David Del Rio's “Matlock” Character Is Mentioned for First Time Since Actor Was Fired for Alleged Sexual Assault
David Del Rio's “Matlock” Character Is Mentioned for First Time Since Actor Was Fired for Alleged Sexual Assault
Charlotte PhillippFri, February 27, 2026 at 10:17 PM UTC
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David Del Rio as Billy Martinez from the CBS Original Series 'Matlock.'Credit: Art Streiber/CBS -
Following his firing from the show, Matlock is addressing David Del Rio's character's exit from the series
"Yay, so no need for him to return!" Sarah Wright-Olsen's character says in the latest episode of the CBS drama
Del Rio was accused of sexual assault last year, and the actor was removed from the Matlock set on Oct. 2
Following his firing from the show over an alleged sexual assault incident, Matlock is addressing David Del Rio's exit from the series.
During the midseason premiere of the CBS legal drama on Thursday, Feb. 26, several characters referenced Del Rio's character, Billy, during a meeting with an HR representative played by Sarah Wright-Olsen.
Characters Sarah (Leah Lewis) and Matty Matlock (Kathy Bates) meet with Wright-Olsen's Gwen, who asks them, "Where is Billy Martinez?" to which Sarah responds, "Out sick. Very, very sick. Vomiting."
"And we've got him covered," Matty adds.
"Yay, so no need for him to return!" Gwen quips. "Job eliminated. ...Kidding again! It was nice to meet you two."
Del Rio on 'Matlock.'Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS
In the episode, Gwen also pitched an idea to lay off Olympia's (Skye P. Marshall) employees.
"Could she make do with two people if one of you takes the generous severance package being offered?" she asked.
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Del Rio, 38, made his last appearance on the series on Dec. 4. His character was not in the episode "Call It a Christmas Gift," which aired on Thursday, Dec. 11. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman previously told Deadline that Billy's exit would be explained in an organic way.
"I’m not going to discuss details, but what I can talk about is in terms of the show,” she told the outlet. “The last episode you see him is in seven [on Dec. 4], and then you find out how Billy’s story ends, which is in a very organic way that has to do with our whole office and how things are being shaped in this merger.”
PEOPLE previously reported that Del Rio allegedly sexually assaulted Lewis, 28, in late September. The actor was removed from the Matlock set on the Paramount lot on Oct. 2, the same day a report was filed, according to Deadline.
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PEOPLE further learned that an investigation was immediately conducted and the network parted ways with Del Rio.
Although she hasn't directly addressed the investigation, Lewis spoke out on her Instagram Stories shortly after news of the incident broke, with a message to fans and a photo of her hugging her mother on set.
“Mom is here, we're moving forward in love and strength. I'm in good hands,” she wrote at the time. “Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we're moving forward in strength.”
“Key word, strength,” she continued. “Please, let that be the takeaway.”
Kathy Bates as Madeline Matlock, David Del Rio as Billy Martinez, Leah Lewis as Sarah Franklin, and Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence.Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty
In early December, Lewis revealed that the CBS drama had resumed filming season 2 following Del Rio’s dismissal. In a photo posted to her Instagram Stories, Lewis smiled in front of a trailer while dressed as her character, lawyer Sarah Franklin, in a button-up blouse and tie.
“@matlockcbs ❤️And we back up and running,” she captioned the image.
Del Rio, who played Billy Martinez, frequently shared the screen with Lewis' Sarah Franklin in Matlock’s debut season last year. They both portrayed up-and-coming young lawyers working alongside Madeline "Matty" Matlock (Kathy Bates) and their boss, Skye P. Marshall's Olympia Lawrence.
The series is a gender-swap reboot of the classic 1980s legal drama of the same name.
Matlock airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
