In the wake of last week’s good news regarding William Petersen’s renewal with CSI for one more year, another departure from the show is in store.
Gary Dourdan, the handsome face of Warrick Brown and an original CSI cast member, will be making his exit from the Las Vegas forensics crime lab.
With his contract expiring next month, sources have revealed to TV Guide that Dourdan will be leaving, although CBS has declined to confirm or deny the claims.
Meanwhile producers are in the process of finding a new token stud with the "handsome, smart and athletic" 20- to 30-something Ray Santoro. The character will join the Las Vegas CSI graveyard shift after transferring from Henderson.
Petersen renewed his reported $600,000 per episode deal with the show for a ninth season last week, while Marg Helgenberger and George Eads are expected to ink their new contracts as well.
As for Dourdan, he is the second actor to leave the show this season – Jorja Fox ended her CSI stint as Sara Sidle in November. The Season 8 finale of CSI airs May 15, and it’s unknown when Dourdan will make his final appearance.
