NYPD Blue is one of the most influential and popular tv series that aired on ABC, and the show ran from the early 1990s all the way to the mid-2000s. It is one hell of a police drama if you ask me. With its amazing cast, great stories, and portrayal of New York cops, the show managed to get a lot of traction and a mass fan base, as well as lots of awards.
One particular event that shocked the fans of this show was the departure of Jimmy Smits, who played Detective Bobby Simone. So, why did he leave? Was he fired? Was he fed up? Did he get a bad role? Well, we’re here to explain that, so buckle up for some tv history and trivia.
Jimmy Smits Role in NYPD Blue
Jimmy Smiths played a detective for the New York Police Department called Bobby Simone. He was nominated for multiple prime-time Emmy Awards and was a fan favorite because of his portrayal of a tough cop with a big heart. He played a calm cop who had no qualms about laying down the law on the bad guys.
In his character story arc, he falls in love with Kim Delaney’s character Detective Diane Russell. The chemistry between Simone, Russell, and his other partner, detective Denniz Franz, was the glue that held the show together all along.
Why Did Jimmy Smits Leave NYPD Blue?
NYPD Blue was a great show, with mass viewers, and in spite of that, Jimmy Smits chose to leave the show after five seasons. The reasons were a blend of career ambitions and creative differences.
A show like NYPD Blue is a long show. It has over twenty episodes per season and takes a lot of time. Smits yearned to branch out, and it’s not like he wasn’t being paid enough.
He just wanted to do something other than play the same cop all over and over. Think of what happened to Julianna Margulies after leaving ER. Well, that’s the same for Jimmy in this case.
Jimmy sometimes didn’t like the show’s creators’ direction in the way they were taking the series and his character. The plotlines, in his opinion, were repetitive, and he wanted to do something new with Bobby’s character.
Branching Out
Smits wanted something other than network television, and after his critically acclaimed work in NYPD Blue and previously in LA Law, he wanted to transition into cable tv and feature films, and he did.
Since leaving NYPD Blue, Jimmy Smits has gone on to have a successful and varied career in television, film, and theater. You can remember his work in great dramas like The West Wing (1999–2006), Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), Dexter (2009), How To Get Away With Murder (2016–2017), and Bluff City Law (2019–2020).
That’s not all, and he went into shows like The Good Wife with Julianna Margulies, he played a role in Star Wars Episode II, and most recently in Obi-Wan Kenobi. And that’s not all, because Jimmy also is a theater actor, managing to get nominated for a Tony Award for a play called “The Motherf***er with The Hat.” And even did voiceovers for documentaries and voiced acted in video games.
Also Read: Why was Jimmy Kimmel Fired from ABC? Explained
Wrapping It Up
Jimmy Smits’ five-year run on NYPD Blue established him as a beloved television actor due in part to his strong performance as Detective Bobby Simone, one that helped NYPD become the successful show that it is and inspired other police procedural shows out there.
Though he left the show for creative differences and career opportunities elsewhere, Jimmy Smits went on to have a long and varied acting career in both television and film, garnering praise from critics along the way.
His experience on NYPD Blue was undoubtedly influential in setting him up for success throughout his subsequent projects, making it a memorable chapter in his storied career. Good for Jimmy. He’s one hell of an actor and has a lot going his way.
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