Private Practice's Tim Daly Not Returning for Season 6

Sad news for Private Practicefans: Tim Daly will not return for the sixth season of the ABC medical drama, TVGuide.com has confirmed.

Daly's Pete Wilder was last seen being released on bail after the mercy killing of one of his patients. It was especially bad timing considering Violet (Amy Brenneman) had finally decided that she still wanted to fight for her troubled relationship with Pete. Since Daly won't be returning, we can only assume Pete's headed to the slammer for good. There's no word yet on whether Daly — an original cast member since the backdoor pilot aired during Grey's Anatomyin 2007 — will return for any episodes to wrap up his story line.

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Daly first tweeted the news on Tuesday night. "Wonderful fans of PPP. [Creator] Shonda [Rhimes] informed my agent today that Pete won't be returning for season 6. It was a great 5 yrs. R.I.P. Pete Wilder."

When TVGuide.com was on the set in January before Private Practice's move to Tuesdays, Daly seemed ready to say goodbye if the show was not renewed for a sixth season. "I'd be fine," he said. "I feel like I've learned something about myself doing this, which is that being part of a large ensemble is not what I'm best suited to. The people are lovely and I've had a wonderful time doing this show, but it's not where I feel most comfortable. If we do another season, I'll be happy to be here and I'll dig in and give it everything I've got. If not, then I will go off and go to New York and do some theater and find my way to whatever is next for me."

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Private Practice will return in its Tuesday timeslot this fall, though for how many episodes is still unclear — some reports say 13, but ABC declined to comment.

Will you miss Daly on Private Practice?