Daniel Ezra Exits “All American” After Six Seasons as Lead

The popular CW show “All American” is undergoing some major changes as lead actor Daniel Ezra, who has portrayed Spencer James for six seasons, has announced his departure from the series. Ezra revealed to PEOPLE in June that he made the “difficult decision” to exit the show, stating that season 6 would serve as “Spencer’s goodbye.” His final episode as a series regular aired on July 15, marking the end of an era for the character.

Ezra explained to Entertainment Weekly that he felt it was time to move on because they had “completed the mission as far as Spencer’s story.” He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play such a transformative role, saying, “For me, the goal was always to take this broken teenager, put him back together, and then turn him into a man. We’ve done that. He accomplished his dreams. He’s gotten to a place where he’s able to give back to his community. He’s done literally everything he set out to do.”

While Ezra’s departure may come as a surprise to some fans, he reassured that he would return to the show as a guest star in the future. He also shared his excitement for the new direction the series will take with fresh faces and storylines, stating, “I think it’s safe to say there’s going to be new people to fall in love with, a new generation to follow.”

Executive producer Nkechi Okoro Carroll praised Ezra’s contribution to the show, calling him “a gift” and expressing gratitude for his dedication to the character of Spencer James. Carroll also hinted at exciting developments in the upcoming season, promising that Ezra would still play a significant role in the “All American” family.

Ezra’s departure is not the only major cast shakeup in the series, as longtime cast member Taye Diggs also exited the show last year. Despite these changes, fans can still catch up on seasons 1-5 of “All American” on Netflix and stay tuned for the latest updates on the show’s future.