By Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times –
LOS ANGELES — Another exit is coming to NBC’s “Community”: Chevy Chase is leaving the tough-luck comedy.
The 69-year-old actor is leaving by a mutual agreement with the show’s producers, his representatives confirmed.
Don’t say you didn’t see it coming. Chase, who plays curmudgeon Pierce, was embroiled in a public feud with former show runner Dan Harmon, making headlines early in the year with a recorded voicemail rant and such. Harmon was later sacked from the show.
Chase came under fire again recently after he reportedly used the N-word on set while expressing his frustrations about his character’s bigoted view (he later apologized for the outburst).
The actor will appear in most of the show’s forthcoming fourth season, which will roll out Feb. 7 after much delay. However, given that his exit is effective immediately, he will not appear in the not-yet-shot final one or two episodes.
Representatives from NBC and Sony, which produces the show, did not immediately respond to comment.