Anchor Maria Bartiromo has left Fox News Media after more than 12 years, the network announced on Sept. 3, with her exit taking effect immediately.
"Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media," parent company Fox Media said in a statement shared online. "We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 1/2 years and wish her all the best on her next chapter."
The network statement provided no reason for her sudden departure. The final episode of her daytime series Mornings With Maria aired that morning. Her Fox News show Sunday Morning Futures will be hosted by Jason Chaffetz this week, with a permanent replacement to be announced at a later date. Her Friday show, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, is shifting to FBN’s Wall Street and will be hosted this week by Cheryl Casone before rotating anchors take over in the coming weeks.
The 58-year-old anchor has not yet commented publicly on her exit, and her agent did not respond to a request for comment from E! News. Speculation quickly circulated that Bartiromo might step into the role of White House Press Secretary after Karoline Leavitt stepped down from the position at the end of August.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the speculation when speaking to reporters, per MS NOW. "I don’t think so," Vance said when asked if that was the case, adding that he did not know. "I just saw the news literally as I walked out. I love Maria. I think she’s an amazing person, amazing talent. I don’t get involved in the personal drama of media stations." He added: "I wish her all the best. She’s a very, very dear friend."
Bartiromo joined Fox in 2014 after beginning her onscreen career at business news network CNBC, where she hosted Closing Bell and On the Money With Maria Bartiromo. During nearly 13 years at Fox, she interviewed President Donald Trump and moderated two debates during the 2016 presidential election. Separately, California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Both E! and MS NOW are part of Versant Media.
Network Dramas and Procedural Exits
Bartiromo's departure is part of a broader wave of high-profile cast changes across network television and streaming platforms.
On CBS procedural drama NCIS, Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, was killed off in a March 2026 episode after 18 years on the show. Vance died in a shooting with a corrupt agent during the show's 500th episode, 18 years after debuting in season five, and was welcomed to heaven by late Chief Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard, played by Adam Campbell.
NBC drama 9-1-1 also wrote off a central figure in an April 2025 episode when Peter Krause ended his role as Los Angeles Fire Department captain Bobby Nash. "Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice, and he was built for this," Krause said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. "First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them." Showrunner Tim Minear told Variety that after eight years, someone had to die to create actual narrative stakes.
Long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy lost regular cast members Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver, who played Dr. Owen Hunt and Dr. Teddy Altman for nearly 20 years, during its season 22 finale on May 7, 2026. Their exits followed star Ellen Pompeo stepping back as a series regular in February 2023 after 19 years as Meredith Grey. Pompeo told The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2022 that she was 53 and needed to try something new, though she has returned for a May guest appearance and continues narrating the series.
The OneChicago franchise has seen multiple departures. Joe Miñoso, who has portrayed firefighter Joe Cruz on Chicago Fire since the show debuted in 2012, is leaving during the upcoming 15th season. On Chicago P.D., LaRoyce Hawkins is leaving after 13 seasons as Officer Kevin Atwater, though he will continue his role for several episodes at the top of season 14, set to premiere later this year, to wrap up his character's storyline.
NBC crime drama Law & Order is losing Detective Vincent Riley, played by Veep alum Reid Scott, during its upcoming 26th season in fall 2026 after three seasons. That follows the 2025 departure of Mehcad Brooks, who played Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons after joining in 2022 before leaving ahead of season 25.
Streaming Dramas and Fantasy Characters
Major character deaths and departures have reshaped several prominent streaming series as well.
HBO drama The Last of Us impaled Pedro Pascal's character Joel Miller in an April 2025 episode, mirroring his death in the 2020 video game The Last of Us Part II. Pascal, whose characters were also killed onscreen in Game of Thrones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, told Entertainment Weekly: "I get killed a lot. I like to die."
In another fantasy franchise, Ser Criston Cole, played by Fabien Frankel, was killed in the Riverlands during a July 26, 2026 episode of HBO Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon.
