Fans might be disappointed about Shemar Moore's exit from Criminal Minds, but the actor has his reasons and in a recent interview he revealed that he wasn't exactly severing ties with the show.

Moore, who plays Derek Morgan, suggested that he would actually love to come back to the CBS crime thriller, albeit in the role of a guest star or perhaps a recurring role.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Moore compared his relationship to Criminal Minds with that of The Young and Restless.

"I went back for two episodes [on The Young and the Restless during Criminal Minds] and I would have done it for free - and the same goes with Criminal Minds. If they'll let me come in and play for a while, yes. I'd love to come back."

Meanwhile, Moore is really just looking to move forward with his acting career or as he puts it, taking that big leap and leaving necessary.

"They knew I was getting itchy and that I wanted to take the jump. I wasn't mad, but my creative juices [weren't flowing]," he said. "Erica promised me she'd take care of me and Derek, ... and my final hurrah, I got challenged as an actor, and Erica gave me such a beautiful sendoff. It's a culmination of everything we all brought to life and what Derek earned - all in 43 minutes."

In another recent interview with TVLine, Moore reiterated his love of acting while speaking about his decision to leave the show, revealing that although he didn't get to write and direct like the other cast members, his core strength had always been acting and he felt it was time to move on for his growth as an actor.

"I didn't direct, I didn't write, but I grew, and I'm leaving because I want to continue to grow as an actor," Moore said. "I'm leaving to see what else I'm capable of."

The latest episode, 'A Beautiful Disaster' aired on March 23 on CBS.

Watch the preview:

Tags
Criminal Minds, CBS, Television