Vincent D’Onofrio to leave Law & Order: CSI

Vincent D’Onofrio is leaving Law & Order: CI to pursue other acting opportunities. D’Onofrio thinks that now is the perfect time to leave, since the addition of Jeff Goldblum to the cast. He would also not be surprised if his character Goren pops up from time to time on the show.

Vincent will say good bye in the two part season 9 premiere which I think is scheduled for March 2010 currently? Kathryn Erbe is expected to return for the two part premiere, but that is not finalized just yet.

I used to watch the show in the first seasons and loved the character of Goren. The show will not be the same Law and Order: CI without Vincent and think that it will lose enough viewers that the plug finally gets pulled on it. Pretty much what I am saying is that Vincent D’Onofrio “was” the reason to watch this show. On the other hand this does open him up to do more things, which for his fans should be something to be happy about.

USA Network Vincent D'Onofrio

About Damon Cap

One of the partners/admins here at the site. We do what we want. Also lead-off batter at Optionated and breakfast cereal reviewer at MyCerealBox.

20 Comments

Vinnie Vidi Vici

October 17, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Look, if I wanted to eat a peanut butter sandwich every day, I would, but I don’t want to, because let’s face it, it gets boring, and so don’t force fed me with this “fluff” crap. While it is the network’s choice to alter their programming as they see fit, not offering variety is, as they will soon find out, be detrimental. I realize we are in the midst of suffering a bad economy, poor housing market and unemployment, but, all the “blue sky” and “popcorn” (their buzzwords) won’t remove those realities. And, if LO: CI is considered “dark” by comparison then maybe NBCU has decided for us that we should all live in their fantasy world. If I wanted that I could go pitch a tent down in the heart of Disney World and hug Mickey Mouse all day. In answer to their “lighter fare” of programming I came up with the idea to send jars of “Fluff” to the execs at USA Network and the loyal fans have responded as cases have been sent already. The bottom line is that a disservice was done to the cast and show, and is not fair to a loyal legion of fans who have followed for 8 years now. We do not feel as if a 2 hour season opener, in which Vincent will exit, will properly satisfy all of the storylines and that instead a full Season 9 would be more appropriate in doing it justice. The rumblings have been that it is a money issue and coincedentally the coffers flowed wide open when Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni wanted more, and received, what they asked for. Given that three of the major key players are departing it is highly suspect that the “budget” (NBCU is worth 35 billion, that’s with a “b”) didn’t allow them full salaries, and, the stockholders are holding the strings. This is not about Jeff Goldblum, hell I’m glad he has a job when jobs are scarce, but to try and revamp the show when all of the established characters are leaving is too little too late. We should have seen this coming with the poor excuse for a Season 8 that had uninspiring scripts, continuity problems and episodes shown out of sequence. Frankly, I don’t know how they are going to rebound from that. No matter, once they leave, we will leave and so the ratings will tell the tale. I’m thinking on the plummet down that USA Network and NBCU will be best served and cushioned by all that “fluff” and then they will know exactly what “reality” is.

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Suzanne

October 17, 2009 at 3:42 pm

We just cannot figure USA out. They cannot get rid of Robert Goren. He is an icon. Vincent D’Onofrio made that character and that show into the gem it is. They weren’t concerned about money when they reshot all of Jeff Goldblum’s episodes…. If their rating sucked last year it was their own fault – they showed the episodes so badly out of order that it confused even the hardcore fans. USA welcomed Criminal Intent with open arms and now has decided it is too dark for their viewers. It appears only Fluffy Characters are Welcome. So we darn well are sending them Fluff. By the caseload.

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Serena Goren (Bobby's daughter)

October 17, 2009 at 3:58 pm

I cannot believe this. Bobby is aboslutly my life. He has brought me my only friends in this world through his message boards, and his fan base. He gave me something to believe in because in my real life… my real life kinda sucks. I am very sad something so special to be is is going to be going.

Jeff Goldblum is a wonderfull actor, I can understand that (Prince of egypt was an movie!!) but making Law and order CI go Fluffly… Is going to make ALL the fan base go away. Most of use fans dont’ want something that fluffy.. We like the drama.. and the fact it’s not a soap opera.

