Dylan McDermott will be replacing Julian McMahon as the lead on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted. This comes days after McMahon announced his departure from the show.
The news came as a heartbreaking shock for fans as this wouldn’t be the first time a beloved actor has left the show. Last year, Kellan Lutz, who portrayed FBI Special Agent Kenny Crosby, also left the show to focus on his growing family with his daughter Ashtyn as the new addition. Fans are holding onto the final episodes featuring McMahon as Jess LaCroix.
Variety reports that McMahon and FBI: Most Wanted producer Dick Wolf both released statements on Saturday confirming that McMahon was exiting his role as Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix. The actor expressed a desire for other creative pursuits away from the CBS show.
McMahon said, “I’m extremely proud of the work we have done together and put the development of this show, and my character Jess, at the top of my professional experience list.” Some of McMahon’s past roles have been on the original Charmed, Nip/Tuck, and of course his campy portal of Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four (2005). His final episode on FBI: Most Wanted will air on March 8.
Julian McMahon departs as CBS welcomes Dylan McDermott
McDermott will be taking over as the full-time lead in McMahon’s place. He will make his debut in episode 17 of the current season, which is set to air in April. McDermott has been portraying the villainous Richard Wheatley in Wolf’s drama Law & Order: Organized Crime. Once his two-season run on the show wraps up, McDermott will be able to take the heroic main role on FBI: Most Wanted.
McDermott is known for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role as lawyer and firm head Bobby Donnell on The Practice. He also acted in four seasons of American Horror Story, namely Murder House, Asylum, Apocalypse, and 1984. He also portrayed Ernie in the Netflix 2020 series Hollywood.
FBI: Most Wanted is a spin-off of Wolf’s FBI created by René Balcer, first airing on January 7, 2020. It centers on the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force as they seek out and capture criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted List.
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