Shemar Moore leaves 'Criminal Minds' 

Shemar Moore, foreground, has opted to leave "Criminal Minds."

After 11 seasons, Shemar Moore has bid farewell to his role on the CBS drama "Criminal Minds." The actor told TV Guide he was inspired to make the move after his mother gave him a card that said, "Leap and the net will appear."

"I\'ve treated my acting career like school," Moore said. " \'The Young and the Restless\': eight years. (That was) high school. \'Criminal Minds\': college. Now I\'m ready for grad school, a Ph.D., whatever you want to call it. I\'m just ready to grow. I just want to leap."

Moore played special agent Derek Morgan on the CBS series -- which also stars Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna and Kirsten Vangsness -- and was beloved by fans. Some of them took to Twitter to lament his exit from the show.

— Alyssa Biagi (@Alyssa_Biagi) March 24, 2016

No more @shemarmoore means no more @CrimMinds_CBS for this baby girl.I'll have to find another way to get my weekly dose of that man.Hints?

— Kristi Beach (@BeachKristi) March 24, 2016

the world is ending shemar Moore isn't on criminal minds anymore😭😭

— kiera marley (@kieraflynn_) March 24, 2016

Shemar Moore has apparently left Criminal Minds and I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE EMOTIONS I FEEL. #CriminalMinds #superfan

— Hillary Thomas (@HeyyHill) March 24, 2016

Noooo!!! Shemar Moore can't be leaving Criminal Minds.😫😫 #Devastated

— Heather McCulley (@Ms_Culley) March 24, 2016

@shemarmoore Thanks for 11 great seasons of @CrimMinds_CBS. You did the damn thing. Good luck as you move forward, man. #MuchRespect

— Robert People (@PeoplesCourt79) March 24, 2016

Viewers may not have to miss him forever. Moore said he is open to returning for appearances.

"This business is all about politics, so I\'m not promising anything," he said. "But from a creative place, from a passionate place, if I\'m asked intermittently to come back like they did at \'The Young and the Restless,\' from my heart, the answer is yes, yes, yes, yes."

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