This show was based around Robert Goren. Without him, the show will die. it will lose all of it’s viewers.

Good going usa, you just tanked your best show.

I wish Vincent, kathryn, and Eric the best of wishes in whatever they do.

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Kiersten

October 17, 2009 at 6:52 pm

He can’t leave! We need him cause he makes the show!! Are the producers serious? Do they not realize that Goldberg’s charcter is just an imitation of Goren? Eames and Goren are the show!!

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Jessica

October 17, 2009 at 8:14 pm

Vincent and Kathryn are the only reasons to watch Criminal Intent. I love Bobby Goren and will be crushed to pieces when he leaves. I’m not ready to hang it up, yet! We’re not gonna settle and watch the show go down the drain. We’re making ourselves heard and letting USA know they are making a huge mistake! We’re gonna fight till the bitter end! Long live Bobby and Alex! Just say no to fluff!

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Madison

October 18, 2009 at 9:12 am

I’m fine with Vincent leaving, if it’s of his own free will. There are still to many questions out their and enough rumors to get us wondering about USA firing him as well as Erbe and Bogosian. I’ll miss Bobby Goren I don’t think his character’s story is finished yet so I’ll keep fighting and sending my fluff to get him to stay at least for a full season nine. I mean only the first episode? I don’t care if its two parts!

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Denise

October 18, 2009 at 9:29 am

The fans of Vincent D’Onofrio respect him and his work enough to stand up for him and the character he created so brilliantly. The NBC and USA Networks have never given this show the attention it deserved even though it did make them a ton of money. If these three actors are ready to go then the fans respect that. But we are not convinced that any of them would leave their fans in the lurch like this. The storyline needs to be completed. It ‘s not like the show is being cancelled so there should be no reason why better planning could not have been put into the transition from one set of characters to another. The way this is being handled – the entire show will tank.
The only way to salvage anything from this mess is to bring back D’Onofrio, Erbe, and Bogosian.

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Allison75

October 18, 2009 at 1:09 pm

The fact is that Criminal Intent is still making a profit. Dick Wolf and Rene Balcer have stated that it is the most profitable L&O for overseas syndication because it doesn’t involve the U.S. court system. SVU’s ratings are down this season after they gave Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni huge raises, so why can’t they at least ATTEMPT to keep D’Onofrio, Erbe, and Bogosian on CI so they can maybe recoup some of their losses in the more profitable cable end of their business? USA botched last season, showing episodes out of order and scrapping and reshooting several eps, and it was still profitable, so why not see what happens if they actual give the writers and actors an entire season 9 of quality?

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Susan1212

October 18, 2009 at 8:38 pm

Ausiello also hinted quite clearly that Vincent D’Onofrio was FIRED from LO:CI. See http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/09/30/ask-ausiello-spoilers-on-greys-house-bones-and-more /
So, Mr. D’Onofrio’s fans are NOT happy about it at all!

We do not want Fluff!! We want Goren and Eames!!

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LizB

October 19, 2009 at 12:49 pm

No one believes that Vincent D’Onofrio quit LOCI. The complimentary public statements traded between D’Onofrio and Dick Wolf are so transparently pr spin it’s insulting.

As I understand it, filming of the Goren & Eames final episode — the season 9 premiere — has been stalled by the absence of the major actors from the set. If so, good for them.

The angry cries of fans will never be silenced until the network agrees to another full season with D’Onofrio and Erbe. Do you get that yet, NBCU and USA?

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Alisha (LOCInumber1fan)

October 19, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Goren is LOCI!!!!!!! I need my Goren fix!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE Goren and Eames. They are my FAVORITE characters on TV!!!!!!!!!! They cannot leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Captain Ross has grown on me lately. He is being nice to Goren now… So I wish he would stay, too!
LOCI IS NOT FLUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USA Network should not treat it (and it’s fans) as such!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will miss VDO/KE/EB soooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!! I hope USA Network reconsiders their terrible decision to fire VDO/KE/EB.

Fluff, fluff, go away;
We don’t want you any day.
We want Goren and Eames;
We want Ross, too, it seems.
If we don’t get them back,
then we have to pack.
USA Network is dead,
if fluff we do get fed!

