When Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgewick) leaves The Closer, she won’t be the only one saying goodbye. Though many of Sedgewick’s castmates will be returning for the Major Crimes spin-off, Corey Reynolds isn’t one of them.
Deadline reports that Reynolds declined the offer to return as Sgt. David Gabriel and has instead signed a talent holding deal with NBC.
A native of Richmond, Reynolds was primarily known for his work in musical theatre prior to his seven seasons on The Closer. The actor performed in touring productions of Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Saturday Night Fever before originating the role of Seaweed in Hairspray on Broadway. He was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for the role.
On television, he’s guested on procedurals like NCIS, CSI: Miami, Without a Trace, and Simon Baker’s pre-Mentalistshow, The Guardian.
It’s not known if Reynold’s NBC deal will preclude him for making guest appearances on the Closer spin-off. Starring Mary McDonnell, Major Crimes will be set-up in the final episodes of The Closer and has already been picked up for a 10 episode first season. It’s not yet known when TNT will begin airing them.
What do you think? Are you going to watch Major Crimes? Will you miss seeing Reynolds with the rest of the cast?
Image courtesy TNT.
Yes I will miss the Closer I didn’t know it was going off the air, Reynolds was awesome on the show, I enjoyed the chemistry he and the Lady who played the chief, wherever he goes I know he will do well. I wish him the best and will find the show he will play on and see if I like it.
I liked the entire cast, but when an actor starts a show they should finish it, not just bail out, I really like kyra, but when you have all those people depending on you for their jobs you shouldn’t just quit, it was a big hit and I always thought if you start a show you should go until it’s cancelled by the network, that’s just loyalty. I know the crew will go to the next show major crimes but still will that show make it without kyra, fritz the mom and dad, I guess we’ll have to wait and… Read more »
Love the show! Never miss an episode. Will miss Kyra and Corey. However, Mary McDonnell’s character has been evolving into quite a strong and brilliant personality. She has covered this with what appears to be a narrow minded and ditzey persona. She has been slowly showing who she will become. Remember Brenda Leigh hid her brilliance and astuteness for the job behind her very misleading southern charm. I believe it is time for a change.
Oh my goodness, I just heard that Kyra was leaving, and I am sooo disappointed. I record every episode, reruns included. I just love this show. Please, isn’t there anything we can do to make her stay??? the rest of the cast is awesome and they make this show real and personal. Kyra is so classy and I love the fact that she is brilliant and so feminine. Darn it, I wish she wasn’t leaving!
I have watched the closer from the start and think Brenda Leigh Johnson is the best. Great cast compliments eachother. I will certainly watch Major Crimes…..Mary McDonnell is a strong addition to the closer and will do well in the Major Crimes….Hope to see Kyra Sedgwick Bacon on Tv or movies…she’s a great strong character actor.
This has been one of the my favorite shows – serious, humorous, touching, etc. Best of all it’s written for baby boomers. I am looking forward to the next season and hope the transition to Major Crimes is successful. I like how they are changing Mary McDonnell’s character.
It stands to reason I have found a TV show I can relate to and now it’s being cancelled. I don’t watch much TV because most of it can not be related to. Very few things are actually funny when they’re supposed to be, and very few things are real (especially cop shows; I only know because that was my career so I end up critiqueing the whole show). It’s a shame it’s been decided to cancel The Closer. I tape the show because it’s that good, and I can’t wait to get home and watch it. I sit and… Read more »
I love this show from the time it started until the very end which I wish would not happen. Besides greats like Law and Order, CSI, and a few others, this show is the number one bestest in the televison land. Kyra is a prime actress, and the men and women on the show are the best. I love Mary as well, have seen her in many roles, just as good. I love Tony, Corey, all of the guys. I love the husband of Kyra tv hubby. Will miss, and pray the next chapter survives. It is hard to have… Read more »
Mary McDonnell is an amazing actress! I think it’s great the producers have decided to give her a chance to continue with her character of Captain Sharon Raydor. Can’t wait for the show to start!
I don’t think that I would like Mary McDonnell ‘s character even if they gift wrapped and put a bow on her. The real glue of the show is Kyra Sedgwick. There will be some initial curiosity about the show, even from me, then it will slowly start to fall apart. I understand leaving while you are on top, but I do wish that “Brenda” was going to stay for a couple of more seasons. She’s the reason that the show is so popular.
Reynolds will really be missed !!! He deserved an Emmy nomination for his work on the show, and is the best actor of the supporting cast.
Meanwhile, I am excited for the spin-off. I think TNT realized how unlikeable McDonnell’s character has been. I noticed that she was starting to become likeable in Season 7, which is on TNT’s move. Excellent choice by TNT. I don’t think alot of people would’ve watched the spin-off had they kept McDonnell’s character the way she was.
It is a pity that so much talent will be “albatrossed” by McDonnell as Captain Raydor!
She’s unlikeable as every character I’ve ever seen her do. Without Kyra Sedgewick as a positive, McDonnell is too repellant a negative!
Mary McDonnell has this amazing ability to be divisive in her roles – whether on the Closer or Battlestar Galactica. She manages to annoy you and make you root for her at the same time – and it’s that same dramatic tension that will make me watch Major Crimes.
As far as Corey Reynolds goes, while I enjoy his character immensely on the Closer, he’s a fool to do ANYTHING with NBC. That whole network needs to start over.
I will have a hard time watching Mary McDonnell as the lead actress when her character was the anti-Brenda on The Closer. I just don’t think I will be able to like her if her character doesn’t change dramatically.
I love the closer the first program I have ever bither to write about,the whole cast works so well togther,I watch all the reruns and even when I know the end I still enjoy it.Kyra holds the whole show together and seems to do it without any effort.I love how she w3as able to win the whole team to ghet behind her It brings a very warm feeling to see them work together to bring a killer to their end when the closer walks in to the room, you really find it all real..the day they released the news that… Read more »