S Poddar
Patrick J. Adams reveals a heartfelt reflection about the reason he left Suits after the conclusion of its seventh season-the reason being personal struggles which eventually made him take such a big decision. The 43-year-old actor, best known for playing Mike Ross alongside Meghan Markle’s character Rachel Zane on the popular legal drama, initially announced in 2018 that he would not be returning for the eighth season, citing his desire to focus on his personal life, particularly his marriage to Troian Bellisario, star of Pretty Little Liars.
Speaking frankly in the Dinner’s on Me podcast hosted by Jessie Tyler Ferguson, Adams confessed a lot more about his inner issues that made him leave the show. The episode is about how toward the end of Season 7, he was at war with his mental health issues that led him to redefine himself and his priorities in life.
“I wasn’t taking good care of my mental health and I was drinking too much [at] the end of Season 7,” Adams admitted, offering a raw look into his emotional state at the time. “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.”
Balancing skyrocketing career pressures with personal struggles was quite overwhelming for Adams. He said he was stuck in a pattern of avoidance, using alcohol and other distractions to cope with his insecurities and fears, which ultimately took a toll on his relationships, especially with his wife. “I was still trying to live my life as a 25-year-old and doing my patterns of like how I would numb myself [to] deal with my insecurity and my fears,” he shared. “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.”
The turning point came when he realized he needed to get his life together for his family. “That for me was a breaking point when I was like, ‘I think I should probably stop drinking because I don’t wanna be that dad,'” he said. “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.”
Reflecting on his decision to leave Suits, Adams admitted that the financial incentives of staying on the show were tempting but ultimately not enough to make him stay. “I didn’t know what else to offer,” he said. “Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and think about the money [Gabriel Macht] made those last two years, but I never regretted the decision for a second.”. It was the right thing for my marriage. … It was time.”
His leaving Suits came at a significant moment for his career and in his life. In 2016, he had gotten married to Bellisario. He and Bellisario have two daughters; their first daughter was born in 2018 and was named Aurora. They have a second daughter who was born in 2021, named Elliot Rowena. The need for personal healing and growth was also why Adams left the show.
This reflection on his time on Suits serves as a powerful reminder that the pressures of fame and success can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being. Adams’ story highlights the importance of prioritizing self-care and the well-being of loved ones, even if it means walking away from a career that many would consider a dream come true.
