The Heiress Star Dan Stevens Will Not Return to "Downton Abbey" for Fourth Season

By Michael Gioia
December 26, 2012

Dan Stevens, the star of "Downton Abbey" who made his Broadway debut this season in The Heiress, will not return to the popular television series for the show's fourth season, according to Deadline.com.

"Downton Abbey," which features Stevens as Matthew Crawley, ended its third season on the U.K.'s ITV in November. A Christmas special that aired last night in the U.K. explained the character's exit.

The third season of "Downton Abbey" will begin airing Jan. 6, 2013, in the U.S. on PBS, and the fourth season will begin shooting in the U.K. this winter.

Read the Playbill Stage to Screens column with Stevens, who talks about "Downton Abbey" and The Heiress.