Matlock Star Breaks Silence & Takes Legal Action Against CBS After Firing

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David Del Rio, known for his role on Matlock, is speaking out about his dismissal and has filed a formal complaint against CBS, claiming the firing caused harm to his career and reputation.

In October 2025, CBS removed actor Del Rio from the show Matlock following an investigation into accusations of sexual assault made by his co-star, Leah Lewis. CBS quickly terminated his employment and reaffirmed its support for the decision. The alleged incident occurred on September 26, 2025, inside Lewis’s trailer.

The actor, who hadn’t spoken publicly before, is now responding to accusations made against him. He’s suing CBS, claiming the network made false statements that damaged his career. His lawyer, Shawn Holley, told Entertainment Weekly that CBS fired her client without any real evidence. She believes they actually had proof of his innocence and is confident he can clear his name.

This is the first time Holley or anyone speaking for the actor has commented on the situation since he was let go. You can read his complete statement below.

David Del Rio is taking legal action against CBS Studios, claiming false accusations have significantly damaged his career and reputation. He plans to share text messages and other evidence that proves previous statements about the situation were inaccurate. Mr. Del Rio believes this evidence wasn’t properly considered when decisions were made about his employment, and he’s confident a fair review of the facts will clear his name and restore his professional standing.

The 2024 revival of Matlock on CBS stars Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a retired lawyer who returns to work at the prestigious Jacobson Moore law firm. But she’s not just taking the job for the practice of law – she’s secretly investigating the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death. The show was picked up for a third season on January 22, 2026.

I remember Del Rio playing Billy Martinez, a young guy working at Jacobson Moore. He was actually on Matlock for a while – all of season one and part of season two. But instead of finding another actor when his character was let go, CBS just completely removed him from the storylines. It was a bit of a shock at the time!

You can watch the first two seasons of Matlock on Paramount+. As of today, there’s no news about when season 3 might be available.

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2026-03-05 04:48