Every Actor Who Left 9-1-1

Several actors have left 9-1-1, the hit show by Ryan Murphy, but their time on the series has had a lasting impact. 9-1-1 has been praised for its ability to increase the stakes of a standard police procedural by mixing all first responders together in an intense drama. As a result, each episode features a mix of firefighters, police officers, and dispatchers in a charming and memorable cast.

The large number of recurring characters makes it easy for actors to slip in and out of seasons, since the characters’ jobs can be so hectic. However, there are a few 9-1-1 cast members who have left the franchise for good. Certain characters had heartbreaking departures, but others left the show on good terms with the possibility to return. With the arrival of 9-1-1 season 8, there are worries that there may be new character exits in coming seasons, which has served as a reminder for all the actors that have left the series so far.

6 Taylor Kelly

Played By Megan West

Megan West played Tayor Kelly, a career-driven field reporter, in 9-1-1 for five seasons. Taylor is first introduced to the 118 crew when her helicopter crashes and the team goes to save her and the pilot. She continues her reports at the 118 station, which leads to her becoming closer to the crew members, especially Buck, who is played by Oliver Stark. Over the course of several seasons, Buck and Taylor share a slow romance and end up making it official in season 5.

Unfortunately, the happy couple break up in the season 5 finale, which ultimately leads to West’s departure from the series. Taylor consistently felt a need to place the pursuit of the truth and her career above her personal relationships. This causes an argument between her and Buck and the two ultimately decide it would be best to end the relationship. Luckily, the two characters end on good terms, which did leave the possibility open for Taylor’s return.

While it would be interesting to see Taylor appear on 9-1-1 again as an independent character who seeks out intriguing news stories, her time on the show was limited because she was tied to Buck. Her main role on the show was to be a part of Buck’s emotional arc. Although West’s portrayal of Taylor was an excellent performance, it is best to leave Taylor in the past.

5 Harry Grant

Played By Marcanthonee Jon Reis

Marcanthonee Jon Reis played Micheal and Athena’s son, Harry Grant, for five seasons. Harry is a lovable character who has faced a lot of difficulty from a young age. Throughout the series, he is put through a kidnapping, a heavy accusation, and a lot of family conflict. As a young boy navigating the world and his emotions, Harry has particularly struggled with maintaining a healthy relationship with his mother, Athena. Fortunately, their relationship has improved over time.

Reis ended up leaving the show at the end of season 5 due to his character’s age. Harry is now played by Elijah M. Cooper. Even though Reis has left 9-1-1, it is possible that he could reappear in a flashback scene with any of Harry’s family members. This is especially likely since May and Michael have also left the show, which could encourage Athena to look back at when the four of them were all together when Harry was young.

4 Albert Han

Played By John Harlan Kim

Albert Han, played by John Harlan Kim, was a series regular for four seasons on 9-1-1 and will be sorely missed. Albert is a former firefighter on the show and is also the younger half-brother of Howard “Chimney” Han, played by Kenneth Choi. While Albert did not have an official exit, in a private conversation with his brother, he revealed that he quit firefighting to pursue his other interests. While filling out a career aptitude test, Albert’s score revealed a high interest in the arts and humanities. His sudden exit means that his character’s likability and chemistry are highly missed.

There has been no official reason to explain Kim’s departure from the series. It is more likely that the character’s arc just ended. 9-1-1‘s Chimney and Albert had a much-needed heart-to-heart about family, in addition to Albert realizing that firefighting was not the right career for him. Kim’s character received a pleasant sense of closure as he started to explore careers outside of firefighting.

Despite Kim’s unofficial departure from 9-1-1, his return is still possible given the prominence of his on-screen brother, Chimney. Chimney and his wife, Maddie Han, are major characters on 9-1-1 and seeing as the show highlights personal and familial relationships alongside the intense cases that first responders deal with on a daily basis, it is likely that Kim will return as Albert through his connection to Chimney.

3 Michael Grant

Played By Rockmond Dunbar

Rockmond Dunbar’s Michael Grant is one of the most memorable 9-1-1 characters, which made his exit so much harder to accept. Michael is Athena’s ex-husband and May and Harry Grant’s father. A large part of Michael’s emotional arc surrounds navigating his romantic relationships following his marriage to Athena. In season 3, Michael is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Fortunately, with chemotherapy and medical treatment, the tumor shrinks, which encourages Michael to take larger risks in life. Michael leaves 9-1-1 in season 5 after announcing he is moving with his fiancé, David, to help with humanitarian work in Haiti.

Dunbar left the show due to contract disputes following the Coronavirus pandemic. Technically, the nature of Michael’s exit makes it possible for the character to reappear in a cameo capacity. Michael could even feature in an episode that features May or Harry’s graduations. However, given the professional disputes between the show and Dunbar, Dunbar’s return as Michael is unlikely.

2 May Grant

Played By Corinne Massiah

Corinne Massiah plays May Grant, Harry’s older sister who starts working at a 9-1-1 call center shortly after graduating from high school. May is a hardworking student who faced a lot of struggles during her school years due to bullying. She becomes a main cast member through her role in the Grant family and eventually decides to go to college in season 7, which leads to her departure from the series.

Similar to Albert, May does not have an official exit. In season 7, she reveals that her deferral period for school has almost expired and that she must attend or lose her spot. As a result, she quits her job at the dispatch center. However, she is still an important character to the Grant family and her brief appearances in 9-1-1 season 7 have shown that she will likely make minor reappearances as she comes home from college. Still, the absence of her charming demeanor was noticeable when her role on 9-1-1 was reduced to guest appearances.

Other than the character’s pursuit of education, no other reason has been given for Massiah’s departure from the show. It is fair to say that she left the show so that her character could grow behind the scenes. However, given the gravity of Massiah’s character and the heartwarming interactions she has with Angela Basset, who plays Massiah’s mom on screen, there is a lot of hope that she will return to the main cast soon.

1 Abby Clark

Played By Connie Britton

Connie Britton played Abby Clark for just three seasons, but she stands out as a memorable 9-1-1 cast member. Abby is a 9-1-1 dispatcher who is introduced to the main cast of the show through her work. She first meets Buck over the phone and the two quickly develop a friendship. Her relationship with Buck in season 1 cemented the pair as one of the best 9-1-1 couples due to their chemistry and emotional arc.

Although it could be expected that Connie Britton left 9-1-1 because her character’s story ended, Britton actually left the show because she only signed on to appear for one year. Her departure also fits with her character’s storyline because Abby ended up moving to Ireland following her mother’s death. As a result, her relationship with Buck had to come to an end. Having Britton return as a main cast member would disrupt the closure that Abby received.

Britton had appeared in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story prior to appearing on 9-1-1, where she played Vivien Harmon. She has had a successful career before and after appearing in the police drama and has appeared in several shows after her time playing Abby. Most notably, she appeared in the hit series The White Lotus, where she played Nicole Mossbacher. Besides television series, she has also appeared in the movies Here After and Winner.