George Eads exits 'CSI' after 15 seasons

June 11, 2008. George Eads poses during a photocall at the 48th Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco. (Reuters)

CSI is losing another veteran team member, reports TV Guide.

George Eads, who has played the role of CSI Nick Stokes since the series' pilot, will exit the show at the conclusion of the current season. Sources say Eads' departure was amicable and that his character's exit will be connected to the resolution of the Gig Harbor Killer case. However, it remains unclear exactly how his character will be written out of the series.

Eads had no official statement about his departure.

Eads, who took an extended leave of absence last season after a behind-the-scenes dustup, is the last remaining original cast member on the show. His exit follows those of William Petersen and Gary Dourdan (Season 9), Marg Helgenberger (Season 12) and Paul Guilfoyle, who ended his run last season. Jorja Fox, who is a regular in the current cast, joined the series in its second episode and made only recurring appearances during Seasons 9 and 10.

Both Eads and Fox were temporarily fired from the show in 2004 after they failed to show up to set at the beginning of Season 5 as part of a reported salary dispute. Eads maintained that he simply overslept. Both were eventually reinstated into the cast.

CBS recently trimmed CSI's order for this season to 18 episodes to make room for spin-off CSI: Cyber as well as other midseason dramas. Sources say Eads' exit is unrelated to the episode order and neither has any impact on the possibility for future seasons.