.C. His departure also effectively cut short an eight-year story arc with Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), leaving fans with an abrupt and unsatisfying farewell. Priestley later admitted he regretted leaving the show with so many loose ends, especially since it strained his relationship with creator Aaron Spelling. “I think my departure also hurt Aaron’s feelings,” he said. “He gave me a lot of opportunities, and I feel like my departure hurt his feelings, and I never meant to do that.”
NBC
Why would anyone want to leave a blockbuster TV show like “ER”? For Sherry Stringfield, who portrayed emergency physician Susan Lewis on the NBC medical drama from 1994 to 1996, the answer was simple: She wanted a family. So, she negotiated her way out of her five-season contract and freed herself from the grueling 18-hour workdays. “But all this is about is wanting to enjoy her life more,” one of her co-workers told The New York Times in 1996.
To the show’s credit, the writers allowed her character to exit gracefully, meaning she didn’t die, leaving open the possibility of a future return. By 2001, Stringfield began to miss the stability of series television and asked to return to the show. “Series television is either a nightmare or the best thing in the whole world. It really depends on, I think, where you are in your life,” she told the Chicago Tribune.
Still, it wasn’t long before Stringfield craved change once again. Early in the 12th season, she stepped away from Susan’s scrubs to pursue new, more challenging roles, only returning for the series finale in 2009.
BBC
For three seasons, Matt Smith wowed fans as the Doctor in the long-running series “Doctor Who,” perfectly balancing playful exuberance with age-old wisdom. However, like Stringfield, Smith eventually grew weary of the demanding nine- to 10-month shooting schedule. He hung up his time-traveling gear before hitting the 50-episode mark and quickly moved on to other high-profile projects such as “The Crown” and “House of the Dragon.”
At the 2016 New York Comic-Con, the actor admitted he regretted not getting a full season alongside Jenna Coleman, who replaced Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond shortly before Smith’s departure; the two had only shared the screen for 12 episodes. However, according to showrunner Steven Moffat, Smith’s feelings ran even deeper. In an interview with The Mirror, Moffat revealed that Smith genuinely missed the show and wished he had never left.
Still, it’s hard to feel too sorry for him; since departing “Doctor Who,” Smith has enjoyed major success and continues to book ambitious projects, including the upcoming “Star Wars: Starfighter” alongside Ryan Gosling.
AMC
AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” much like its undead antagonists, continues to pop up more than 15 years after its debut through its various spin-offs. Many of the original cast and crew have long since departed, and for a while, that list included lead star Andrew Lincoln, whose character, Rick Grimes, was literally whisked away from the series in Season 9.
Lincoln’s abrupt exit came with the promise of spin-offs and standalone films centered on Rick’s story. Yet for years, none of those projects materialized, even as a growing number of other “Walking Dead” spin-offs rose from the ashes of the original show.
Naturally, Lincoln has since expressed some regret about leaving too soon. According to co-star Norman Reedus (via Entertainment Weekly), who now headlines his own spin-off, “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” Lincoln told him straight up, “Man, I picked the wrong time to leave the show because it’s so f***ing good right now.”
Thankfully, Lincoln eventually returned to the franchise in the limited series “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.”
NBC
“I’m Chevy Chase … and you’re not.” With those words, comedian Chevy Chase rocketed to superstardom on “Saturday Night Live,” using his deadpan wit to anchor Weekend Update and his gift for physical comedy to hilariously parody President Gerald Ford.
Unexpectedly, Chase walked away from the show after just one full season (and change) to pursue a movie career. While his filmography speaks for itself — “Fletch” and the “Vacation” series alone cemented his comedy legend status — it’s hard not to wonder how his career might have unfolded had he stayed on “SNL” a bit longer.
We’ll never know for sure, but Chase later admitted he regretted leaving so early, especially because of the people he left behind. Reflecting during the “SNL: 40th Anniversary” special (via The Washington Post), he said he had his reasons for stepping away, but confessed, “I missed it more for not being a part of the cast because I left after one year.”
NBC
Jon Polito starred in “Homicide: Life on the Street” for its first two seasons, earning praise from both fans and critics for his powerful performance, particularly in the episode “Crosetti.” Unfortunately, while the show was a critical success, it struggled to attract viewers, prompting network executives to step in and demand changes.
As a result, several original cast members — including Polito — were replaced in favor of a younger, more marketable ensemble, including the addition of Megan Russert (Isabella Hofmann). Producers assured Polito that his character, Detective Steve Crosetti, would return once ratings improved, but the actor didn’t believe them. He publicly lashed out, comparing the producers to “a bunch of people on an iceberg beckoning the Titanic to head their way,” according to an interview with Groucho Reviews in 2005. The outburst backfired. Crosetti was killed off, though Polito did return briefly in “Homicide: The Movie” in 2000.
