Mark Consuelos has left his role as Hiram Lodge following the “Riverdale” season 5 finale, which brings to an end his four season run with the CW series…
Hiram Lodge has left the building.
Following the “Riverdale” season 5 finale, which aired on the CW on Wednesday night, Mark Consuelos was confirmed as leaving the series after making his first appearance on the Archie Comics adaptation back in season 2.
While it’s possible that Consuelos could return for an appearance in the future, his days as a series regular have come to an end.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa for this incredible opportunity,” Consuelos said in a statement. “Never before has playing a character that was so bad, felt so good. Huge thanks to the ‘Riverdale’ fandom, to the brilliant crew and amazing cast, whom I consider dear friends and family.”
Consuelos joined the popular series back in season 2 after the character of Hiram Lodge had been teased throughout season 1 as Veronica Lodge’s powerful father, who was put away in prison while building a criminal empire.
After appearing as Hiram Lodge, Consuelos served as the primary villain on “Riverdale” for the past four seasons but the season 5 finale saw him exiled after just about everybody in town conspired to make sure his corrupt run was over. With evidence that Hiram had committed a murder on its way to the FBI, Hiram left town but not without one final act of vengeance after he set a bomb inside the home of Archie Andrews.
Consuelos becomes just the latest actor to leave “Riverdale” after several other high profile stars on the series including Skeet Ulrich and Marisol Nichols — who played Hiram’s wife on the show — left ahead of season 5.
Nichols actually returned for a couple of appearances during season 5 but none of the actors returned as series regulars.
With Consuelos gone, “Riverdale” will now pick up in the wake of his exit with a special five episode start to season 6 on November 16 on the CW.
