James Spader to leave 'The Office'

Spader to leave 'The Office'

After one season filling the void left by Steve Carell on NBC's "The Office," James Spader -- who plays Dunder Mifflin chief executive Robert California -- has asked to be released from his contract, Us Weekly reports. "James always wanted this to be a one-year arc, and he now leaves us having created one of the most enigmatic and dynamic characters in television," the show's executive producer Paul Lieberstein told Variety in a statement.