TV shows move fast behind the scenes as pilots are cast, scripts are refined, and entire creative visions shift before a series ever reaches viewers, sometimes leaving characters surprisingly recast. In many cases, the actor who films the pilot isn’t available when the show gets picked up, forcing producers to find a replacement. Other times, personal decisions and conflicts create situations where a role must unexpectedly change hands.
Even once a series is underway, long-term commitments and evolving storylines can make recasting necessary. As actors get older, producers may want a different energy or appearance for a younger character. In other cases, a role grows in importance beyond what the original actor agreed to, prompting creators to re-evaluate who best fits the part as its responsibilities and emotional weight expand across future episodes.
Sometimes these transitions happen quietly and seamlessly that viewers barely register the switch. Other times, the change is more noticeable or surprising, especially when an actor has already defined a character’s personality. Given the countless moving parts involved in television production, recasting remains an unavoidable and often practical component of keeping a show running smoothly, whether audiences see it coming or not.
There are some recast characters who demonstrate how common these swaps truly are. Some recasts happen before the show even found its voice, while others take place deep into multi-season runs. A few are acknowledged with winks to the audience, while others pass without comment, but each have shaped the direction, tone, or emotional resonance of the series involved.
Recasting is simply part of how television survives and evolves, but the shift can be tough. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s controversial, but shows adapt, characters endure, and storytelling continues. A character can thrive even after a major casting change, and the next time you revisit a favorite episode, you might notice a different actor in a role you thought you knew.
10
Morgan Matthews
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World became a quick hit on ABC during the 1993 season, but as Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) was the star of the show, his larger family became part of the ensemble. Cory’s two siblings, Eric Matthews (Will Friedle) and Morgan Matthews (Lily Nicksay), were often pieces of the puzzle, but Cory had the main bill on Boy Meets World.
During the first two seasons, Nicksay played the role of sweet, sometimes chaotic Nicksay, but as the actress grew older, she didn’t enjoy the spotlight anymore. Vanishing for part of season 3, when Boy Meets World recast Lindsay Ridgeway as Morgan, the show delivered a quiet nod to her absence before moving forward. It’s likely Morgan’s new actress wasn’t noticed by some casual viewers.
- Release Date
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1993 – 2000-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Michael Jacobs
9
Kaitlin Cooper
The O.C.
The O.C. focused on the lives of the teenage cast members, namely Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) and Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) along with their romantic counterparts, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) and Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson). Even so, older and younger cast members fleshed out the rest of the ensemble, sometimes stealing the spotlight. Young Kaitlin Cooper, originally played by Shailene Woodley, was one of those faces.
In the first seasons of the series, Kaitlin was a pre-teen who was obsessed with her pony, but once her parents divorced and Marissa’s problems became too big to face, the series shipped her off to boarding school. When she eventually returned, Woodley had been recast with Willa Holland taking over the role and wreaking havoc as an older, wilder Kaitlin who felt like a new character.
- Release Date
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2003 – 2007-00-00
- Network
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FOX
- Showrunner
-
Josh Schwartz
8
Reggie Mantle
Riverdale
As the Archie comics’ dark adaptation took shape on Riverdale, Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) and his band of friends found their voices. Reggie Mantle, one of Archie’s friends from the football team and the occasional antagonist, was cast for the first season of the series. Originally played by Ross Butler, Riverdale’s first season quickly became a massive success for The CW.
As another season approached, Butler found himself stuck in terms of scheduling, as he’d taken on a larger role in another series. Charles Melton was recast in the role for Riverdale season 2, and continued to play Reggie throughout the series. In Riverdale’s final season, the show played in a tongue-in-cheek alternate universe where both Reggies, Melton and Butler, contended for Veronica Lodge’s (Camila Mendes) attention.
7
Beric Dondarrion
Game Of Thrones
One of the most popular high-fantasy shows of all time, Game Of Thrones has had several characters recast during its run, but some were more obvious than others. In an early episode of the series, David Michael Scott briefly played Beric Dondarrion in a moment that some fans may not have even noticed. Later, the role became more prevalent.
When Beric returned in Game Of Thrones season 3 for a meatier storyline and was repeatedly resurrected throughout the narrative of the series, the recasting of the role with Richard Dormer coming in to play the role made sense. Dormer’s portrayal became definitive, and many Game Of Thrones fans didn’t blink an eye at the change.
