First Emmy Rossum & now Cameron Monaghan. The actor has announced that he’s leaving Showtime’s Shameless.
“The next episode will be my last,” Monaghan wrote Monday on his verified Instagram account. “I have known since last year, but I didn’t want to give it away too early as I wanted this season to be a surprise for the audience, allowing them to experience Ian’s unsure journey with his character. This role has been a joy to inhabit, a wild and special ride, and I’d like to thank #Shameless as well as you, the viewers, for being there with him. Goodbye, Ian Clayton Gallagher. We’ll meet again?”
In the current ninth season of Shameless, Monaghan’s Ian — who like his mother, is bipolar — most recently entered an insanity plea as he fights for his freedom as he faces 10 to 15 years in jail after leading a religious uprising in which he was known as “Gay Jesus.” His character’s fate is slated to be revealed in the October 14 episode of the series.
Monaghan becomes the second series regular to leave Shameless this season, joining Emmy Rossum (who plays eldest Gallagher, Fiona). Monaghan’s statement implies that he’d be open to returning to Shameless, which is something creator John Wells hopes Rossum will do at some point as well. For his part, showrunner Wells had to adjust episodes 13 and 14 of season nine to address Rossum’s exit, which had been something the actress had been debating for a while. While Showtime has yet to announce a 10th season renewal for Shameless, Wells has said that there are “a lot more Gallagher stories to tell” as he hopes the series continues for multiple seasons to come.”
