Justin Chatwin, who played the love interest for Emmy Rossum’s character on the Showtime comedy Shameless, is leaving the show. The news was confirmed by producer John Wells and the network.
Showtime did say that Chatwin, whose character Jimmy was secretly married to a drug boss’ daughter while trying to live with Rossum’s Fiona character, might be back for one or two episodes during the show’s fourth season, notes The Hollywood Reporter.
Wells broke the news himself during a TV Academy Emmy panel Tuesday night in Los Angeles. “He has done great work, but that character was coming to an end,” Wells said, reports TV Guide. Rossum called his departure “incredibly emotional, like losing a part of your family. I shed a couple of tears in my trailer.”
When asked how this will affect Fiona, Wells replied, “Hopefully in a really compelling and interesting way, but we just started working on next year with the writers, so we don't know yet.”
Shameless saw its ratings go up during the third season and will be back in January 2014.
image: CBS/Showtime