From the quiet swaps to the drama-filled departures, see celebs who were replaced on their TV shows.
Studios then have the tough decision of whether to write the characters out or recast them entirely.
(Legend says some are still recovering from the Jake T. Austin/Noah Centineoswitcheroo onThe Fosters.)
Henry Cavill on ‘The Witcher’; Liam Hemsworth on ‘The Witcher’.Credit:Susie Allnutt/Netflix
But sometimes, these fresh faces can win viewers over after all.
Read below to find out which stars were replaced on TV.
“I thought Bailey was amazing,” Hayles told EW in May 2024.
Bailey Bass on ‘Interview With the Vampire’; Delainey Hayles on ‘Interview With the Vampire’.Alfonso Bresciani/AMC+/Courtesy Everett; Larry Horricks/©AMC/Courtesy Everett
Season 4 ofThe Witcheris set for a 2025 releasewith Hemsworth playing Geralt forthe final two seasonsof the series.
The sitcom debuted in October 1988 with Goranson playing Becky Conner.
Chalke popped back up at this time, taking on Becky through the series finale in May 1997.
Henry Cavill on ‘The Witcher’; Liam Hemsworth on ‘The Witcher’.Katalin Vermes/Netflix/Courtesy Everett; Netflix
Amid rumors of a feud withFresh PrincestarWill Smith, Hubert was replaced for the sitcom’s fourth season.
and she responded, “Yeah, that was the longest timeout I’ve ever had.”
Geddes returned as Miss Ellie Ewing in September 1985 in the season 9 premiere, The Family Ewing.
Ruby Stokes on ‘Bridgerton’; Hannah Dodd on ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Mary Ann Mobley took over in the eighth season premiere, playing Maggie in the final run of episodes.
I support Charles Melton all the way, passing the baton off."
Theres a sweetness and a kindness that radiates from Skylar, and its wonderful for Rebecca Bunch."
Lecy Goranson as Becky Conner on ‘Roseanne’; Sarah Chalke as Becky Conner on ‘Roseanne’.ABC via Getty Images; Bob D’Amico/ABC via Getty Images
When the third season premiered in September 1952, John Hart was the man behind the mask.
When season 2 debuted, Brian Forster was in the role.
Forster continued to play Chris for three years, going out with the show’s final episode in 1974.
Maxwell Huckabee on ‘Mad Men’; Aaron Hart on ‘Mad Men’; Jared Gilmore on ‘Mad Men’; Mason Vale Cotton on ‘Mad Men’.AMC; Everett Collection; AMC; Everett Collection
He was then replaced by Jeremy Garrett, who took on the role of Todd the same year.
Garrett continued his turn through the show’s final run of episodes in 1997.
Priest continued to portray Marilyn throughout the rest of the show’s run.
Lisa Robin Kelly on ‘That ’70s Show’; Christina Moore on ‘That ’70s Show’.20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Alessandra Torresani on ‘Arrested Development’; Mae Whitman on ‘Arrested Development’.FOX; Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Will Smith and Janet Hubert on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’; Daphne Reid and Will Smith on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’.Chris Cuffaio/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery on ‘Bewitched’; From left: Elizabeth Montgomery, Erin Murphy, Dick Sargent, and David Lawrence on ‘Bewtiched’.ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images
Lily Nicksay on ‘Boy Meets World’; Lindsay Ridgeway on ‘Boy Meets World’.ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
Barbara Bel Geddes on ‘Dallas’; Donna Reed on ‘Dallas’.Courtesy Everett Collection
From left: Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Dixie Carter, and Danny Cooksey on ‘Diff’rent Strokes’; Conrad Bain and Mary Ann Mobley on ‘Diff’rent Strokes’.Courtesy Everett Collection; ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
Heather Locklear and Al Corley on ‘Dynasty’; Jack Coleman on ‘Dynasty’.Aaron Spelling Productions/Courtesy Everett Collection
Ross Butler on ‘Riverdale’; Charles Melton on ‘Riverdale’.The CW; Shane Harvey/The CW
Jake T. Austin on ‘The Fosters’; Noah Centineo on ‘The Fosters’.Adam Taylor/ABC Family via Getty Images; Nicole Wilder/Freeform via Getty Images
Ed Skrein on ‘Game of Thrones’; Michiel Huisman on ‘Game of Thrones’.HBO (2)
Santino Fontana on ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’; Skylar Astin on ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’.Scott Everett White/The CW Network/courtesy Everett; Robert Voets/The CW Network/courtesy Everett
Clockwise from left: Isabel Sanford, Mike Evans, and Sherman Helmsley on ‘The Jeffersons; Clockwise from upper left: Damon Evans, Berlinda Folbert, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, Sherman Helmsley, and Zara Cully on ‘The Jeffersons’.Bettmann via Getty Images
Clayton Moore on ‘The Lone Ranger’; John Hart on ‘The Lone Ranger’.Online USA via Getty Images; Courtesy Everett Collection
Jeremy Gelbwaks on ‘The Partridge Family’; Brian Forster on ‘The Partridge Family’.Courtesy Everett Collection; ABC via Getty Images
Ryan Bittle on ‘Sweet Valley High’; Jeremy Garrett on ‘Sweet Valley High’.Saban Intl./Courtesy: Everett Collection
Beverly Owen on ‘The Munsters’; Pat Priest on ‘The Munsters’.CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images; Courtesy Everett Collection
