‘Matlock’ Finalizes David Del Rio’s Exit With One Last Billy Update
Spoiler Alert
What To Know
- David Del Rio’s character Billy Martinez was officially written out of Matlock after Del Rio was fired during Season 2 production due to allegations of sexual assault, which he denies.
- Billy’s exit was finalized in Season 2 Episode 10 through one last update on the character.
- The episode also focused on tension between Matty and Julian, as Matty demanded an apology related to the Wellbrexa investigation.
Matlock has ended the Billy Martinez (David Del Rio) chapter. Matlock Season 2 Episode 10 revealed one last detail about Billy that solves the last piece of the puzzle of his exit. And then, it introduced the new member of Olympia’s (Skye P. Marshall) legal team, Hunter (Henry Haber), who is taking Billy’s place in the merged office. (Warning: Spoilers for Matlock Season 2 Episode 10 ahead!)
Del Rio was fired from Matlock during Season 2 production in 2025. His firing was the result of an alleged sexual assault that reportedly took place on the set of the CBS drama and involved his costar, Leah Lewis, who plays Sarah Franklin. Del Rio denies the allegations.
Del Rio’s last episode of Matlock was Season 2 Episode 7 in December. Billy called Sarah in the following episode to reveal that his partner, Claudia (Bella Ortiz), suffered a miscarriage, but he wasn’t actually heard on the call. All viewers heard were Sarah’s replies. The Jacobson Moore and Lamar Olsen law firms were preparing to merge into one company by the midseason finale later in December. When Matlock returned on February 26, Sarah moved to Julian’s (Jason Ritter) team, and Billy was still absent.
The Thursday, March 5, episode of Matlock cemented Billy’s exit through another phone call update. Matty (Kathy Bates) and Olympia received an email from Billy that shocked them both. Billy had accepted a severance package from Jacobson Moore amid the merger, and he won’t be coming back. When Matty asked Sarah if she knew about Billy’s decision, she smiled and said yes, noting that Billy had called her and let her know the night before.
Michael Yarish / CBS
Hunter made his debut very soon after. Haber’s character was described by showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman as a total “bro,” and the character described himself as having “therapy dog energy” in the episode. He’s a handsome, charming guy who lives an easy life because of said looks and charm. Getting information from clients was as easy as breathing for him in this episode. Even Matty and Olympia were a bit smitten with the guy.
The more serious plot of the episode came with the conflict between Matty and Julian. The plot picked up right after last week’s cliffhanger at the Kingston home, where Julian learned the truth about Matty’s real identity. For Matty to continue working with Julian on the Wellbrexa secret investigation without legally implicating him in it, she needs a real apology from Julian. But he’s feeling incredibly defensive and refusing to take responsibility for the death of Matty and Edwin’s (Sam Anderson) daughter, Ellie (Marnee Carpenter). He doesn’t agree that hiding the Wellbrexa study means that it is directly connected to her death.
For an in-depth conversation about Julian’s feelings about the real Matty Matlock, check out our interview with Ritter.
Matlock, Thursdays, 9/8c, CBS
Conversation7 Comments
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G
I believe the actor was fired by a woman’s lies, hope he wins the lawsuit. Very tired of the wellbrexa bs time to stick a fork in it.
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A
Sooo tired of Wellbrexa. I haven’t been watching this season because of it. How long do you think this storyline will stay fresh? It got stale in Season 1. Have never liked the Sarah character. Way too immature for an attorney. I worked in law firms my entire career. She would never fly.
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G
Do not like Billy’s replacement— too silly.
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S
I’m tired of whiny Sarah. Billy had more on the ball. This new replacement character is a joke and a loon. Is this series headed down the toilet? Seems so to me.
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C
Fired character Billy, you should stop posting and ask your mom and your gramma to stop posting too.
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I
When this show first aired, I really liked it, except for the Sarah character. She seemed like her character belonged on a silly kids show or something. Now, I feel like her character belongs, because the whole show has gotten so stupid. The constant plotting to deceive everyone between Maddy and Olympia seem like Lucy and Ethel hatching dim witted plans all the time. The new guy wouldn’t last 5 minutes in a serious law office.
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G
I don’t like Billy’s replacement either - much too ridiculous and annoying. Is that the best this show can do. The storyline has already gotten boring. I stopped watching for a while but decided to give it another chance. I’ll be stopping again.
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