USA rep: Noth leaving 'Criminal Intent'

New York -- A representative for the USA network has confirmed to Usmagazine.com that Chris Noth will not be back for the eighth season of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Noth previously played Detective Mike Logan on the flagship series "Law & Order" and has been reprising that role on the spin-off "Criminal Intent" since 2005. He is also known for playing Mr. Big on the HBO comedy series "Sex and the City" and its big-screen follow-up.

While promoting the "Sex and the City" film in New York this spring, Noth said of working on "Criminal Intent," "I think we're doing some of the most powerful stories since my first year on 'Law & Order.' That said, the work itself is difficult. Because it's not based on character, it's based on pushing a story and a plot and you try to infuse a little character along the way … I'm lucky because people know my character from how I created Logan."

Jeff Goldblum is to join the "Criminal Intent" cast this fall, Usmagazine.com said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.