Why did Nicholas Gonzalez leave The Good Doctor?

The Good Doctor is a medical drama that knows how to make our hearts bleed! Like other TV dramas, it is no stranger to character exits, but one departure that caught us off guard is that of Nicholas Gonzalez.

Nicholas Gonzalez portrayed Dr. Neil Melendez. We were first introduced to his character in 2017, when the series began, but during the season 3 finale, his character met a tragic end, succumbing to severe internal bleeding. As a fan favorite, this came as a huge shock, but why was the popular actor written out of the show? Was something going on behind the scenes? Or was it simply time for him to pursue new roles and opportunities? If you're pondering these questions too, you're in the right place!

As we await the premiere of the seventh and final season of The Good Doctor, set to make its debut on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 10 pm ET/PT, we thought we would dive into the real reasons why Nicholas Gonzalez chose to bid farewell to the beloved medical drama. Join us as we reveal the truth about his departure below!

The truth behind Nicholas Gonzalez exit from The Good Doctor

Nicholas Gonzalez's departure from the popular medical drama, The Good Doctor was a mutual decision made by the actor and the producers. According to reports, Nicholas Gonzalez exited the show due to a creative decision and the show's writers wanting to "confront mortality" in the series.

According to the actor himself as well, his exit was "a creative decision that came at a good time," and he felt like he was leaving the show at a really great place.

The decision to kill off his character, Dr. Neil Melendez, was not personal, and nothing nefarious was going on behind the scenes. The creators simply wanted to lose a character that the audience would feel something about and feel pain about, which we most certainly did when we bid farewell to Dr. Neil Melendez. Read what Nicholas Gonzalez had to say about his departure, in an official Instagram post, below:

Since leaving The Good Doctor, the American actor has starred in several other movies and series, including Playing Cupid, Duncanville, Borrego, and La Brea.

Tune in on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 10 pm ET/PT for a new season of The Good Doctor!