Drawing has really helped me visualize my characters, and has helped me put into practice detaching myself from any particular "look" on the actor's part, and to focus more on other elements that shapes up who the character is.

There have been plenty of characters that have different names than they used to, or have been merged into one another, or have been removed or added entirely.  A lot of them have been "promoted" or "demoted" from lead/main status as well.