Chevy Chase arguably “won” when Dan Harmon got fired and Pierce Hawthorne lived on for another 11 episodes in Community Season 4, but the actor’s time with the show ended there.
In addition to having Pierce Hawthorne graduate from Greendale Community College in “Advanced Introduction to Finality,” the actor also cameoed as a hologram in the Season 5 premiere, “Repilot,” and had an entire episode dedicated to his character’s off-screen death (“Cooperative Polygraphy”).
In November 2012 (which, mind you, was about four months before Season 4 started airing), it was officially announced that the Chase was leaving the show.
He didn’t exactly leave with grace, saying in an interview around the time that being a part of the sitcom was a “big mistake,” but the series showed some class.