why did damian lewis leave billions

Damian Lewis left the TV show "Billions" after season 5 because his contract ended and he wanted to spend more time with his family in England. This departure was part of a long-standing plan, and Lewis felt that his character Bobby Axelrod's story arc was complete. While the passing of his wife, actress Helen McCrory, was not the deciding factor, it happened around that time and influenced his focus on family. His exit impacted season 6 of the show, which received negative reviews partly due to his absence. However, Damian Lewis returned in season 7 to conclude his character's storyline.