Culture

The actor behind one of the most pivotal 'Silicon Valley' characters is suddenly leaving

tj miller silicon valley hbo
T.J. Miller as the incubator founder Erlich Bachman on "Silicon Valley." John P. Johnson/HBO
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T.J. Miller, who plays startup incubator Erlich Bachman on the HBO comedy "Silicon Valley," is leaving the show after the current fourth season.

"The producers of 'Silicon Valley' and T.J. Miller have mutually agreed that T.J. will not return for season five," HBO told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement Thursday. "In Erlich Bachman, T.J. has brought to life an unforgettable character, and while his presence on the show will be missed, we appreciate his contribution and look forward to future collaborations."

Miller has played Erlich Bachman since the show's first season and earned a Critics' Choice Award for the role in 2015.

Currently, the actor stars on Comedy Central's parody talk show "The Gorburger Show." He also has an HBO special, "Meticulously Ridiculous," airing June 17.

Miller, who has starred in the movies "Cloverfield" and "Deadpool," also has a full slate of movies coming out in the next year, including "The Emoji Movie," "How to Train Your Dragon 3," and potentially "Deadpool 2."

Earlier Thursday, HBO announced "Silicon Valley" had been renewed for a fifth season.

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Jethro Nededog is the former entertainment editor at INSIDER. Before that, he was the senior entertainment reporter for sister site, Business Insider. He has also served as the TV Editor for TheWrap and Celebuzz, as well as reported on television for The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times. He is a former member of the Television Critics Association (TCA), currently a member of the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA), and served for several years as a judge for the Critics Award at the New York Television Festival. He has a BA in journalism from New York University, and an MA in fiction and screenwriting from the University of Southern California.