"It's so difficult to express how one feels at a time like this," Zimmer said in a written statement to
The Press. "It's different when an actor chooses to leave for any length of time, because the comfort is in knowing that the show will always be there, but this is it for our little family as we know it and love it, and I'm in mourning! It has been a GREAT ride though! I would like to thank all our fans who have hung in there with us," Zimmer said. "I pray we will deliver to you classic GUIDING LIGHT right up to the end!"