Netflix fantasy drama The Witcher lost lead actor Henry Cavill after its third season, with Liam Hemsworth assuming the role of Geralt of Rivia for season four. Cavill wrote on Instagram: "My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures. Alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4."
Paramount+ drama Criminal Minds: Evolution wrote out Elias Voit in its season 19 finale on July 23, 2026, sending the character to prison for a murder he took the blame for and confirming Zach Gilford will not return for season 20. Gilford told Us Weekly: "It was hard to say goodbye. It definitely was one of my favorite characters I’ve ever gotten to play and partially because what a gift. Every season I got to do a different side of this character. It wasn’t like I was just doing the same thing every year."
HBO Max medical drama The Pitt lost two doctors. Supriya Ganesh will not return as Dr. Samira Mohan for season three following an April Variety report, as her character plans to take a new residency program at another medical center. Tracy Ifeachor departed after season one as Dr. Heather Collins, writing on Instagram that playing the role in such a groundbreaking season was an absolute privilege.
Disney spinoff Wizards Beyond Waverly Place concluded its series finale in August 2026 with Mason Greyback, played by Gregg Sulkin, revealing he died during the episode. Appearing as a ghost, he told Alex Russo, played by Selena Gomez: "You have a whole other life, Alex. You got married. You have a beautiful daughter. And she needs you. That’s the life that you’re meant to live. You have to go back."
On NBC series The Rookie, Bridget Regan ended her four-season run as corrupt lawyer Monica Stevens when her character met her end in an April 2026 episode. Regan told TV Insider she was not surprised after her character previously escaped multiple assassinations, prison time, and being thrown in a woodchipper.
Reality Television and Comedy Cast Changes
Unscripted series and comedy shows have also seen major roster shifts.
Bravo reality show Summer House lost West Wilson in June 2026 weeks before season 11 filming, following a secret love affair with Amanda Batula that nearly destroyed the cast friend group dynamic after season 10. Batula will also not return for season 11 amid the fallout. Co-star Paige DeSorbo, cohost of the Giggly Squad podcast, announced in June 2025 that she was walking away after seven seasons, sharing on Instagram that it was time for that chapter to close.
Fellow Bravo series The Valley lost Danny Booko and Nia Sanchez, who announced in September 2026 that season three would be their last following a season in which Danny's drinking habits were questioned and he was accused of acting inappropriately while drinking. The couple, who share son Asher, 4, twins Isabelle and Zariah, 3, and Adelaide, 15 months, stated their priority was protecting their peace and family. Co-star Jax Taylor announced in July 2025 that he would not return for season three amid fan concern over his season two behavior and his divorce from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright, stating he needed to focus on sobriety, mental health, and coparenting their son Cruz.
Late-night sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live experienced five departures ahead of season 51. Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker left after three seasons, while Emil Wakim left after one. Weeks later, longtime cast members Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim confirmed they would not return for season 51 after eight and seven seasons, respectively.
Bravo series The Real Housewives of New York City will be without Jenna Lyons for season 16. The former J. Crew Creative Director joined for season 14 in 2022 and posted on Instagram on Nov. 21 that after agreeing to join season 16 as a friend of the show, she realized being a supporting cast member was not for her.
Netflix real estate series Selling Sunset lost Chrishell Stause after nine seasons. Stause announced on social media in November that she no longer needed the show financially and was stepping away for her mental health.
Hulu reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will lose Utah native Whitney Leavitt after season five following her appearance on Dancing With the Stars and landing a starring role in Chicago on Broadway.
Netflix series Emily in Paris lost French actress Camille Razat, who confirmed on Instagram on April 23, 2025, that she would not return for season five. Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls saw Reneé Rapp exit her role as Leighton Murray ahead of season three, with show co-creator Mindy Kaling confirming the departure on Instagram Stories.
Paramount drama Yellowstone saw Kevin Costner confirm in June 2024 that he would not return for the final episodes of season five after playing his character for four and a half seasons. On daytime television, Sofia Mattsson exited General Hospital in summer 2025 after seven years playing Sasha Gilmore, whose character left Port Charles for Paris.
