Why did Lasalle leave NCIS: New Orleans? Lucas Black's exit, explored

Among the widely watched shows from the NCIS series was NCIS: New Orleans, which introduced audiences to a new group of special agents, operating in New Orleans, Louisiana. Similar to the main theme of the flagship series, this television show also dealt with fighting crime especially those related to Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

At the center of the team was Supervisory Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride (played by Scott Bakula), renowned for his leadership abilities. NCIS: New Orleans, however, was not all about the special agents since it also featured forensic experts, and analysts to help crack tough cases.

Part of the team's initial lineup was Christopher LaSalle, whose role was taken by actor Lucas Black. LaSalle's commitment, investigative nature, and deep-rooted Southern appeal endeared him to fans, which is why his departure wasn't well accepted by many of them.

It was during NCIS: Season 6 that LaSalle was written out of the series because Lucas Black desired to focus more on his family life. The intense shooting schedule did not allow the actor enough time with his family, eventually resulting in his official exit.

Continue reading to learn more about the character and how Lucas Black addressed his departure.

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How Christopher LaSalle was written off from NCIS: New Orleans?

Being a part of the main team, Lucas Black's Christopher LaSalle was introduced right from the first episode of NCIS: New Orleans on CBS. While he was an active field agent, most of LaSalle's journey in Season 1 revolved around his quest to find his missing brother Cade.

LaSalle received several tips about Cade's whereabouts like once he tracked him down in another town, where Cade used to work. Meanwhile, Cade had changed his last name to Lambert, making LaSalle's search even more complex.

However, the NCIS database proved quite helpful to LaSalle as he was finally able to reunite with his long-lost brother. They gradually formed a strong camaraderie, but later in NCIS: New Orleans Season 6, Cade was found dead in Mobile, Alabama.

Also Read: Why did Jessica Knight leave NCIS? Reasons explored

Following his brother's tragic fate, La Salle is filled with rage and sets out to avenge Cade Lambert’s death. The field agent suspected Alabaman's drug ring was responsible for the tragedy, but little did anyone know that LaSalle would be shot during his mission.

As seen in Season 6 Episode 6 Matthew 5:9, one of the Alabaman drug ring's members fired at LaSalle, causing him fatal injuries. He was then rushed to the hospital where LaSalle regained consciousness but only for a few minutes.

His condition worsened and the doctors couldn't stop the bleeding from his wounds. As a result, Christopher LaSalle met his untimely death, leaving his team members especially Pride in shock.

This way, Black's character was written off from NCIS: New Orleans and it had a noticeable impact on the viewership. Fans were upset due to LaSalle's absence and gradually the CBS drama saw a decline in views. The show was then canceled after Season 7, with low viewership being one of the major reasons.

Also Read: Why did Pauley Perrette leave NCIS? Reasons behind the actor's exit from the show, explored

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What did Lucas Black say about his departure from NCIS: New Orleans

Lucas Black's departure from NCIS: New Orleans marked the end of an era for the CBS drama lovers. However, the actor wanted to spend more time with his wife and kids.

As previously mentioned, Black had to follow a strict filming schedule due to which he often had to leave before his kids woke up for school. Not only this, the actor also explained in an interview that he worked for 70 hours a week (via Fox News):

"I think going into the series I realized that the way it operates, it wasn’t gonna last forever for me... Most of the time that’s because you’re away from home for a long time and the working hours are very long… For three years, it was normal to work 70 hours a week."

He added:

"The show was good to us. We had a good time. It was a good run, and we sacrificed a lot of family time. But at some point, enough was enough. It was time for us to… take back a lot of that time and spend that quality time with each other that was sacrificed for six years."

Lucas Black explained that his castmates were supportive and understood his decision to prioritize family over work. Additionally, Black made numerous memories with his cast and the team of NCIS: New Orleans and even mentioned the time spent with Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly.

The actor often shares his life updates on his social media, notably Instagram, sharing memories and engaging videos.

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Also Read: What happened to Agent Barrett from NCIS? Character's exit explored in depth

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