10 Actors Who Got Kicked Out Of Their Own TV Shows

When your name is quite literally in the title of the TV programme you're fronting, you'd be forgiven for thinking the show would struggle to go on without you. But, Valerie Harper would unfortunately find out that titles, much like main characters, can be dropped and substituted if and when the time calls for it.

After a successful first two seasons of Valerie, Harper and her husband/show producer Tony Cacciotti both attempted to secure per-episode salary increases, along with a greater cut of syndication revenue in the future. Both of these requests were shot down by the studio which then led to both Harper and Cacciotti walking out on the show.

This would result in ongoing negotiations between the couple and NBC as the months rolled by, until the two appeared to finally agree on a new deal. Then, shortly after the leading lady returned to shoot the third season, news broke of the couple again holding out for more dollar. This was the straw that broke the camel's back, and NBC soon killed off Harper's character and replaced her with Sandy Duncan, playing Valerie's on-screen sister-in-law, Sandy Hogan. The show would also be renamed Valerie's Family before transitioning to The Hogan Family after the third season.

Harper and Cacciotti on the other hand, would take NBC and Lorimar-Telepictures to court, having their former case dismissed but winning nearly $2million in damages against the latter, donating that sum to charity in the aftermath.