Confirmed, Chris Noth Leaving
"Sex and the City" star Chris Noth is done with "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
Sources tell me Noth is leaving the series he's been with for five seasons, splitting leading-role duties with Vincent D'Onofrio. His replacement will be Jeff Goldblum, who comes to TV from a long film career that includes "The Fly" and "Independence Day."
Noth, as Detective Mike Logan, was a member of the original "Law and Order" cast when it started 18 years ago. He left the show, returned, and then joined "Criminal Intent" originally opposite Annabella Sciorra in 2005 after pumping up his career considerably as Mr. Big in the HBO series "Sex and the City."
But "Criminal Intent" has had ratings problems, and now airs first on the USA Networks, owned by NBC, and then the parent network. For the coming season, I'm told, Noth was asked to take a pay freeze instead of an increase. But with "Sex and the City" booming at the box office, he decided it was time to go.
Noth shouldn't have any problem getting work. He's already made the transition to films. Noth is shooting the romantic comedy "My One and Only" with Renee Zellweger.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,372201,00.html