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Matlock Star Out After Investigation: Character Written Off
27 Feb
Summary
- Actor fired after investigation into an incident on set.
- Character written out of the show; not recast.
- Incident reportedly involved a sexual assault allegation.
Matlock actor Del Rio was removed from the show in October following an investigation into an incident involving him. His character, Billy Martinez, was written out of subsequent episodes after the CBS legal drama returned for its season 2 midseason premiere. During an HR meeting, the character's absence was alluded to, with jokes made about his "job eliminated."
CBS reopened its investigation into the actor last week and has stood by its decision to remove him. The incident reportedly concerned a sexual assault allegation involving co-star Leah Lewis. Neither actor has publicly commented on the situation.
Del Rio's final on-screen appearance was in early December. In a subsequent episode, Billy was absent due to a "personal day," with a later phone call revealing his girlfriend's miscarriage, implying further time away. Leah Lewis has since posted about moving forward in strength and has returned to production.
