Matlock actor David Del Rio was removed from the show in October 2025 following an inquiry regarding sexual assault allegations.
At the time, Us Weekly reported that David — who is wed to actress and chef Katherine Del Rio — was implicated in an incident with his Matlock co-star Leah Lewis back in September, prompting an internal investigation by CBS. He was reportedly escorted off the set of Matlock and subsequently let go from his character as Billy Martinez, a first-year associate attorney.
Neither David nor Katherine made immediate statements about his dismissal from Matlock. Despite the situation, several cast members, including Lewis and Skye P. Marshall, continued to follow Katherine on social media, while many ceased following her husband. (Lewis expressed via Instagram that she was “moving forward in strength” after the incident.)
Katherine and David’s romance began unexpectedly when she attended a Broadway showing of In the Heights in 2010 and met him at the stage door after the performance. The couple tied the knot eight years later, after a chance meeting in Los Angeles.
Continue reading for more insights about Katherine and her marriage to David.
1. Katherine Is a Multi-Talented Actress and Chef
Katherine began her career by guest starring on popular sitcoms such as Big Time Rush and Awkward, along with various short film roles. In a May 2024 interview with Bold Journey, she characterized herself as an “actress, chef, and producer with a profound creative passion.”
“I’ve been engaging with theater since childhood and carried this passion through my studies at New York University, continuing to perform in New York City,” she shared. “After relocating to Los Angeles, I branched into production while also immersing myself in the culinary arts. In between acting opportunities, I pursued my culinary career, serving as a private chef for celebrities, catering for film productions, curating picnic boxes, hosting dinners for influencers, and even crafting wedding cakes.”
Katherine emphasized that cooking transcended mere employment for her — it was an “extension of [her] artistic expression.”
“By incorporating flavors inspired by my travels, I enjoy crafting exciting menus that delight my clients,” she expressed.
2. Their Unique Meeting Story
Katherine and David’s paths crossed serendipitously when she attended a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s musical In the Heights on Broadway in 2010. David was performing in that production.
In a 2018 profile in Inside Edition, Katherine recounted how she sketched a heart beside David’s image in the program and, with her father’s encouragement, met the cast post-show. Katherine frequently returned to see the show again before she moved to Los Angeles.
“Who could have predicted that seven years ago, when we casually saw that performance […] that would lead to marrying [and] having children with him?” she reminisced in 2018.
The two had an unexpected reunion years later at a party in L.A. as she shared her deep admiration for In the Heights with acquaintances.
“When he mentioned being part of In the Heights, I wondered, ‘Could that be David Del Rio?’” she reflected.
Katherine confidently asked David to sing a number from the musical right then and there, playfully correcting him when he misquoted a lyric.
“By now, knowing him, I’m sure he disliked this because he’s not one to seek attention,” she admitted.
The couple began dating, and David eventually proposed at the iconic Richard Rogers Theater in New York City while attending a performance of Hamilton.
“I always envisioned how I would propose,” he revealed, “But when the moment came, I completely lost track of everything I wanted to say except for the question.”
The duo celebrated a destination wedding in Mexico in April 2018.
3. They Launched Their Own Production Company
During David’s stint filming the short-lived ABC romantic comedy series The Baker and the Beauty in 2020, they started their own production company named Theatre Row in Austin, Texas.
“[I co-founded the company] with my brilliant husband during his six-month shoot in Puerto Rico for The Baker and The Beauty,” Katherine stated in an interview with Voyage Austin in June 2023. “As David is also an actor, we often move to wherever the job leads us! We have since transitioned our production company to Austin and Los Angeles.”
Katherine noted starting Theatre Row has provided both her and David with a sense of stability in Hollywood.
“Our company has successfully produced a feature film, sold a television series, been contracted to write multiple screenplays, and is in various stages of production on several independent projects,” she shared at that time. “Having greater control over my career is empowering, instead of waiting for opportunities to arise. There’s still plenty of waiting inherent in writing/producing, but I am consistently engaged in something, which is incredibly rewarding.”
4. The Couple Are Proud Parents of Two
In July 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Lilia, with Katherine expressing on Instagram that their lives had been “transformed forever.”
“On June 20—a day marked by record high temperatures in Austin, TX—our beautiful Lilia arrived following 27 hours of labor,” she disclosed. “Since then, life has been a blissful, sleepless blur, and our little summer solstice baby has amazed us in every possible way. We didn’t know what to expect or how this would feel, but WOW, it exceeds every expectation. Words will never suffice to convey how deeply we love her. We are honored and truly blessed to introduce you to Lilliam Kellie Wallace Del Rio III.”
Katherine Del Rio. Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for A Cause for Entertainment
In March 2025, Katherine and David joyfully announced the birth of their second daughter Coco.
“Coco Del Rio arrived with a smile on January 20, right in the midst of a winter storm,” she gushed. “Her big sister is completely smitten with her, and we are indescribably thrilled and exhausted. Thank you, God, for your wonderful miracles.”
5. Katherine Described 2024 as the ‘Most Challenging Year’
In January 2025, the talented actress and chef candidly discussed health challenges — along with her unanticipated pregnancy with Coco — detailing her struggles throughout 2024.
Katherine shared, “2024 was the hardest year of my life. Facing postpartum depression, a challenging pregnancy, and raising a toddler while my amazing husband worked 14-hour days took a toll. Add in several moves, loss, and a significant identity transformation, and I felt close to breaking point. God made me pause to focus on my mental health and strive for rest — although that’s easier said than done with a toddler.”
She mentioned various “moments of grace” that occurred throughout her challenging year, such as her pregnancy, “bonding with Kirsten Dunst (my queen) over postpartum experiences & our lives oscillating between LA and Austin,” as well as “traveling across the globe with my precious firstborn,” among other highlights.
Katherine recognized that she was still “navigating [her] marriage with purpose,” despite spending less time together due to David’s demanding schedule with Matlock.
“Through everything, I am ultimately proud of the sacrifices I made for my family because I see them flourishing, and that is more valuable than anything. God is good,” she concluded.
