Why did Cameron Monaghan leave Shameless? Ian's exit and what brought him back, explained

In Showtime’s popular dramedy Shameless, the now 31-year-old American actor and model, Cameron Riley Monaghan, played the role of Ian. Ian Gallagher, the middle sibling of the dysfunctional Gallagher family, was one of the most compelling characters in Shameless.

Ian’s tumultuous journey was both raw and gripping as he navigated his sexual identity, mental illness, and survival in Chicago’s South Side. His unstable relationship with Mickey, struggles with bipolar disorder, and unbreakable devotion to his family molded him into a complex character. And honestly, no one could have aced it better than Cameron Monaghan.

Developed by John Wells, Shameless premiered in 2011 and ended after eleven seasons in April 2021, showcasing the death of the lead character and patriarch of the Gallagher family, Frank. This Emmy-winning series managed to secure an 8.5/10 rating on IMDb and 82% on Rotten Tomatoes.

But did you know that Cameron Riley Monaghan, who played Ian Gallagher, left Shameless in October 2018 after Season 9, Episode 6 due to creative and contract factors? Well, worry not—Monaghan returned after a few months, on January 31, 2019. He renewed the contract and was onboard for Season 10, but not without some clauses.

Here is what we know about his sudden exit and his return to Showtime’s Shameless.

Why did Cameron Monaghan leave Shameless?

Cameron Monaghan’s exit from Shameless was due to a mix of creative, personal, and business reasons. Additionally, he was occupied with other projects, including Gotham, The Gilded Age, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. In an interview with reporters at the Television Critics Association (via The Hollywood Reporter), he revealed:

"I've renewed a number of times, and it got to a point where I wanted to step away for creative reasons as well as business."

It was not a sudden creative decision; Monaghan had known since 2017 that his character would be written off in the second half of Season 9. In Season 9, Ian started a chaotic fake “Gay Jesus” movement. He was arrested for felony and property damage, and sentenced to two years in prison.

The writers planned to wrap up Ian’s arc in such a way that it concluded his journey on the show. Interestingly, Ian also met his former lover, Mickey Milkovich (Noel Fisher), in jail and rekindled their romance—teasing a positive end for his character. Thus, this was the supposed end of Monaghan’s role in Shameless, which he played for almost a decade.

However, following his brief exit, in January 2019, Monaghan signed a one-year contract and returned to the dramedy series.

What brought Cameron Monaghan back to Shameless?

Despite his exit on October 8, 2018, Monaghan’s absence was short-lived. After four months, in January 2019, he signed a one-year contract to appear as a regular in Shameless Season 10. The decision came after several negotiations with showrunner John Wells, who tweaked some storylines for Monaghan. A key factor was the opportunity to further explore the fan-favourite Ian and Mickey relationship. In an interview with reporters at the Television Critics Association (via The Hollywood Reporter), he revealed:

"I took some time away and talked to the showrunner John Wells about possible things we could do with the character in the future, and we went to a place both creatively and financially where I felt comfortable coming back."

Additionally, Monaghan quite liked Ian’s post-prison arc. He said:

"Now that we've torn him down, seeing him learn to lead the family and take care of himself would be an interesting arc"

With Emmy Rossum's departure, the show couldn’t afford to lose another important character such as Ian. Thus, Wells convinced Monaghan to return to the show and even tweaked the storyline according to his wishes.

Shameless ended after eleven seasons in April 2021, and Ian got his life together after years of instability. He married Mickey, moved out of the Gallagher home, and settled into a more stable life with hopes of embracing parenthood someday.

Not a bad life for somebody who once attempted to steal a military helicopter!

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Also read: Is Shameless leaving Netflix in 2025? Details of the Jeremy Allen White show explored

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