NEED TO KNOW
- ABC’s The Rookie premiered in October 2018 and has seen several major cast exits
- Titus Makin Jr. left after season 3 for personal reasons
- Tru Valentino departed after season 6, but is set to return in season 8
The Rookie has made one thing clear: On this force, change comes with the badge.
Since The Rookie debuted in 2018, the ABC procedural has shaken things up more than once — cycling characters in and out as their careers evolve and they encounter dangerous situations.
Along the way, several key officers have clocked out for good. Captain Zoe Andersen (Mercedes Mason) met a tragic end early in the series. Meanwhile, Jackson West’s (Titus Makin Jr.) death in the season 4 premiere became one of the show’s most emotional departures.
As the series continues to grow, fans are keeping a close eye on who might be next. The Rookie season 8 has teased a potential move to Washington, D.C., for Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan), raising questions about how long the character will remain part of the show.
Here’s everything to know about The Rookie‘s most shocking departures to date.
Mercedes Mason (Zoe Andersen)
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Mason appeared as Andersen during season 1 of The Rookie, but the character’s run was cut short when she was killed in episode 16.
At the time, creator Alexi Hawley addressed the decision while responding to a fan on X.
“We went back and forth about it in the writers’ room. But it ultimately felt like the most dramatic and powerful way to impact our story,” he wrote. “It’s heartbreaking. But the stakes of this new life Nolan has chosen are all too real, and we can’t run away from them creatively.”
Following episode 16, she posted on X, per CBR, writing, “I just want to say thank you guys for being so supportive of the show and of me.”
Afton Williamson (Talia Bishop)
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Afton Williamson played officer Talia Bishop in season 1 of The Rookie before exiting the series after experiencing alleged racism and sexual harassment.
In August 2019, Williamson announced on Instagram that she would not return to the ABC procedural, claiming that from the pilot through season 1 she “experienced racial discrimination/racially charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from executive producers,” as well as alleged sexual harassment by a guest star.
The actress alleged that the bullying escalated at the season 1 wrap party when the head of the hair department sexually assaulted her.
Entertainment One, the production company behind The Rookie, investigated Williamson’s claims, and in September 2019, they revealed their findings in a statement to PEOPLE.
“We have concluded that those identified in Ms. Williamson’s allegations did not conduct themselves in an unlawful manner or demonstrate behavior inappropriate for the workplace,” eOne said. “It was also concluded that the executive producers, including showrunner Alexi Hawley, addressed matters of which they were made aware promptly and in a fair and reasonable manner.”
Williamson’s character was written out of the series with the explanation that she had taken a federal undercover assignment.
Titus Makin Jr. (Jackson West)
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Makin Jr. portrayed West on seasons 1 through 3 of The Rookie. He exited the show ahead of season 4, which Hawley confirmed to TVLine in September 2021, though the creator declined to expand on the reasons for the departure.
Behind the scenes, Makin had been uncertain about continuing with the series following the 2020 deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, which deeply affected him as a Black actor portraying a police officer.
“I woke up one morning and I was watching the news, and I was like, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t go play a cop on a show and not talk about the fact that I’m a Black cop.’ My character hadn’t addressed any of that,” he recalled during an interview with Entertainment Weekly in July 2022.
Makin added that he brought his concerns directly to Hawley before his sudden exit.
“He was extremely gracious and he totally understood everything I was saying,” he shared. “I did come to that point where I was like, ‘If you want to write me out, I politely receive that. I would rather be written out than ignore the reality and not be able to tell the story.’ ”
Jackson was killed in the season 4 premiere. His death was revealed through security footage, showing he was shot in the back during a kidnapping.
Tru Valentino (Aaron Thorsen)
Disney/Raymond Liu
Tru Valentino joined The Rookie in season 4 as officer Aaron Thorsen and remained a series regular through season 6. In August 2024, ahead of the show’s seventh season, the actor announced that he would be stepping away from the ABC procedural.
Sharing the news on his Instagram Stories, per TV Insider, Valentino wrote: “I will always cherish my time on The Rookie but couldn’t be more excited for what the future has in store. I adore the friends and relationships made while being there. It was such an amazing opportunity. Thank you to the best fans in the world.”
He also left the door open for a possible return, adding, “You never know who may pop back up in the Mid-Wilshire precinct. Until then, 7 Adam 19, this is Officer Thorsen, over and out!”
Valentino didn’t leave fans hanging for long. He will make his return in season 8, episode 5, following his character’s season 7 transfer from Mid-Wilshire to North Hollywood.
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