Josh Charles says he wasn’t prepared for fans’ reaction to The Good Wife exit

According to People, Josh Charles said he wasn't fully braced for fans' reaction to his abrupt exit from The Good Wife.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Jan. 15, the 54-year-old reflected on his decision to leave the series, which resulted in the death of his character, Will Gardner; he had starred on the show from its September 2009 premiere until his 2014 departure. “I knew it would be a surprise, but the impact and response to it was one that honestly, I wasn’t fully braced for myself,” he said, noting that living in “bubbles” made him forget how invested viewers were.

Charles said people still approach him daily, DMing or coming up to him with reactions such as “I just saw this for the first time,” “I just rewatched this and I started sobbing again,” and “It was like watching a friend die.” He has cited the show’s 22-episode production schedule as a main reason for leaving and said he probably would’ve stayed if it had been more like spinoff The Good Fight’s 10-episode seasons. “Finishing the arc of that character was some of the best writing I’ve ever had for anything. I just feel so indebted to them,” he added; The Good Wife is available to stream on Paramount+.

Key Topics

Culture, Josh Charles, Will Gardner, Robert King, Michelle King