Laurence Fishburne OUT At 'CSI': Star's Contract Expires, Not Returning

Dr. Ray Langston is no longer on call.

In another big blow to mega-hit TV medical/police procedurals, Laurence Fishburne is officially leaving "CSI." Deadline reports that the star's contract expired after this season, the show's 11th, and he has no plans on renewing.

He's the second leading man of a hit procedural to leave this summer, following Christopher Meloni's surprise exit from "Law & Order: SVU."

That'll put to rest the career of the pathologist-turned-CSI, who came on to replace William Peterson's character midway through the show's ninth season. His storyline ends on a cliffhanger; having murdered Nate Haskell in the season finale, it's unclear whether his character admits to the crime as the episode ends.

For more, click over to Deadline.

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Comments

[quiscut]

03:56 PM on 06/27/2011

I was a fan from the beginning of CSI.I had to tape it so I could watch it in the light of day because it creeped me out too much to sleep (I'm a suck). Tried to remain loyal after Griss left. It didn't take.Went back to see if LF could fill Griss' boots.No chance. I think it's time for CSI to go out with some class instead of getting the boot from cbs. When I see the old epis before G&S went public I sit down and watch .It was a great show.

[jdmn17]

07:34 PM on 06/21/2011

So many of the earlier shows had such a unique twist. My favorite all time was the one where the man died from various wounds. Each person they interviewed admitted to killing him, or attempting to. They'd think they were wrapped up would come in and explain that wasn't the cause of death and in at least one instance I remember the would be killer actually kept him alive. Now that was fun, especially watching the team react each time Doc said - "That isn't what killed him"

[Lucille]

02:24 PM on 06/09/2011

I love Fishbourne but I stopped watching CSI before he came on, but I checked back in to watch him, then stopped watching again because the show is too graphic for me. All those dead bodies, especially when they found the dead person in an ally and the rat was coming outside the body through the person's eye socket (this was before Fishbourne got there), and other stuff like that is too much for me.

[Bloviator88]

02:19 PM on 06/09/2011

Ok, folks, let's put our heads together!

Chuy Bravo as the pintsize pathologist with the filthy mouth and taste for expensive women!
Seth Green as the boy wonder investigator with the filthy mouth and taste for exotic women!
David Hasselhoff as the aging drunk, hamburger swilling lab tech with an exotic mouth and a taste for filthy women!

Back to you, Chet.

[mabinog]

12:59 AM on 06/10/2011

no, no, no they need to bring on the Lady Heather character full time.

She can profile the bad guys and knock guns out of their hands with her whip.

[squatmunkie]

01:36 PM on 06/09/2011

After Peterson left CSI I thought it would be bad, then they hired this guy and after about 2-3 episodes I stopped watching. I may check out this next season now.

[ms.understood]

01:05 PM on 06/09/2011

he's such a great actor, but he only needs to star in movies. he's too big of a personality now for t.v.

[BillOlson]

01:02 PM on 06/09/2011

Laurence Fishburne is a great actor, but I never felt like he belonged on this show... that is until the last two episodes of the season. He was amazing and the story line was really good... it is a perfect place for him to make an exit on a good note.

[jtraveler]

10:16 AM on 06/09/2011

I think he's a fabulous actor and initially was looking forward to him joining CSI (although NO one can replace Griss for me). I think the failing was in developing his role; they hinted at a dark side and it took forever to flush out. Rookies don't take over, so that was weird. I think he just never had a chance to gel and I put that on the writers.

I miss the whole original cast sans Sarah. I think it's time to let this show go unless they come up with a blockbuster 'lead' (as in bring back William Peterson) and better stories. It's had it's run.

[lyndainfrance]

08:02 AM on 06/09/2011

Grissom made CSI LV worth watching. NY is so so but Horatio Cane is just ridiculous.Thankfully US TV always seems to come up with great new shows.

[tcdsconward]

04:51 AM on 06/09/2011

Lawrence fishburne was a good addition but he sees that time is against the show so he moves on

[binq56]

01:48 AM on 06/09/2011

Liked him, but it was Grissom's show.

[kannita]

09:30 AM on 06/09/2011

True but he was the reason that I continued to watch the show. Not so sure now. I am finding that I like more and more British shows on Netflix than on US TV; especially dramas.

[MikeDu]

11:55 PM on 06/08/2011

Quite by accident I stumbled on Vincent D'Onofrio in a new 'Law & Order'. I had thought he was gone for good. Watching him *seriously* acting (it was almost like he was throwing off sparks) served to remind me how lackluster & formulaic 99% of police procedurals have become. They're no better than "Adam-12" from 1972. And yes, I'm including the CSI shows and most of the Law & Order shows too. Its a bad sign when you sit down to watch and can't tell if you're watching a new show or a rerun.

[WRPrintz]

11:52 AM on 06/09/2011

agree.

[AngusC]

10:42 PM on 06/08/2011

I like him, but he never fit in well there.
Quite frankly after Grissom left, I lost interest in the Las Vegas series and as others have said, Sarah is super annoying and Nick comes off cocky also. They can cancel the series at this point for all I care.

They can cancel NY also, that was never good and when Melina left and was replaced by that annoying woman it went down even further.

I only like Miami at this point.

[MDUB1969]

10:37 PM on 06/08/2011

I've watched since day one, but couldn't watch after they brought Sarah BACK. I just can't stand the nasally whine. The beginning of the end was when Grissom and Sarah made it official...it was a downhilll slide from there...losing Warrick, losing Gil, I even liked Sophia....but the Grissom/Sarah love story was just too much.

I like Lawrence Fishburne, but sometimes a ship is gonna sink - no matter who is on board. It wasn't a great fit for him.

[MISTERWRITER]

09:56 PM on 06/08/2011

Easy fix, make Nick in charge!

[MDUB1969]

10:38 PM on 06/08/2011

I've always liked Nick, but I liked him more after he survived the buried alive with ants thing. That was probably the best CSI season and episode there was.

[lexigram]

01:02 PM on 06/26/2011

The Chick Flick Chop Shop ( or variation of those four words) was the best. Chop Shop Chick Flick? I can never remember but it's hilarious. Does anybody like Sarah? I was so happy every time she left or threatened to, but she just kept coming back. As for the Sarah/Grissom romance- the most ridiculous pairing on tv.