Reflecting years later, Polito admitted he regretted his reaction, particularly how he had criticized co-producer Tom Fontana. “That’s in print, and that was wrong,” he said, acknowledging that the creative shake-up was simply meant to keep the series alive.
Paramount Pictures
Like many young actors, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star Wil Wheaton dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. So when he was offered a role in Miloš Forman’s film “Valmont,” he jumped at the chance.
Complications soon followed Wheaton’s departure. According to the actor, an unnamed producer falsely told him he was urgently needed back on “Star Trek” to film a crucial scene for his character, Wesley Crusher. Disappointed, Wheaton turned down the “Valmont” offer — a role that ultimately went to “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” star Henry Thomas — only to return to the “Star Trek” set and learn that his character had been written out of the episode entirely.
Feeling betrayed, Wheaton decided to walk away from the sci-fi series, a choice he later came to regret. “What I wasn’t prepared for was how much I was going to miss the people on this stage, and how much I was going to miss the spacesuit that I hated wearing and the helmet hair that I couldn’t stand putting on,” he said during a “Star Trek: The Next Generation” reunion panel (via TrekNews).
Fortunately, Wheaton continued working steadily in both film and television and has since reprised his role as Wesley Crusher in several “Star Trek” projects.
CBS
By now, most readers are well aware of Charlie Sheen’s highly publicized personal struggles — and if you’re not, just read his 2025 autobiography, “The Book of Sheen: A Memoir.” Long story short, Sheen’s ongoing addiction issues eventually forced the producers of “Two and a Half Men” to write him off the show. The actor has since gotten sober and has been candid about his offscreen behavior and the many opportunities he squandered, particularly “Two and a Half Men,” which was still incredibly popular when he was forced to step away.
“I regret that specifically still,” Sheen told People. “If I hadn’t done what I had, I could be living a different life right now. All my problems wouldn’t be what they are. But you just don’t know that.”
Ashton Kutcher ultimately replaced Sheen in 2011, with Sheen’s character dying off-screen, allowing the sitcom to continue for another four seasons.
BBC
Christopher Eccleston portrayed the Time Lord on “Doctor Who” for just 13 episodes — though he was the first actor to do so when the BBC revived the series in 2005 — and has since admitted he regrets not sticking around longer.
The actor has been open about his tumultuous time on set, telling Den of Geek that his “relationship with the showrunner and the producer broke down.” He explained that creative disagreements and behind-the-scenes tension on the set of “Doctor Who” ultimately made his position untenable. “I felt, ‘I’m gonna play the Doctor my way and I’m not gonna get involved in these politics,’ and that wasn’t workable, so off I went … and became the invisible man,” he said.
In a 2016 interview with Metro, Eccleston reflected on the experience, admitting he wished he’d returned for a second season. He loved the role and believed another year would have led to “a marked improvement in my performance.”
CBS
In the early 1970s, America fell in love with “The Waltons,” the quintessential family drama that ran for nine seasons and captured the hearts of audiences everywhere. Leading the cast was Michael Learned, who portrayed matriarch Olivia Walton to critical acclaim and earned multiple awards for her performance. Despite her success, Learned stepped away from the series after Season 7 to pursue new challenges.
“The fact is, I was bored. And I thought I had enough money, which wasn’t true,” she told Fox News in 2017. In the same interview, she admitted she sometimes regretted the decision, “only in that it probably would have been better to complete the whole show.”
Thankfully, fans still got to see her return home to Walton’s Mountain for a trio of TV movies — “A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion,” “A Walton Wedding,” and “A Walton Easter” — in the 1990s. Learned also continued acting steadily through the 2000s.
ABC
Somers is best remembered by many for playing Chrissy Snow, the ditzy yet lovable secretary from ABC’s “Three’s Company,” where she starred alongside Joyce DeWitt and John Ritter.
For four seasons, the trio enjoyed tremendous success, prompting Somers to ask for a raise. At the time, she was earning $30,000 per episode — a fraction of the $150,000 Ritter received. According to Fox Business, her request was rejected, and ABC ultimately pushed her character out of the show at the end of the fifth season.
While her “departure” wasn’t entirely her fault, Somers later expressed regret over how things ended. “I still have a heartache that it ended so badly,” she told Foundation Interviews, noting that her justified pay dispute created a lasting rift between her, her co-stars, and the show’s producers. Fortunately, she reconciled with Ritter before his death.