Actor Eric Close will reportedly not return to ABC's Nashville as a series regular for the show's upcoming fourth season.

Close has portrayed Teddy Conrad since the show's first season, and in the beginning his character was involved with the main storylines of the show because he was married to Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton), one of the main characters on the series. In subsequent seasons they have divorced, and much of Close's storyline has been devoted to Nashville politics as his character has run for mayor, and then become embroiled in one scandal after another. That led to a shocking finale for Teddy at the end of the show's third season earlier this year, when he was led away in handcuffs after becoming involved with a high-priced escort, then extorting a public official and embezzling funds to pay her off.

According to TV Line, executives decided the character had simply run its course as they fine-tuned the show to focus exclusively on the music business in Nashville for its upcoming season. ABC declined to comment, but TV Line's sources say that there's a strong chance Close will return for guest appearances, since his character is still tied to Rayna by their two children.

Close — whose long list of credits also includes a seven-season run as FBI agent Martin Fitzgerald on Without a Trace from 2002-2009 — is set to revive his role as attorney Travis Tanner on USA's Suits for one episode during its upcoming fifth season.

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