Another 'Shameless' actor leaving show, this week's episode their last
Another Gallagher is saying goodbye
Another Gallagher is saying goodbye
Another Gallagher is saying goodbye
It's been over a month since "," after nine seasons on the show as the eldest Gallagher kid, Fiona. As it turns out, she's not the only one leaving; Cameron Monaghan, who plays the third-oldest Gallagher kid, Ian, is also making his exit.
Monaghan made the announcement Tuesday with a sentimental Instagram post. "I have been a series regular on this show for roughly ten years. I was the tender age of fifteen when we shot the pilot, and I came of age in so many ways, both legally and personally," he wrote.
"The next episode will be my last. I have known since last year, but I didn’t want to give it away too early as I wanted this season to be a surprise for the audience, allowing them to experience Ian’s unsure journey with his character."
Monaghan is leaving just after the series hit the three digit mark. "We've gotten to do 100 episodes of this thing that we love doing and that we care about," he told . "It's this strange mix of comedy and drama and everything we didn’t know if people were going to like, and the fact that they continue to like it and the audience has continued to grow over the course of 100 hour-long stories is pretty phenomenal."
Monaghan's character, Ian, has gone through a lot over the years — coming to terms with his sexuality, illegally enlisting in the Army, going through his bipolar disorder issues and leading And in the next episode, the sixth of this season, all loose ends for the character's narrative arc will be tied up neatly — or as neatly as is possible for a family as messy as the Gallaghers.
"This role has been a joy to inhabit, a wild and special ride, and I’d like to thank as well as you, the viewers, for being there with him," Monaghan wrote. "Goodbye, Ian Clayton Gallagher. We’ll meet again?"
"Shameless" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. (EST) on Showtime.