Why did Wendell Pierce leave Suits?

Suits is an American legal TV show that first aired on June 23, 2011. The show was created by Aaron Korsh and was released on USA Network. The show has 9 seasons and 134 episodes. It follows the story of Harvey Specter, a top corporate lawyer in New York City, who hires a genius college dropout named Mike Ross. Even though Mike never went to law school, his photographic memory and deep knowledge of law make him an excellent lawyer. The show became popular for its clever dialogue, strong character development, and fast-paced legal cases. It is also nominated for many awards like SAG Awards, People's Choice Awards, etc.

One of the most memorable characters introduced in the later seasons was Robert Zane, played by Wendell Pierce. He is a successful lawyer and the father of Rachel Zane, one of the main characters on the show. Wendell Pierce is an American actor, born on December 8, 1962, in Louisiana, United States. He has worked in many TV shows and films like Waiting to Exhale (1995), Trem (2010-2013), Selma (2014), Confirmation (2016), Clemency (2019), etc. His portrayal of Robert Zane added emotional depth to the show. Let’s take a look at the reason why Wendell Pierce left Suits.

Why did Wendell Pierce leave Suits?

Wendell Pierce left Suits after season 8. His character, Robert Zane, took the blame for something another lawyer did and was forced to resign. This was part of the story, but it also marked his exit from the show. Wendell left the show as he wanted to focus on other projects apart from Suits. Robert Zane had an important role in the show, especially in the later seasons. However, the show was reaching its natural end, and many characters were being written out in a way that tied up their stories. His exit was written in a respectful way, showing that his character made a big sacrifice to protect the people he cared about.

In an interview with USA Network, Aaron Korsh, creator of the show, talked about the exit of Wendell Pierce. He said, “First and foremost, we did it for a logistical reason. Part of the problem is when you have amazing actors who are not series regulars on your show, they’re often series regulars - or in high demand - on other show.” He further added, “And then we were told that he would be unavailable to us next year from March until mid-July or something like that, and that it would not be a situation where sometimes we could fly him up for a day or two. So I thought there was no choice but to write Robert Zane out.”

Also Read: List of Wendell Pierce's movies and TV shows

When did Wendell Pierce join Suits?

Wendell Pierce first appeared on Suits in Season 2. He played Robert Zane, a high-powered lawyer and the father of Rachel Zane, who is played by Meghan Markle. At first, his role was small, mostly focusing on his relationship with his daughter and offering advice. But as the show went on, his role grew. Robert became more involved in the legal side of the show and eventually became a managing partner at the main law firm in the story. His character was tough, smart, and full of strong beliefs. Over time, Robert Zane worked closely with the other lead characters like Harvey Specter and Louis Litt.

In his interview with Hollywood Reporter, Pierce talked about how he enjoyed working on Suits. He said, “I love working on Suits because of the writing and the ensemble. When you think about it, it’s great writing, a lot at stake and a great ensemble of actors. And that provides as much action as any car chase, as any death-defying leap from a building or whatever. You realize just with the spoken word and some great actors, you can create something just as exciting as an action movie.”