Susan Dey Leaves ‘Love & War,’ Cites ‘Creative Differences’

Susan Dey will be leaving the CBS series “Love & War” after this season, but decisions regarding the future of the romantic comedy have been put on hold, a spokeswoman for the show said Wednesday.

Independent producers Diane English and Joel Shukovsky, with whom Dey cited “creative differences that could not be resolved,” are on vacation and then will be heading to France for a television convention.

English relayed a message through her publicist that the writers will meet in a couple of weeks when she returns to determine the direction of “Love & War,” which co-stars Jay Thomas as an abrasive newspaper columnist in love with Dey’s uptown, upscale restaurateur. But she denied reports that the series, loosely based on her relationship with her husband, Shukovsky, will shift its focus to other characters in the series.

“Love & War” has emerged as a solid series on the rise for CBS, airing Monday nights after the hit “Murphy Brown,” which English also created. “Love & War” has finished production for the season, with original episodes scheduled to air through May.

Sources reported that Dey had been in discussions with the producers for at least two weeks because she was unhappy with her character and her financial deal. In a joint statement, Dey and the producers called the break an “amicable parting of ways.” Dey declined further comment.