Barry Watson...

[The Modfather]

Is it true that he had cancer? Is that why he left, but he's coming back in season 9 thats why I wasn't sure.

[qwerty]

He did have Hodgkins Disease but fully recovered from that. He left the show to pursue other opportunities in show business. After being diagnosed with Hodgkins the show let him become a writer for 7th Heaven since he could not actively pursue other opportunities because of the disease. He was tired of 7th Heaven and said it was time for a change. I'm not sure if he's coming back to the show because he can't find other jobs or because this is the last season for the show and he feels obligated to the show since they gave him a writers job when he was sick. I'm not sure how marketable he is for other jobs. It will be interesting to see what him and the other actors do after the show ends.