D'Onofrio to leave "Law and Order"

Actor Vincent D'Onofrio is leaving "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" at the beginning of the show's upcoming ninth season.

According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, "According to ‘Law & Order' creator/executive producer Dick Wolf, D'Onofrio will appear in a two-part opener of season nine that will serve as his hand-off to Jeff Goldblum.'"

D'Onofrio has played the role of Detective Robert Goren on the series since its debut in 2001. The USA Network confirmed D'Onofrio's departure on Friday.

"(D'Onofrio) has decided to transition out of the idiosyncratic role he created to explore new acting challenges in film and television," the network said.

D'Onofrio's previous film credits include starring opposite Will Smith in the 1997 action comedy "Men in Black" and opposite Jennifer Lopez in the 2000 thriller "The Cell."

Wolf credits D'Onofrio with making the show the success it has been for eight seasons and noted tha his character as one of the "great detectives in the history of television."

The HollywoodReporter.com article goes on to mention that the loss of D'Onofrio is part a major casting overhaul of the show, "He [D'Onofrio] is one of four regulars on the show, along with Kathryn Erbe, Eric Bogosian and Julianne Nicholson, leaving. New mom Nicholson is being replaced by Saffron Burrows."

But, D'Onofrio has left the door open for Detective Goren to return to the show for guest starring stints.

"After eight seasons, and with the addition of Jeff Goldblum, now is the perfect time for me to explore other acting opportunities and I leave the show knowing it is in great hands with Jeff," he said.