17 TV Show Characters Who Were Recast in the Middle of Their Shows

Following York's medical departure, the writers realized they couldn't really write out one of their main characters, so the solution was to recast in one of the most famous moves in TV history. Sargent stepped into the role and played Darrin for the show's final three seasons.

Greenwell quickly replaced Levy and continued playing the role of Mandy through six seasons until she was written off the show.

Season three introduced us to the handsome mercenary who sparked something in Dany, but Skrein only remained in the role for a single season. The reasons for his departure differ depending on who you ask: the show said it was due to scheduling conflicts, but Skrein suggested it was more personal.

For the remainder of Daario's stint on the show, he was played by Huisman. Unlike other recasts on TV, this time, the show didn't even bother to try to cast someone who looked like the original actor!

The young princess was only a minor character in the first two seasons, where she was played by Richardson before being sent off to Dorne.

For the fifth and sixth seasons, where Myrcella actually had a more significant role in the main plot, Free took on the role of the now-grown princess, who's waiting for the political situation to calm down, so she can marry the prince she's in love with.

The Three-Eyed Raven's first appearance was a brief one, when Rodger played him in season four.

Later seasons gave the Three-Eyed Raven a much bigger and more pivotal role in the arc of Bran Stark, and screen icon von Sydow took over the expanded character.

Stevens, who was mainly a stuntman, not an actor, played the fearsome knight when he was just a minor character in the first season.

The Mountain actually went through another recast in between Stevens and Bjornsson: Ian Whyte briefly played the character in season two (before going on to play other background characters). When the role became a pivotal one, strongman Bjornsson took it on just in time for the character's most iconic (and gruesome) scene.

When The Fosters season three returned, they revealed that Jesus had survived but was now played by a new actor. Centineo continued in the role through the final season, before getting launched to young-adult stardom as Netflix's latest go-to rom-com leading man.

Fuller took on the role of Kristin beginning in season two, and she's still playing the character today!

McCook began playing Mandy in 2018, with the show winking on screen to her sudden brand-new appearance.

Fontana, who's probably best known as Frozen's Prince Hans, acted and often sang as the grumpy bartender on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend through the second season. He left the show in 2016 (with a memorable send-off song) to focus more on his return to theater.

Fontana wasn't available to reprise his role for the final season due to his commitments to Hello Dolly and Tootsie on Broadway, so instead, the show opted for a fourth-wall-breaking recast with Astin. Only the character of Rebecca can "see" that he looks different, as a metaphor for how people change.

For the final season, Bunheads actor Parsons stepped into the role of James (and, yes, he did have that romance with Lafayette).

From season two on, Melton stepped seamlessly into the role of Reggie. And, as it turned out, he got more than a job out of it: he and costar Camila Mendes dated for over a year.

Kelly's version of Eric Forman's older sister was an iconic part of the sitcom. She recurred throughout the first several seasons, but had to leave before season six due to battling some health issues, including alcoholism.

For Laurie's final appearances in season six, Moore stepped into the role.