Actor David Del Rio Hires New Lawyer After Matlock Firing

LOS ANGELES, CA — Actor David Del Rio has hired attorney Shawn Holley, following his termination from the CBS legal drama Matlock. Del Rio, 38, was let go from the series amid an investigation into sexual assault allegations made by his co-star, Leah Lewis, 28.

Us Weekly confirmed the news on November 5, noting that Del Rio retained Holley, 63, weeks after his abrupt exit from the show. Holley has a notable client roster, including celebrity figures like Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber.

The incident involving Del Rio and Lewis reportedly occurred on September 26. According to Deadline, Lewis reported the situation to CBS shortly after, resulting in Del Rio being escorted off the studio lot immediately.

While Del Rio has not publicly addressed his firing, Lewis took to Instagram last month to express her sentiments. Friends of the couple indicated that Del Rio’s wife, Katherine, is standing by him during this challenging time. “His wife is standing by him,” they shared with Us Weekly. “They’re a family and staying together.” The couple, married for 12 years, has two daughters, including a 2-year-old.

In her Instagram post, Katherine emphasized strength in their family unit, saying, “Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands. Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care.”

The second season of Matlock premiered on October 12, shortly after Del Rio’s firing. His character, Billy, was set to be written off in the latter half of the season. The show had previously set up a romantic connection between Billy and Sarah, played by Lewis, in the October 23 episode.

Del Rio’s character had been positioned to defend Sarah during a tense moment in the story. “Stop gaslighting Sarah,” Billy told another character in a key scene, highlighting the emotional dynamics at play.

Despite the turmoil, Lewis is optimistic about her character’s journey in the series, mentioning her hopes for Sarah to triumph by holding herself accountable. “This season we’ll definitely probably get to see her mature,” she stated.

Del Rio’s departure from Matlock marks a significant change for the series, as both the network and cast navigate the fallout from the allegations.