The original post: /r/television by /u/PM_Peartree on 2025-07-02 06:58:01.
First, NYPD Blue, though chances are she quit when she saw the writing on the wall. David Caruso was about to leave for a movie career (that went nowhere) and Sharon Lawrence was already being groomed as the next district attorney, which was Stringfield’s role on the 1st season.
Her quitting ER was more shocking since she was the female lead on the biggest show on TV, she got a Emmy nomination for each year she was in it, and then her character, Susan Lewis, was about to have a major story-line alongside Anthony Edwards’ Mark Greene, but Stringfield couldn’t handle the fame and exposure and wanted to go back to the stage so she suddenly quit. She didn’t even do a full season for her last year, she pretty much did the first 8 episodes of Season 3 and left. Her character’s kiss of Mark a stark reminder of the arc she would have had if she stayed.
Oddly enough, Stringfield did return to the show 5 years later but while her second stint lasted longer than her first one, 2 and a half years compared to 4 years, the show downgraded Susan to supporting status and by her last two seasons, she was given nothing to do. So she quit again but this time, the show didn’t bother having her leave onscreen.