Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Eko was a key character on Lost. Played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, he brought in around $30,000 per episode and was originally supposed to be on the show for four seasons. The actor asked to be let out of his contract after tragedy struck his family. Both of Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s parents died not too long after the show began filming, leaving him devastated and desperate to get back to England to support his family.

Producers had no choice but to let him off the island to go and tend to his family members. They even asked him to reprise his role as a guest star on Lost’s finale, but he decline that offer. It’s possible that if tragedy hadn’t knocked at the actor’s door, he likely would’ve finished up the full four seasons and become a real fan favorite.