10 Actors Who Left Hit TV Shows And Then Came Back

For the first six seasons of One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murray's Lucas Scott was the anchor of the ensemble. He got the most screen time, the most gratuitously extended close-ups of himself looking pensive, and even got to narrate regularly.

Murray had appeared in bit roles on television shows prior to One Tree Hill, such as Gilmore Girls and Dawson's Creek, but One Tree Hill was his first big break as a leading character. As his star took off on the show, he was offered greater movie roles as well. In the first three years alone that he was on One Tree Hill, and appeared in films such as Freaky Friday, A Cinderella Story, and House of Wax.

Ultimately, when his contract expired, Murray opted to leave the show rather than re-up, partly because he was more interested in exploring other opportunities. Murray and co-star Hilarie Burton were written out together, with the narrative being that their characters had a happily ever after and moved away from Tree Hill. The show would continue to air without its lead for two more years, before deciding their ninth season would act as an abridged finale.

Murray would return for one final appearance in the ninth season, that lasted all of about three minutes (if that) and featured him sporting some of the weirdest hair imaginable.