1.
First, in Gilmore Girls Season 3, Lorelai begins dating Alex, who Billy Burke plays. He appeared in three episodes after Lorelai met him while attending a class with Sookie about how to run an inn. Eventually, he just disappears and we never learn why he and Lorelai broke up.
2.
In Saved by the Bell Season 4, Leanna Creel starred as Tori Scott, who dated Zack for a short period of time. Leanne was brought on to the show after Tiffani Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley left, with Kelly and Jessie disappearing. Tori’s episodes were randomly placed between episodes that were already filmed featuring Kelly and Jessie. Eventually, Tori just disappeared without any explanation, and she notably wasn’t included in the graduation episode.
3.
In the second episode of Friends, Carol, Ross’ ex-wife who reveals she’s pregnant, is played by Anita Barone. Then, when Carol appeared later in Season 1, Jane Sibbett took over the role for the remainder of the series. Anita reportedly left the show because she wanted to find a more permanent role on another show instead of the guest star work she would get as Carol on Friends.
4.
Also, in Friends, Rachel’s BFF Mindy notably gets together with her ex-fiancé Barry. When we first meet Mindy in Season 1, she’s played by Jennifer Grey. However, when Mindy and Barry’s wedding finally happens in Season 2, she’s now played by Jana Marie Hupp.
5.
When Crazy Ex-Girlfriend began, Greg, who became one of Rebecca’s love interests, was played by Santino Fontana. He played the role for 22 episodes, but when Greg came back in the final season, Santino was replaced by Skylar Astin. The show even poked fun at the new casting in the show by having Rebecca begin to see Greg in a whole new way.
6.
When Bewitched began in 1964, Darrin, Samantha’s husband, was played by Dick York. He played the role for five seasons before Dick Sargent took over the role for the remainder of the series. According to the New York Times, Dick Y. left the show “when problems stemming from an old back injury, including overdependence on painkillers, forced him to leave.”
7.
In Shameless Season 1, Ian befriends Mandy, played by Jane Levy, who has feelings for him. Later, Ian reveals he’s gay, and he ends up with her brother, Mickey. Following Season 1, Jane departed the series, and Emma Greenwell took over the role for the remainder of Shameless.
8.
In True Blood Season 6, Luke Grimes played James; however, when the show returned for Season 7, and James began a romantic relationship with Lafayette, Luke was replaced by Nathan Parsons. Originally citing creative differences, it was later revealed that Luke was reportedly uncomfortable playing a gay character.
9.
In Game of Thrones Season 3, Ed Skrein played Daario Naharis, Daenerys Targaryen’s love interest; however, after the season, he was replaced by Michiel Huisman. At the time, Ed told EW, “My plan was to stay with Game of Thrones for the long haul. That was always my plan. I would have loved to. It was a wonderful experience, but politics led to us parting ways.”
10.
Daniel Sharman portrayed Isaac in two seasons of Teen Wolf and was notably Allison’s boyfriend while she and Scott were broken up. Following Allison’s death, Isaac simply disappeared from Beacon Hills and never appeared again after Season 3.
11.
In The Goldbergs Season 4, Adam’s girlfriend Jackie is introduced, and Rowan Blanchard portrays her. Rowan played the role for 11 episodes. However, when Jackie returned in Season 6 after their breakup, she was now played by Alexis G. Zall. At the time of the recast, creator Adam F. Goldberg tweeted, “I did not recast anyone. The actress passed for the season.”
12.
In the pilot episode of Arrow, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood portrayed Sara Lance, who was secretly having an affair with Oliver when they shipwrecked five years before he returned to Starling City. When Sara returned in Season 2, after Oliver believed she was dead, Jacqueline was replaced by Caity Lotz.
13.
And finally, Nick Jonas guest-starred in Last Man Standing in Season 1 as Ryan, Kristin’s ex and father of her son. He appeared in one episode before he was replaced by Jordan Masterson, who played the character for the remainder of the series.
We can’t fit everyone into one post, so tell us which other TV love interests disappeared or were recast in the comments below.
