Near the end of August, Emmy Rossum announced that she would be departing Shameless at the close of the Showtime drama's ninth season, but it seems that she won't be the only long-running cast member who will be departing the series this season. Cameron Monaghan has played Ian Gallagher since the very beginning of Shameless, but the actor revealed in an emotional Instagram post earlier today that he will also be leaving the show, and not only that, but he'll be leaving even sooner than Emmy Rossum as Ian's final episode will be the one airing this coming Sunday.
"I have been a series regular on this show for roughly ten years. I was the tender age of fifteen when we shot the pilot, and I came of age in so many ways, both legally and personally," Monaghan said in his Instagram post. "I was very lucky to mature and grow with this show. Experiencing so many firsts, maturing as an actor, a professional, and a human. In the process gaining friends, family, and the best coworkers a very lucky actor could ask for, and for this I can be nothing but gracious. All good things come to an end. An old cliche, but one that rings true with a sincerity and clarity especially in moments like these. Everything ends." You can read the rest of Cameron Monaghan's Instagram post below.
Although Shameless is certainly an ensemble series, it does feel like a huge blow to lose two main members of the Gallagher family in a single season. Showtime has indicated that the series will continue, but I can't help but think that this would have been a perfect moment to wrap everything up. Nine years is a hell of a run. What do you folks think? Will Shameless be able to survive the departures of Emmy Rossum and Cameron Monaghan?