WGRZ-TV morning co-anchor John Beard will be ending his second career in Buffalo when he leaves the NBC affiliate at the end of the year.

Beard has been off for a few days at the start of the November sweeps, which prompted unfounded speculation that he already has left the station.

Beard was initially on vacation on the West Coast and called in sick for a few days late last week after he returned. He returned to “Daybreak” Tuesday morning alongside co-anchor Melissa Holmes.

However, he won’t be long for the morning grind on “Daybreak,” the No. 1 morning program in Western New York.

Channel 2 General Manager Jim Toellner confirmed Monday that he has informed the station’s staff that Beard plans to leave at the end of 2016 after seven years at the station. It was not a surprise to Beard's friends since he has been talking about leaving for more than a year and had to be talked out of it earlier.

His departure will come about the same time as his good friend, Channel 2 weather anchor Kevin O’Connell, is expected to retire, and almost four years after another good friend, former Channel 2 sports director Ed Kilgore, left the station to work for one of the companies owned by Terry Pegula, the owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

In an email to the staff, Toellner noted that “Daybreak” has been No. 1 in the mornings in every ratings period throughout Beard’s years at the station.

“John has been a tremendous anchor there in every situation,” wrote Toellner. “He brings the gravitas for the serious heavy news and the wry sense of humor for the countless smiles ‘Daybreak’ brings us.”

Toellner added that Beard plans to write a couple of books, do voice work "and finish his challenging acting role (playing himself) in the final season of ‘Arrested Development.' "

“He also says he ‘plans to sleep all night, every night,’ ” wrote Toellner. “Mornings here sure won’t be the same without him.”

Beard, who joined WGRZ in 2009 after leaving an anchor job in Los Angeles more than a year earlier, plans to return to Los Angeles after he leaves Buffalo.

Beard, who is 68, had a second Buffalo career at WGRZ. He had been an anchor at WIVB-TV (Channel 4) in the late 1970s and early 1980s before becoming a big-time anchor at stations in Los Angeles. He also famously appeared in episodes of a few Fox programs besides "Arrested Development.”

The station already is advertising for his replacement. Pete Gallivan, who Beard replaced on “Daybreak,” is a logical candidate for the job. He has been the primary fill-in during Beard's numerous vacations.

The advertisement for the TEGNA station notes that it “is looking for a creative, engaging, entertaining morning anchor to join our news team.”

email: apergament@buffnews.com