Yvette Nicole Brown departs sitcom 'Community'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Yvette Nicole Brown is departing Community.

The 43-year-old actress has portrayed Shirley Bennett on five seasons of the NBC comedy, but will not return for a sixth season. Brown told TV Guide she asked to be released from her contract in order to care for her ailing father.

"My dad needs daily care and he needs me," she shared. "The idea of being away 16 hours a day for five months, I couldn't do it. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I had to choose my dad."

"I'm still Community's biggest fan and I'll still live-tweet episodes," she continued. "It's very bittersweet. I can take care of my dad, but won't be with my TV family. I don't want the fans to worry; it's going to be mine. Greendale is the heart of the show, not any particular character. Even if characters come and go, the heart of Greendale remains."

Community premiered on NBC in 2009, and ran for five seasons before being canceled in May. The series will return for a 13-episode sixth season to stream on Yahoo! Screen. Executive producerDan Harmon will remain, along with cast members Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong. Jonathan Banks is committed to AMC series Better Call Saul, and will not return.

Brown said she is open to make a guest appearance on Community in the future. The actress will next appear on CBS series Odd Couple, and also has a role on USA Network comedy Benched.