17 Times Actors Were Replaced Mid-Series

Actors leave their shows for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they have another role they want to pursue. Sometimes it is about the show; actors do not always like the roles they play or the people they work with.

Sometimes they leave for personal reasons such as to be with their families. And sometimes, as with the recently late and great Luke Perry, they leave the show because they have left this world behind.

But the show must go on. When an actor wants or needs to leave a show, the writers have to cook up a reason for their departure. They might kill the character off, have the character move away, or they might simply replace the actor.

Seeing a new actor playing a beloved role can be unsettling but also intriguing. Fresh blood can put a fresh spin on an old character and it can be fun to compare the old interpretation with the new. Of course, sometimes the change may go by unnoticed and unacknowledged; this was easier to pull off before IMDB.

Take a look at our list of actors who were replaced mid-series. If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments.

1. Darrin Stephens -- Bewitched

One of the first and most famous switcheroos took place in the 1960s on the show Bewitched. Beloved actor Dick York had to leave the show due to a chronic back issue. His replacement looked nearly identical to him and even had the same first name. In spite of this, Sargent was never as popular in the role as York and the show only lasted a couple of seasons with him as the leading man.

2. The Doctor -- Doctor Who

Instead of letting William Hartnell's deteriorating health spell the end for this time-traveling series, the people behind Doctor Who found a fun way to keep the show going for decades. They came up with the zany idea that this elderly time-traveler was a member of an alien race who, when suffering a fatal experience, would regenerate as a new and often younger actor. As of 2019, there have been thirteen doctors, the most recent addition the first woman to tackle the role.

3. Fallon Carrington Colby -- Dynasty (Original Series)

Before Elizabeth Gillies entered the role in 2017, Fallon Carrington was made iconic as played by Pamela Sue Martin. Martin wanted out of the show, so the writers had her die in a car accident at the end of Dynasty Season 4. She reappears near the end of Season 5 with amnesia; but this time, Fallon is played by Emma Samms.

4. Morgan Matthews -- Boy Meets World

After two years on a popular television show, Lily Nicksay's parents decided that it was too much for the adorable five-year-old and that she deserved to be a regular kid. The Morgan character was absent for half a season, reappearing as Lindsay Ridgeway who was three years older. Her brother Cory acknowledges her absence with a casual "Morgan, long time no see." to which she responds, "Yeah. That was the longest time out I've ever had."

5. Aunt Viv -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air

This switch-up was due to some infighting within the cast. The original Aunt Viv, Janet Hubert, did not get along with the show's lead and vice-versa. She left the show at the end of the third season and was replaced by Daphe Maxwell Reid.

6. Carol Willick -- Friends

The first Carol left the show because she wanted to have a bigger role on a show. While Carol Willick, later Willick Bunch, was not in a lot of episodes, she did pretty well for a guest star. She was in fifteen episodes scattered throughout the series up through season seven.

7. Jimmy Olsen -- Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Michael Landes made a pretty good Jimmy Olsen, playing the photojournalist as a young but ambitious man who could be where the leads were in five or ten years. Unfortunately, he was thought to look to similar to the shows leading man, Dean Cain. To avoid confusion, the show cast Justin Whalin who was younger and looked nothing like Landes or Cain. Whalin's Jimmy was much more of a background character, often only filling an exposition type of role. You did not expect him to advance in his career the way Landes interpretation might of if given more time.

8. Victor Bennett -- Charmed

Anthony Denison portrayed The Charmed One's absentee father on Charmed Season 1 Episode 3. However, the writers felt his chemistry with one of the leads created more of a romantic vibe than a parental one. Victor returned as James Read two whole seasons later. The writers were probably hoping we forgot what he looked like by then. I guess they don't know us TV Fanatics all that well.

9. Mia Bass - Gilmore Girls

Mia Bass was only in two episodes throughout the series, one in season two and one in season seven. That was not, however, enough time for people not to notice the change. Both women were thought to do well in the role, but people still resented the recasting. There were some noted differences between the portrayals but that may have been more about the "re-casting" in the writers' room.

10. Kaitlin Cooper - The O.C.

Mini Coop went away to boarding school and came back not so mini. Kaitlin was originally played as a child who loved riding ponies more than anything, but when the writers brought her back they wanted to age her up and make her more significant to the plot. Shailene Woodley was not old enough to play the older, less mini Cooper, so the show tapped Willa Holland.

11. Toby Cavanaugh -- Pretty Little Liars

This one barely counts because the first Toby was only on screen for a few minutes at the end of Pretty Little Liars Season 1 Episode 1. True fans will make note of the difference, but they will probably also agree that the Toby we got was the best Toby we could have asked for.

12. Jason Dilaurentis -- Pretty Little Liars

The first Jason seemed very put together. He was the sort of guy who had his life figured out, and he looked the part. When the writers decided on a storyline involving a more disheveled, messed-up, and let's just say it, sexier Jason, they switched out Parker Bagley for Drew Van Acker. Jason became a more significant character, both when he was revealed to be Spencer's brother, and as he became the object of Aria's sexual fantasies. It is kind of hard to picture Bagley in that scene. Sorry, Bagley.

13. Jesus Adams Foster -- The Fosters

Fans were not happy when Jake T. Austin decided to leave The Fosters, but Austin did not want to stick around when his character's role was going to be diminished. In the end, Noah Centineo won fans over as the new Jesus Adams Foster becoming incredibly popular in the role, not to mention a star of Netflix RomComs.

14. Satoshi Takeda -- Revenge

Fans enjoyed Hiroyuki Sanada as Satoshi Takeda, Emily's sensei on Revenge, because he was not the traditional sensei stereotype. He was Asian of course, but he looked more like a businessman than an all-knowing master of martial arts. This is why many were disappointed when Takeda reappeared in season two as Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who looks exactly like one would expect a sensei to look.

15. Robin Hood -- Once Upon A Time

This one was explained, way later in the series. Supposedly Robin was using a glamour the first time as not to be recognized by an old foe. It's a good story, but we know that it was just the writers trying to explain away the fact that they had to recast due to scheduling conflicts. This does not explain how Belle, who met him as Tom Ellis, recognized him as Sean MacGuire.

16. Alura Zor-El -- Supergirl

It was exciting to see Erica Durance, former Lois Lane, on Supergirl. Still, we had grown used to Kara's mother as a different actress. Many of Supergirl's cast had geographical issues when the show switched its filming location to Canada. Laura Benanti couldn't very well work on a show in Canada, a play in New York, and be a "supermom" all at once now, could she?

17. Reggie Mantle -- Riverdale

When Ross Butler was playing Reggie Mantle on season one of Riverdale, the role was very minor. Butler traded it out for a bigger role on 13 Reason's Why. Since then, Mantle's role on the show has grown, especially in season 3. We don't hear Charles Melton complaining.