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Matlock wrote Billy Martinez out in two stages: Episode 8 linked his absence to a miscarriage in his family, and Episode 10 revealed he had accepted severance during the firm’s merger and would not return. David Del Rio’s final appearance as Billy was in Season 2, Episode 7. The character’s departure followed Del Rio’s firing after an investigation into an allegation of sexual assault; Del Rio denies the allegation.
When was David Del Rio last seen on Matlock?
Del Rio’s last appearance as Billy was Season 2, Episode 7, which aired December 4, 2025. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman told Deadline, in comments quoted by TV Insider, that the series would later explain how Billy’s story ended in relation to the office and the merger.
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How did the show explain Billy’s absence?
Episode 8: Claudia’s miscarriage
In “Call It a Christmas Gift,” Sarah called Billy after he took a personal day. Viewers heard Sarah’s side of their later conversation, in which she learned that Billy’s pregnant partner, Claudia, had suffered a miscarriage. Billy did not appear on screen. The episode’s explanation gave Sarah and the audience a personal reason for his absence, but did not establish that he had left the firm.
TV Insider’s recap and TVLine’s recap covered the episode and Urman’s comments about adapting Billy’s exit.
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Episode 10: Billy accepts severance
Episode 10, which aired March 5, 2026, provided the workplace explanation. An email and Sarah’s account of a phone conversation revealed that Billy had accepted a severance package amid the Jacobson Moore merger and would not return. Del Rio did not appear in the episode. TV Insider reported the severance detail; TVLine also covered the confirmation.
A new associate named Hunter was introduced around this period. Coverage described Hunter as a new character, not as a recast Billy.
Rank #2
Why did David Del Rio leave Matlock?
The fictional explanation and the real-world employment context are separate. On October 9, 2025, the Los Angeles Times reported that Del Rio had been fired after an investigation into an alleged sexual assault and that Billy would be written out of future episodes. The Times said CBS Studios declined to comment to the newspaper. Details about the reported incident were attributed by the Times to Deadline, not presented as an independent legal finding.
TV Insider reported that Del Rio denied the allegation. The firing and the show’s decision to remove Billy do not, by themselves, establish that the alleged conduct occurred.
Rank #3
- Genre: TV Crime
- Number of Discs: 52
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Rating: NR
- Number of Movies: 0
What did the showrunner say about the write-off?
Urman described the creative approach to Billy’s fictional departure, not the allegation. In the comments quoted by TV Insider, she said the character’s story would end in an “organic way” connected to the office and the merger. Speaking to Variety in remarks reproduced by TVLine, Urman said: “I’ll just say there were creative changes that we had to make, and we made them.” She added that the team wanted an exit that made sense “in the world of our show and for the character.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the reported status of Del Rio’s dispute?
As of September 11, 2026, CinemaBlend reported that arbitration over Del Rio’s firing was ongoing. The article described Del Rio’s claim that the allegations were false and damaging. That is a reported status as of that date, not a final outcome.
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Best Value
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #4
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