Real Reason Why Mike Ross Actor Patrick J. Adams Left Suits After Season 7

Suits did not just garner immense popularity throughout its run on TV but also reveled in a resurgence when it landed on Netflix. It quickly became one of the most streamed shows on the platform, skyrocketing the fame so much so that a spinoff was swiftly greenlit. All thanks to Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams who brought the iconic duo Harvey Specter and Mike Ross to life on screen.

Their banter and witty one-liners made every viewer wish they were a corporate hotshot lawyer in a suit and a corner office. The show went on for 9 seasons, shedding light on the travails of the complex legal world as well as the personal dilemmas faced by lawyers on a daily basis. From mergers and divisions to skirting the law in the name of winning a case, Suits had it all.

Unfortunately, Meghan Markle and Adams left the show early and were not a part of seasons 8 and 9. Though Markle left because of her royal wedding, fans have often wondered why Adams couldn’t stay on. Here’s why.

Patrick J. Adams Left Suits due to Alcoholism and Depression

The show Suits was the reason Patrick J. Adams was able to break ground in a competitive industry like Hollywood. With the role of Michael Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory and a knack for the legal world, Adams was able to charm the masses with his ability to blend emotions and bring the intricate character to life on screen.

His chemistry with Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, was unmatched as the two were two peas in a pod.

Recently, Adams appeared on Dinner’s On Me podcast hosted by Modern Family alum Jesse Tyler Ferguson where he shared what made him leave the fame of Suits behind and start afresh. Adams revealed that he was battling alcoholism and depression when he finally decided to give it all up and leave Suits to get his life back on track. He said,

I wasn’t taking good care of my mental health, and I was drinking too much [at] the end of season seven. I was in a zone of living a pretty unexamined life. Pretty miserable [and] I would say, pretty depressed. I didn’t have the tools to deal with that depression beyond just spending money and drinking too much, and not really knowing how to talk about it.

I would numb myself [to] deal with my insecurity and my fears. And they just weren’t working. And they were taking a toll on my relationship, for sure, but also just making me a very not present father. That for me was a breaking point when I was like, “I think I should stop drinking probably because I don’t wanna be that dad.” The best thing I think I ever did for myself was stop drinking. It just needed to happen in order for all these other things to happen.

Adams wanted to be a better husband and father, and for that, he had to be fully present in the moment. For many years, he was pulled away from his family to film Suits, sometimes for months on end, which meant it was difficult for the star to spend quality time with his loved ones.

Despite the money Macht made towards the end of the series when it was at the height of its popularity, Adams never regretted the decision and remains satisfied with the choices he made.

What’s Next for Patrick J. Adams?

Adams was recently seen in an anthology miniseries titled Plan B where characters have a chance to go back in time and fix things they are unhappy with. Not only that, since his Suits days, Adams has also made his mark in movies with ambitious projects like Clara and The Right Stuff.

While many fans are wondering if Adams will return to the NBC Universal spinoff Suits LA since Macht is set to return in his role as Harvey Specter. The spinoff will be set in the same universe as Suits with new attorneys and villains who will threaten the survival of their law firm.

Stephen Amell is leading the spinoff series with more actors joining the ranks of fictional lawyers. Further plot details remain a mystery along with Adams’ return to the series. In the podcast, Adams expressed how grateful he was to have done Suits which gave him the life he’s currently living. He said he would be open to returning to the franchise in a suitable arc, but confirmed details about the same are yet to be announced.

Apart from that, Adams is already locked as a cast member for the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff called The Madison. He will be playing Elle Chapman’s husband in the series, his character being called Russell McIntosh. Michelle Pfeiffer and Beau Garrett are also starring in the series with Adams and Chapman.

Patrick J. Adams hosts Sidebar Podcast with Sarah Rafferty

Currently, Adams is busy hosting a podcast of his own called Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast with Suits alum Sarah Rafferty who played the best legal secretary in New York, Donna Paulsen. The duo watch the series episode by episode and talk about the central aspects of the scene along with some interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits.

Moreover, the hosts also dissect what made Suits so popular years after it first premiered in the weekly episodes. The show was indeed successful which led to its 9-season run, but its recent rise to popularity was something else entirely. Adams and Rafferty claim that they have never watched the show from a viewer’s perspective, so they welcome first-time viewers to join them as they witness the series for the first time.

Sidebar is streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other major podcast channels.
Suits is streaming on Netflix.