Matlock Actor David Del Rio Fired Amid Sexual Assault Allegation: Show Faces Script Changes
David Del Rio, a regular on the popular CBS legal drama series Matlock, has left the show following an investigation into a sexual assault allegation involving fellow series regular Leah Lewis. The alleged incident took place on September 26 and prompted immediate action by the show's producers and CBS Studios. Del Rio was fired and removed from the set on the same day the assault was reported, which was October 2. Matlock's executive producer Eric Christian Olsen was involved in escorting Del Rio off the lot.
Despite Del Rio's departure, filming on Matlock continued as planned. The show is scheduled to take a pre-planned hiatus after completing half of the new season this week, with production expected to resume after Thanksgiving. The creative team behind Matlock will need to rework scripts to address Del Rio's absence from the show.
Del Rio portrayed Billy Martinez, a first-year associate at the law firm Jacobson Moore, where the series is centered. The show follows the story of Madeline "Matty" Matlock, played by Kathy Bates, who joins the firm under the supervision of Olympia Lawrence, portrayed by Skye P. Marshall. Jason Ritter is also part of the main cast alongside Bates, Marshall, and Lewis.
Matlock has addressed the topic of sexual assault in its storyline, particularly in an episode from the first season where Matlock takes on a case involving a young lawyer who claims she was sexually assaulted by her boss. The second season of Matlock is set to premiere on October 12.