Vincent D'Onofrio Leaving 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'

LOS ANGELES — Changes are afoot at "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," with charter cast member Vincent D'Onofrio exiting the USA Network series and recent recruit Jeff Goldblum taking over full-time.

D'Onofrio's character, Detective Robert Goren, will say goodbye in a two-hour hand-off episode to open the ninth season early next year, "Criminal Intent" creator and executive producer Dick Wolf said Friday.

Goldblum, who joined the series last season, will continue as Detective Zack Nichols in the NYPD Major Case Squad.

"After eight seasons, and with the addition of Jeff Goldblum, now is the perfect time for me to explore other acting opportunities," D'Onofrio said in a statement.

He added, "I wouldn't be surprised if Goren pops up from time to time."

"Criminal Intent" premiered on NBC in 2001 with D'Onofrio as the series' sole lead. From 2005 through Goldblum's arrival, Chris Noth co-starred on an alternating basis with D'Onofrio.

USA became the series' primary outlet two years ago.

In another possible cast change next season, Goldblum could be joined by Saffron Burrows, replacing Julianne Nicholson, according to a person close to the production who spoke on condition of anonymity. The person, who is not authorized to speak publicly about casting, said Nicholson isn't expected to continue with the series. She has played Detective Megan Wheeler since 2006.

Burrows' credits include the film "The Bank Job."

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Comments

[Ventoi]

33 and I figured this out years ago..

their tongues will 'go missing'

[Ventoi]

O no...

When I am avoiding the uhm...Iris­h...sl...u­hm...accen­t...

I speak French.

[ElizabethBishop]

Vincent D'Onofrio fans are organizing The Campaign to Save Goren & Eames by asking USA network viewers to e-mail directly the NBCU senior executives most responsible for cutting these actors out of the "Criminal Intent" budget. They are telling NBCU Cable Entertainment president Bonnie Hammer why this cost-cutting measure will turn into a very expensive decision: Lost ratings and revenue to come for LOCI, and a tremendous amount of public bad will on the part of D'Onofrio's extremely loyal admirers.
Somehow USA and NBCU have become so isolated from their viewers (and so enamored of their own press releases) that they don't understand it's D'Onofrio to whom fans flock, not necessarily the "Criminal Intent" series.
To join the Campaign e-mail your displeasure to bonnie.ham­mer@nbcuni­.com
Also to her second-in-command jeff.gaspi­n@nbcuni.c­om and Senior VP of Publicity jean.gueri­n@nbcuni.c­om
For maximum impact keep your messages short, simple, polite but firm, and clean. Explain why this decision should be reversed and how your viewing habits for all USA programming will change if the cable network doesn't take the LOCI fanbase seriously.
The persistent acts of passionate individuals do have impact.

[stagebandman]

Please bring back Alicia Witt!!!!!!!

[Ventoi]

Take your tin hat and your drum and go home to Australia then.

[jukesgrrl]

If they're going to change CI this much, they should have just cancelled it and brough in Goldblum and the other new characters in a show with another name. CI was written to D'Onofrio's peculiar genius. People will dislike Goldblum just because he's not D'Onofrio. And, in my opinion, no one will EVER be Eames either.

[kewl2713]

I remember D'Onofrio in the 'Subway' episode of Honicide Life on the Streets back in the 90's. That was the most gripping piece of television I had ever seen. D'Onofrio was excellent as the commuter who falls off the train tracks and gets wedge between the train and the tracks. The entire portion of his lower body, below the chest is twisted in a knot. At chest level and above, he is alert, talking, taking in his situation. We all know, including the main character, that once they move the train, he will die. It was really something. I was glad to see him on CI, although I felt that they never recaptured the essence of his performance in that subway show.

[NoSandwiches]

Goldblum seems so awkward in his part, and I just don't like the Peter Pan officer.
Prepare to jump the shark!

I predict more humor and quirky weird stuff followed by a quick descent.

[Skyhawk]

Not too surprised about D'Onofrio, however I'd love it if Saffron joined.

[Ventoi]

I do not feel comfortable posting that in my new role as

Hen Of God.

[Ventoi]

Sometimes 'workers of God' must explore the territory of 'all children of God'

it turns some into alcoholics...

some were raised by my father...

we were taught to take all the blame for things to save the innoncence of others.

(you're not a priest, are you?)

[Ventoi]

Industry seem to have removed all freedoms from the average American.

(this surely will NOT get posted now)

Mystic Pizza

Watching it...currently...

I rewound because I wanted I swore I heard that really tall actress saying "Hi hun" to that tall guy by the post(as in Attila the)...he says "Hi Na."

so I paused the video at 14:19/01:4­4:12...and got stuck there for a minute...waiting for something else...

and I was looking at D'inofriio (and wondering if he knew that the father in that house where the girl is babysitting is most likely a fortelling of the character STEVE...from This Old House!?!)

I got to wondering why I may not find D'Inofrio as attractive anymore...

and how maybe, in our world, there are spirits and body forms and bones...

blobs, ghosts and skeletons

I would only trust the absoluteness of the bones (and only if they were not dense)

so in a perfect world..I would marry a skeleton...

hence the term

bangin' bones

(It must be mine)

[Clare53]

WTF?

[Andrew Jones]

to pursue his first love:

cake.

[rockyersocksoff]

His next role reportedly has him cocking his head sideways at his cats in his living room.

[levibatgirl]

Love D' Onofrio.

Never liked Goldblum in anything he's done.
Some actors just annoy me right off the bat.

[Ventoi]

I am sure I typed

now