LOCInumber1fan

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vgb

November 2, 2009 at 1:18 pm

Sorry but I’m glad to see D’onofrio go. He was the reason I quit watching. He is a fine actor but his character began to annoy me.he brokoe so many rules that the majority of his cases would get thrown out IRL. Glad to see him go – now I can watch the show again.

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JULI

November 2, 2009 at 5:42 pm

What is USA thinking??? Without Goren there is no LAO CI!!!!!!
He is one of our most brilliant actors…and it’s bad enough that it’s no longer on NBC….why mess with a sure thing?????

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Dan

November 5, 2009 at 1:50 pm

I completely agree: Vincent D’Onofrio has been my reason for watching the show, ever since its inception.

The show itself is many-layered: Often on a second or even third viewing of an episode, I’ll notice subtleties that enhance my enjoyment.

And the Robert Goren character is many-layered himself, perhaps the most complex character ever to appear in a TV series. D’Onofrio plays this character to a T.

I don’t know the background, but it is a crying shame that there is a mass exodus of major characters, which will surely drive the show into the ground.

There ought to be innovative economic models so that shows can survive if enough of their fans want them to. I wonder how much money the average fan would need to contribute in order to enable a show like Law & Order: CI to survive.

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LilTurk

April 6, 2010 at 11:35 pm

We should officially Boycott CI!!! No disrespect to Jeff Goldblum. I think his character is kinda cool but he is not Vincent D’onorfrio! He is not Bobby Goren. Its impossible to tell what really happened until the truth comes out but “Hey USA… you just screwed yourselves big time. Goren and Eams are what kept that show going for so long! When CI is in syndication it will only be because of them! They are absolutely television ICONS!

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april

April 7, 2010 at 10:02 am

please bring Vincent D’Onofrio back to law & order ci….i will not be watching it with out him

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Sue

April 14, 2010 at 1:46 pm

I’m glad he’s moving on. I enjoyed his stint with the show, but after awhile the repetitive head weaving and whatnot grew stale. He’s a fine actor, but I wish he would have been allowed to broadened his character a bit. I’ll be back to see what Jeff G. does with his character which will probably grow stale in time also if the writers don’t find some more original crimes and some more interesting ways to investigate them and allow more believable bredth to the character. I’ll move on. It might be nice to allow for some more growth with the female leads also. They are so cardboard cutout like. It would be a nice change. In the meantime, I’ll spend most of my time on the original. With its character changes and plot twists, it always remains fresh… and every actor gets a part of the Star Pie!

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SandyST

April 18, 2010 at 12:02 am

D’Onofrio’s Bobby Goren was my absolute favorite character on TV. I was always excited to see the next episode because of the surprising unpredictability of his character: sometimes tough and unyielding; sometimes so vulnerable. It breaks my heart to hear that USA replaced him in order to make themselves more comfortable with something “lighter”. I beg to differ with those execs who believe the show was “too dark” for the typical USA audiences. Replacing the dialog between real-life characters with the juvenile quips and puns that permeate empty, superficial plots is pretty depressing, if you ask me. Besides that, it’s boring and predictable to anyone who ever matured past high school. It was that abundance of “fluff” on TV that made me turn it off for many years. (I didn’t even discover the Law and Order series until about three years ago, and I felt that I had found a real treasure!) I’m going to boycott USA for doing this; no more USA channel for me!

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angie mckinney

April 23, 2010 at 9:34 pm

i hate the show without Vincent not being on it any more, my family and friends have all refused to watch this LAW AND ORDER any more . we all watch the first show and with out BOBBY AND HIS PARTNER NO NO NO GOOD Had to go and Mess up a GREAT GREAT SHOW

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Faith

July 7, 2010 at 7:38 pm

I never missed Law and Order CI. I love Vincent D’Onfrio. I saw him once in New York, shooting a scene. Took pictures, very close, he was in a white mustang. I wish I could have, (could) meet Vincent someday. He is a wonderful actor and sooooo good looking. Please come back to CI! Faith

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Vincent D’Onofrio to leave Law & Order: CSI

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