The Real Reason These Actors Left CSI

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" is a hit TV drama surrounding a group of forensic investigators who work together to solve violent crimes in Las Vegas. The show became a phenomenon, earning several Primetime Emmy and People's Choice awards, as well as branching off into a sprawling tree of spin-offs including "CSI: Miami," "CSI: NY," and "CSI: Cyber."

During its long 15-season stint from 2000 to 2015, the show saw many of its actors come and go. Some were long-time vets who were there from the beginning, and some were so short-lived, that you might not even remember them. Whether they were fan-favorite farewells or barely noticeable blips, each addition or loss to the cast helped to shape and mold the "CSI" team into a unique caravan of crime solvers.

Many of these actors left of their own accord, deciding it was just the right time to move on, but some were not so amicable. Bad blood often brewed off-set between actors, writers, producers, and the network. From creative differences to contract negotiations and character chemistry, the reasons behind these departures might come as an interesting surprise to even the most seasoned "CSI" viewer.

George Eads played the "CSI" role of forensic investigator Nick Stokes beginning in the series pilot in 2000. However, he was fired by CBS for missing the first day of shooting for Season 5. This termination took place in murky waters, as Eads claimed he had failed to show up on set due to the fact that he had simply overslept. The network, on the other hand, claimed that Eads did not oversleep, but purposely missed shooting. They viewed his absence as a strategic move regarding a salary dispute with his contract.

Whatever the real reason behind the Season 5 debacle — whether it really was a bad case of a malfunctioning alarm clock, or, per the network's narrative, a salary holdout — things were soon resolved. Eads was rehired a few days later following contract renegotiations.

Eads remained a constant fixture of "CSI" through Season 14, until he once again came toe to toe with the network and was forced to take a leave of absence. This came as a result of a heated on-set clash between Eads and one of the writers regarding the creative direction of his character. Eads then met with showrunner Carol Mendelsohn, who placed him on a temporary suspension after he threatened to quit. Eads missed several episodes early in the season but was back before the finale, and stayed on the series until an amicable split in Season 15.

While Gary Dourdan had played the beloved "CSI" role of gambling addict turned audio analyst, Warrick Brown, he only stayed on with the show through Season 8. Rumors had started to swirl mid-season when TV Guide reported that his contract with the series was soon to expire, and it was unlikely the actor and network would come to terms regarding a renewal. These suspicions were further validated by the fact that according to TV Guide's sources, CBS was already working to cast Dourdan's replacement.

While CBS declined to comment on the TV Guide announcement, and the actor made no official statement, all suspicions were confirmed when Dourdan's character was shot and killed later that month in a cliffhanger season finale. This departure was somewhat jarring, as it came about shortly following the mid-season turbulence of Jorja Fox also leaving the show. While she was able to return later in the series, Dourdan's on-screen death was the final nail in his 'CSI' coffin, preventing any later appearances.

While Entertainment Weekly had reported that this split came about as a mutual decision between Dourdan and the network, there was some speculation of contributing factors at play. Some had thought that Dourdan's 2008 drug arrest might've had something to do with his departure from the show. However, Dourdan's arrest had come after the TV Guide announcement, so the dates don't really add up, and it's more likely they were just unable to renegotiate his contract.

William Petersen was one of the most integral players the "CSI" team ever knew. In addition to playing the gritty investigator Gil Grissom for the first nine seasons of the series, Peterson had acted as a producer of the show since its 2000 debut, becoming an executive producer in 2004. Despite working tirelessly to build the show into the television phenomenon that it would eventually become, Peterson said goodbye to the series in Season 9, Episode 10. His character left the team to reunite with his wife in Costa Rica, taking a permanent vacation from violence.

It's clear Peterson was a strong supporter of the series, so why did he leave? One of the downfalls of loving what you do is that sometimes, you can love it a bit too much. Following the announcement of his departure from the show, Peterson expressed that it was precisely because he had made such a lovely home for himself at "CSI," that he needed to leave. There is such a thing as getting too cozy with where you're at, and he didn't want to use up all of his artistic juices on this one thing. He needed to get out before the well ran dry and use his remaining creative energy on other projects. Following "CSI," Peterson went on to act in a number of theater productions, making good on his promise to find other passions.

While she was an already established actress prior to the series, for the first 12 seasons of "CSI," Marg Helgenberger played the role of stripper turned supervisor, Catherine Willows. She was there from the get-go, a character known for getting the job done and continuously working her way up the ranks. Helgenberger finally left the show in 2012, after her character climbed yet another rung of the ladder and accepted a job with the FBI.

According to Helgenberger, she made the decision to leave in an effort to pursue other creative projects. She had been with the show for many years, a time span that drained a lot of her energy, while also encompassing many changes in her personal life. Despite being a bit more worn than she had been prior to "CSI," she felt she still had some oomph left in her and wanted to see what else she could take on. This decision proved fruitful, as Helgenberger would go on to star in a number of other projects, including "All Rise" and "Under the Dome."

Khandi Alexander signed on to "CSI: Miami" in 2002 to play the role of medical examiner Alexx Woods. She stuck with the series for its first six seasons but left in 2008 to pursue more challenging roles and get into more serious, or as she called it in the New York Post, "real" acting. This comment might rub the more hardcore "CSI" fans the wrong way, but Alexander did express that she holds no ill will against the series, and her time with "CSI" gave her a lot to be thankful for.

The decision to leave worked out quite well for Alexander, as she went on to work on a number of other notable projects. Her post-"CSI" credits include a role on "Tremé," the follow-up to the critically acclaimed series "The Wire," as well as starring in Dael Orlandersmith's theater production, "Bones." Hopefully, the move from screen to stage was a challenging enough change for the talented actress.

Adam Rodriguez joined the cast of "CSI: Miami" to play the role of Eric Delko for the series debut in 2002. He remained a regular character in the show until Season 7, when he abandoned his role in the pursuit of other projects, as well as an inability to settle contract negotiations with CBS. He did stay on through the season as a recurring character, but dropped out completely once Season 8 came around.

Rodriguez's absence was notable, so to fill the void, CBS brought on actor Eddie Cibrian as crime lab investigator Jesse Cardoza. However, his stay on the show was extremely brief, as Rodriguez and CBS were soon able to hammer out a new deal. Rodriguez returned to the series in Season 9, rendering Cibrian an unnecessary addition. Cibrian was given the boot after only one season, and Rodriguez picked up right where he left off.