NCIS NEW ORLEANS fans were sad to see Sonja Percy go. But why did the actor really leave?
NCIS New Orleans will be returning soon for another season of the hit show but one star who will not be appearing is Sonja Percy (played by Shalita Grant). In fact, it has now been announced the star will be appearing in the third season of the Netflix hit YOU. Ahead of her debut in the sereis, Express.co.uk has all you need to know about why she quit NCIS New Orleans.
Why did Shalita Grant really leave NCIS New Orleans?
Percy was first introduced to the NCIS team back in 2015 as an agent for the New Orleans field office.
She made her debut in the season one episode More Now before she joined the show as a series regular in the second season.
Fans will remember her for her no-nonsense attitude and instant screen chemistry with Agent LaSalle (Lucas Black).
In total, she went on to appear in 59 episodes of the popular procedural before she left in episode 19 of season four.
This came as she left the NCIS team behind to join the FBI as an agent.
Initially turning down the offer, it was a near-death experience which then pushed her to leave the unit.
At the time many viewers were left wondering what was behind her exit from the show.
However, her manager Didi Rea told Variety the decision was amicable and simply driven by wanting a change.
She said: “It’s just time for a change. This is about moving on to the next great thing.”
According to Deadline, her exit was mutually agreed upon by the actor and the show’s producers.
Given her exit just saw her leave for another post rather than be killed off, there is still some hope she could come back for a cameo one day.
However, without her partner-in-crime LaSalle, it does not look like this could happen.
This is because LaSalle was killed off in the show earlier in season six in a dramatic storyline.
Since starring in NCIS, actor Shalita Grant went on to star in Santa Clarita Diet as Agent Tess Rogers for six episodes.
As well as this, she also founded her own business called Four Naturals, following her time on television.
The company aims to help women with type four hair with a treatment plan, which she started after finding her hair mistreated on sets.
As well as this, the Juilliard graduate is known for appearing as Aurelia Johnson in Mercy Street.
Other roles include playing Andie Roberts in Bones, Olivia in Battle Creek and Evita Freeman in Melissa and Joey.
While it does not look like the actor will be returning to NCIS anytime soon, the show has just been renewed for its seventh season.
This came from CBS after another successful series on the network despite it being cut short after the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19.
Season seven is expected to be released later this year and will see Scott Bakula back as Dwayne Pride.
He will be joined once again by Rob Kerkovich, CCH Pounder, Vanessa Ferlito and Daryl Mitchell.
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