Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck, Charmed) is leaving FBI: Most Wanted after three seasons as the lead on the CBS crime drama. McMahon announced that his final episode will air on March 8 and will shoot this week. According to Deadline, the show is expected to introduce a new lead once McMahon leaves to fill the leading role.
“Over the past few months, the producers of FBI: Most Wanted and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix,” McMahon said to Deadline. “These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show.”
Showrunners, writers or McMahon himself have not specified how his character will be written off. The family man his character is recently just said goodbye to his beloved daughter as she went off to boarding school in Canada, so it is possible he may go into retirement after such an emotional, personal change in his life. Similarly, creator and producer Dick Wolf (Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU) told Deadline that McMahon’s departure is also quite the emotional change.
“We are saddened to see Julian leave,” Wolf said in a statement to Deadline. “His portrayal of agent Jess LaCroix has been a key factor in the success of FBI: Most Wanted. We will miss him and we wish him the best in his next chapter.”
Fans of McMahon have gone to twitter to express their sadness alongside the show’s creator, and even some of McMahon’s costars have joined in on the somber goodbyes including YaYa Gosselin (We Can Be Heroes, FBI: Most Wanted) who played his daughter on the show.