Scott Patterson Leaves ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’—What He Said About His Exit Will Surprise You

The ‘Gilmore Girls’ star reveals the real reason behind his exit—and it’s not what you think

As we anticipate Season 4 of Sullivan’s Crossing, folks are reeling over the recently announced departure of beloved character Sully, portrayed by Scott Patterson. The actor, known by most for his role as Luke in Gilmore Girls, originated the part of Sully back in 2023—but just a few weeks ago, it was announced that he would no longer be taking part in the series. Here, read all about the upcoming season, his departure from the show and what the cast and crew have said about his exit.

What is ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ about?

Based on the novels by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing follows the story of Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan), a neurosurgeon who finds herself in some legal hot water and retreats to her Nova Scotia hometown. While there, she reconnects with her dad, Sully, who runs the campground, Sullivan’s Crossing, as well as a few faces from her past. In the upcoming Season 4, much has changed since her first reunion with Sullivan’s Crossing, as it’s now the place she calls home alongside Cal (Chad Michael Murray). However, things get complicated for her when Liam (Marcus Rosner), Maggie’s ex-husband arrives.

Is Scott Patterson leaving ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’?

While fans can expect to see familiar faces like Morgan Kohan and Chad Michael Murray back on screens in Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4, Scott Patterson, who plays Maggie’s dad Sully, will not be making his return—and his comments about his exit reveal a bit of tension.

In early March, Roma Roth, the showrunner and executive producer of Sullivan’s Crossing, shed light on Sully’s exit to Us Weekly. “Season 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, beginning a new chapter in his life. Season 4 picks up the next day, with Sully still overseas. While he isn’t physically present in this season, the character remains an important part of the world with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative.”

However, within a day, Patterson took to social media to share his own statement, elaborating on what led him to leave the show and clarifying that it was a personal choice rather than a creative one made by the showrunners.

“Every actor knows what it’s like to fall in love with a character and a story. I fell in love with Sully and have nothing but fondness for him. The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue. It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise.” He continued, “I really enjoyed Sully and fought for his voice and his character. The richness and depth of Sully, whom the fans of the books all know and love, is so multi-layered and interesting. The fans deserved better than to think the embodiment of this character, me, would just disrespect not only the show, but them. In the end, we’re all fans of these characters and stories, and I’ll always support and defend the truth.”

When and where to watch ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ Season 4

If you prefer to stream, there’s good news: new episodes will also be available the next day on The CW app and website, making it easy to catch up if you miss the live broadcast.

And if you’re planning a binge before the premiere, Seasons 1–3 are currently streaming on platforms like Netflix and The CW, so you can revisit Maggie and Cal’s story—or start fresh—before the new drama unfolds