- Release Date
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2011 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
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David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
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David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
6
Carol Willick
Friends
At the core of Friends’ beginnings, it was clear that Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) struggled to cope with his recent divorce from Carol Willick (Anita Barone). Ross and Carol’s relationship, at some points sweet and at some points tough to swallow, carried through the show. After finding out Carol would remain in Ross’ life because of her pregnancy, the show discovered Barone wouldn’t be available to continue.
Quickly thereafter, only a few episodes into the series and after one Carol appearance, Jane Sibbett was brought in to play the role. With a warmer, more grounded portrayal of the character, Carol quickly became less of a difficult presence. Her story continued throughout the series, and she remained a stable part of Ross’ life.
- Release Date
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1994 – 2004
- Showrunner
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Marta Kauffman
5
Greg Serrano
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
With one of the most interesting on screen tactics to introduce their recasting, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s run never had a dull moment. While Rebecca Bunch’s (Rachel Bloom) on and off boyfriend, Greg Serrano (Santino Fontana), made a major impression in the show’s early seasons, his departure after season 2 felt like an end to his storyline.
With Fontana unavailable to return for the show’s fourth and final season to reprise his role, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend used a narrative arc to explain the new Greg, played by Skylar Astin. With Rebecca not recognizing Greg because of how much he’d changed, the framing allowed the show to use a new actor without jarring the viewer too much.
4
Jesus Adams Foster
The Fosters
Somewhat like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s convention, The Fosters’ recast a pivotal role and aligned it with a story arc. Early in the show’s run, The Fosters’ Jesus Adams Foster was played by Jake T. Austin. Fresh off of his time on Wizards Of Waverly Place, Austin was a well-known face for the series, but he chose to leave the show after its second season.
Upon the characters’ return, Jesus had suffered a traumatic brain injury, which was a storyline that Noah Centineo got to tackle as he stepped into the role. As Jesus’ story shifted and he matured, it was clear that Centineo was a solid fit for the series. The Fosters fans ultimately accepted the change well.
3
Becky Conner
Roseanne
Roseanne was a sitcom that handled its biggest swap out with a tongue-in-cheek wink to the camera that carried through for the run of the show. With Roseanne’s children, Becky Conner (Lecy Goranson), Darlene Connor (Sarah Gilbert) and DJ Conner (Michael Fishman), prominent on the show, it was tough to find a way to swap one out for another actor.
After Goranson elected to leave the series to go to college ahead of season 5, Roseanne recast Becky with Sarah Chalke, but oftentimes had Goranson return to the role when she could. Using self-aware humor to facilitate the shift, the audience was in on the joke, which is why it ultimately worked out.
- Release Date
-
1988 – 2018-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Bruce Helford
2
The Mountain
Game Of Thrones
Game Of Thrones’ often struggled to find the right presence in characters that wouldn’t be important early in the show, but would grow to eventually be a pivotal part of the story. While some actors seemed like they’d be able to grow with the show, it wasn’t always a suitable fit.
During Game Of Thrones season 1, for example, The Mountain (Gregor Clegane) was played by Conan Stevens, but as his role became more important, he was recast. During Game Of Thrones season 2, the role was recast with Ian Whyte as the series looked for a different physical presence.
Finally, when The Mountain became a more pivotal part of the story, Icelandic strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson was cast in the role, which he’d remain in for the rest of the show’s run. Viewers didn’t always notice the transition, but those who did didn’t necessarily mind.
1
Sookie St. James
Gilmore Girls
While Melissa McCarthy’s take on Sookie St. James was a hit from the start of Gilmore Girls, the original plans and pilot for the series actually called for another actress. Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of Gilmore Girls, originally cast comedian Alex Borstein in the role. The pair, who eventually worked together on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, clearly understood each other creatively.
While Borstein was in an original unaired pilot for Gilmore Girls, scheduling conflicts made it impossible for her to continue with the series. McCarthy was recast as Sookie, and her bubbly, warm, charming energy worked for the character as the show forged ahead. Gilmore Girls wouldn’t be the same without her performance.
- Release Date
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2000 – 2007-00-00
- Network
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The WB
- Writers
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Amy Sherman-Palladino
