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The actor who played Billy Martinez on the Kathy Batesled legal drama will be written out of the show. Matlock actor David Del Rio fired from series, reportedly

The actor who played Billy Martinez on the Kathy Bates-led legal drama will be written out of the show.

Matlock actor David Del Rio fired from series, reportedly over sexual assault allegation

The actor who played Billy Martinez on the Kathy Bates-led legal drama will be written out of the show.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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October 9, 2025 5:14 p.m. ET

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David Del Rio on 'Matlock'. Credit:

Art Streiber/CBS

- David Del Rio has been dropped from the cast of *Matlock*.

- CBS and the actor behind legal associate Billy Martinez reportedly parted ways after a sexual assault allegation against him.

- Del Rio's character will be written out of future episodes.

David Del Rio has been fired from *Matlock*.

The actor, who portrayed young associate Billy Martinez on the CBS legal drama, was dropped from the series after production received a report of an incident involving him, ** has learned.

Upon the incident being reported, CBS conducted an investigation and subsequently dismissed Del Rio from the show. *Matlock* continued filming upon his exit, and is scheduled to begin a preplanned hiatus once the first half of the season wraps later this month.

Del Rio's character will be written out of the show for future episodes, though he will still appear in the episodes that had already been completed before the incident was reported, including Sunday's season 2 premiere.**

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According to Deadline Hollywood and TMZ, which first reported the news, the incident in question concerned a sexual assault allegation involving Del Rio's costar Leah Lewis, who portrays fellow associate Sarah Franklin on the show.

CBS declined to comment. Representatives for Del Rio and Lewis didn't immediately respond to EW's requests for comment.

Del Rio costarred on *Matlock* alongside Lewis, Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, and Jason Ritter. His and Lewis' characters were framed as ambitious young lawyers and close friends who aid Matty (Bates) and Olympia (Marshall) in their weekly cases.

David Del Rio and Leah Lewis on 'Matlock'.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

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*Matlock* showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman previously told EW that Del Rio's character would have a prominent role in season 2.

"I think of this show as a story about friendship romances — those people that come into your life that are maybe even more significant than your romantic partner, and it does come with certain challenges for other people in their lives," Urman said. "Matty and Olympia have that, and Sarah and Billy unexpectedly started to really feel that towards each other, too."

Season 1 of *Matlock* ended with a major cliffhanger involving Billy: His ex-girlfriend Claudia (Bella Ortiz) announced that she is pregnant with his child.

*Matlock* returns with its season 2 premiere this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. It will then move to its usual Thursday slot with its second episode on Oct. 16.

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL TV"

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