Yellow-tinted lenses. A dramatic tilt of the head. That one-liner you can still hear perfectly in your mind, followed by a screaming The Who riff. Basically, for ten years, David Caruso’s sunglasses were the most famous accessories on television. But when the dust settled on the South Beach crime scenes in 2012, the cast of CSI Miami didn't just fade into the background. Some pivoted to high-stakes art deals, others became the backbone of new TV empires, and one even ended up teaching emotional intelligence in state prisons.
Honestly, the behind-the-scenes drama was often as intense as the cases they were solving.
David Caruso: The Man Behind the Shades
Everyone wants to know what happened to David Caruso. After playing Lieutenant Horatio Caine for 232 episodes, the guy just... vanished. You won’t find him in a Marvel cameo or a gritty Netflix reboot.
Caruso is actually retired. Like, fully retired from the screen.
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After CSI: Miami got the axe, he walked away from Hollywood to focus on the art world and business. He founded DavidCarusoTelevision.tv and LexiconDigital.tv, and he even co-owned a clothing store called Steam on Sunset in South Miami. There’s always been this lingering reputation of him being "difficult"—Stephen Bochco, who worked with him on NYPD Blue, famously called his behavior "cancerous"—but for the Miami crew, he was the undisputed face of the franchise. Today, he’s mostly living a quiet life, occasionally popping up in a paparazzi photo that sends the internet into a "where are they now" frenzy.
The Mystery of Megan Donner (Kim Delaney)
You might forget that Emily Procter wasn’t the original female lead. In the first ten episodes, Kim Delaney was the big name alongside Caruso, playing Megan Donner. Then, she was just gone.
What really happened? It came down to a total lack of chemistry.
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The producers were desperate to recreate the spark that Gil Grissom and Catherine Willows had in the original Vegas show. Between Caruso and Delaney, however, it just didn't click. CBS basically said the character was becoming "less integral," and Delaney was written out. Not long after, she checked into rehab for alcohol issues, a struggle that has surfaced in the news again as recently as 2025 and 2026. Her exit was actually a massive break for Emily Procter, whose character, Calleigh Duquesne, was bumped up to the leading lady slot.
Where the Rest of the Team Landed
If you’ve watched any procedural in the last decade, you’ve definitely seen Adam Rodriguez. He played Eric Delko, the fingerprint expert who survived more near-death experiences than anyone should. Rodriguez actually left the show in Season 8 because of a contract dispute—he wanted to write and direct, and CBS wasn't biting initially. Fans went nuts. They were so vocal that the network eventually caved, bringing him back for Season 9 and giving him those creative credits he wanted. Now, he’s a staple on Criminal Minds as Luke Alvez.
Then there's Emily Procter. She was the "Bullet Girl," the Southern belle with a Glock. After the show ended, she didn't jump into another long-term series. Instead, she took a wild turn into activism. She founded a nonprofit called Ground Breakers that works with children and incarcerated parents to teach conflict resolution. Sorta different from ballistics, right?
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The Forensic Favorites
The supporting cast was really where the show found its heart.
- Jonathan Togo (Ryan Wolfe): Togo joined as the "new guy" after Rory Cochrane (Speedle) asked to be written off because the grind of TV was too much. Togo stayed until the end and has since done theater and guest spots on shows like Lucifer.
- Khandi Alexander (Alexx Woods): The coroner who talked to the bodies. She left in Season 6 to do Treme on HBO. Honestly, her departure felt like the show lost its soul.
- Rex Linn (Frank Tripp): The "only real cop on the show," according to Linn. He’s been working steadily ever since, most recently showing up in Young Sheldon.
Why the Show Still Matters
Rewatching CSI: Miami in 2026 is a trip. It was the peak of "Blue Filter" and "Orange Filter" cinematography. It was loud, it was flashy, and it never took itself too seriously. People still search for the cast of CSI Miami because the chemistry (well, mostly) worked. Even with the revolving door of lab techs and medical examiners, that core group felt like a family.
If you're looking for a deep dive into how TV has changed, just look at the budgets. By the end, Miami was costing a fortune to produce, which is why CBS finally pulled the plug despite decent ratings. It was a victim of its own high-gloss production values.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can actually catch the spirit of the show in the 2024 revival The Real CSI: Miami, which is a true-crime take on the franchise. While the original actors aren't there, the influence of Horatio Caine’s Miami-Dade Crime Lab is everywhere. You can also track down Adam Rodriguez's directorial episodes from Season 9 and 10 to see how he transitioned from acting to behind-the-camera work.