“Matlock” star David Del Rio has been released from the CBS series following allegations of sexual assault, as confirmed by Variety.
A source familiar with the matter indicated that Del Rio was removed from the “Matlock” set last week after an internal review. The situation reportedly involved a female co-star. So far, around half of the second season has been completed, with a scheduled break coming next week.
Del Rio portrayed the role of Billy Martinez, a junior associate at Jacobson Moore. His character will be omitted from upcoming episodes of the series.
CBS Studios has declined to provide any comments.
Season 2 of “Matlock” is set to premiere on CBS on October 12. Kathy Bates stars in the show as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, depicted as “a clever septuagenarian who found success in her youth and chooses to re-enter the workforce at a high-profile law firm, using her understated approach and clever strategies to win cases while secretly investigating a deeply personal issue of her own.”
Other cast members feature Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, and Leah Lewis.
The series received a swift renewal for a second season following its debut in October 2024. Not only has it resonated with viewers, but critics have also lauded Bates’ performance, which garnered her an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for the inaugural season.
Jennie Snyder Urman is the creator of “Matlock” and also serves as one of its executive producers. Other executive producers include Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, Kat Coiro, and Bates herself. CBS Studios oversees production, with distribution handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
