Billy Dee Williams, best known as Lando Calrissian from the "Star Wars" franchise, was sidelined by a back injury and forced to withdraw from "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday night after just three weeks of competition.
The 76-year-old did not dance Monday, instead thanking pro partner Emma Slater for her guidance during his time on the show.
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"I've had a wonderful, brilliant, fantastic blast of a time," he told "DWTS" co-host Tom Bergeron. "And working with this wonderful, beautiful young woman . . . pure joy. And I want to thank every one of you folks supporting us."
Williams later opened up to E! Online about the "tough" decision to quit the show.
"[My doctor] just said, 'Look, if you want to continue doing this, it's up to you, but my advice is just to relax this back now,'" he said. "It's chronic, it's arthritic. I made a tough choice, but it was a choice I think I needed to make."
The rest of the "DWTS" contestants were tasked with performing a routine that symbolized the most memorable year of their lives. Leading the pack with a near-perfect score of 39 was Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis. Her real-life partner Charlie White was close behind with a score of 36 and rounding out the top three was Paralympian and double amputee Amy Purdy, who also drew a 36 from the judges.
"The Price is Right" host Drew Carey and "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star NeNe Leakes brought up the rear with scores of 30 and 31, respectively.
Here's Williams' Week 2 performance:
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