9-1-1 Stars Who Left and Why: From Rockmond Dunbar to Connie Britton and More
Since its debut in 2018, 9-1-1 has introduced us to a lot of beloved and unforgettable characters, but not all of them are staying.
Rockmond Dunbar, Connie Britton, and Annelise Cepero each left for different reasons, from COVID protocols to contract terms. Read on to find out why they left… Rockmond Dunbar was abruptly written out of 9-1-1’s fifth season. After appearing as Athena’s ex-husband, Michael Grant, for years, the star reportedly left after Covid protocols were put into place on the show.
According to Deadline, when all cast members were required to get vaccinated, Rockmond requested a medical exemption, then a religious exemption. Addressing what happened in a statement, the 51-year-old said: “I applied for religious and medical accommodations in connection with the law and was unfortunately denied by the company. “My deeply held beliefs and private medical history are very personal and private aspects of my life that I do not discuss publicly and do not want to start now.” Noting that he “enjoyed” his five seasons on the show, calling the cast and crew “amazing,” Rockmond concluded by wishing 9-1-1 all the best. Since leaving, the father of four has continued to appear in episodes of Aftershock and The Game. As of March 2024, Rockmond is in the process of filing a lawsuit against 20th Television and Disney over the situation. . Connie Britton quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her portrayal of emergency call dispatcher Abby Clark. But After appearing in the first season, the character abruptly left LA, ending her romance with Buck (Oliver Stark). Heartbroken, then-Fox co-president Gary Newman went on to explain that a one-season arc was always in the cards for Connie, per her contract. “We love Connie Britton, [but] we always envisioned it being a one-year role,” he said.
“So it’s no surprise [that she left]. If Connie expressed interest and had the time in the future, I know [executive producer] Ryan [Murphy] would be happy to bring her back to the show.”
Much to fans’ delight, Connie eventually reprised her role in season three, with Abby finally closing the chapter on Buck and enjoying her engagement to a mystery man. Of course, the door is always open for Connie, but with the actress busier than ever, it seems unlikely that she will be back.
Annelise Cepero was introduced in season six of 9-1-1. Cast as Death Doula Natalia Dollenmeyer, the character had a sweet romance with firefighter Buck, but in the season seven premiere, it was suddenly announced that he was still single, with no sign of Natalia.
Speaking about Annelise’s departure, showrunner Tim Minear confirmed that it was an “amicable separation” and that she made the decision to leave due to a number of logistical factors, including the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strike.
