The Kominsky Method is losing one of its stars.
Alan Arkin, who toplined the Chuck Lorre comedy alongside Michael Douglas, will not return for the third and final season of the Netflix series. The Emmy-nominated actor made the decision to leave after season two dropped late last year; sources note the global pandemic did not play a role. Arkin’s absence will be written into the upcoming third season of the series.
Douglas stars in the comedy as Sandy Kominsky, an actor turned acting coach. Arkin portrayed his long-suffering agent and friend, Norman. When the comedy was picked up to series, Lorre told THR that he sent the script for the show to both actors, whom he’d long admired, never thinking that either — or both — would ever sign on.
Netflix in July officially renewed The Kominsky Method for a third and final season. An episode count and return date has not yet been determined.
Arkin is the latest lead on a Lorre-produced comedy from Warner Bros. TV to depart. Mom lead Anna Faris exited the CBS comedy earlier this month after a seven-season run. The news comes a day after Liv Tyler opted to leave her lead role on Fox’s 911: Lone Star because she did not feel safe commuting from her home in London to L.A., where the procedural shoots, during a pandemic.
Deadline was first to report the Arkin news.
