Patrick J. Adams says the suits’ “dropout” was due to alcohol and depression

“Suits” star Patrick J. Adams appeared on the latest episode of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s “Dinner’s on Me” podcast and discussed his exit from “Suits.” Adams was an integral part of the US legal series for seven seasons. He played Michael James Ross alongside Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter. Adams returned for the final two episodes of the series, but was otherwise absent from the final two seasons.

“I wasn’t taking good care of my mental health and was drinking too much at the end of season seven,” Adams revealed about his exit. “I was in a phase where I was living a pretty unexplored life. Pretty miserable (and) I would say pretty depressed. I didn’t have the resources to deal with this depression other than just spending money and drinking too much and not really knowing how to talk about it.”

“I would numb myself to deal with my insecurities and fears,” he continued. “And they just didn’t work. And they certainly put a strain on my relationship, but they also made me a very unpresent father. That was a breaking point for me when I thought, “I think I should probably stop drinking because I don’t want to be that dad.” The best thing I ever did for myself was to stop drinking. It just had to happen so all these other things could happen.”

“Suits” aired 134 episodes between 2011 and 2019. The series’ popularity was boosted again last year when it appeared on Netflix. Adams said on the podcast that at the time of preparing for Season 8, his only reason for staying was for financial gain. He consulted his mother, who discouraged him from returning if it was just for money.

“The only reason to stay was … money,” Adams said. “I didn’t know what else to offer. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and think about the money (Gabriel Macht) he has made in the last two years, but I haven’t regretted the decision for a second. It was the right thing for my marriage. … It was time.”

The “Suits” franchise is now being revived with the upcoming spin-off series “Suits: LA,” scheduled to premiere on NBC on February 23, 2025. Macht returns as Harvey Specter in a recurring role in three episodes. Meanwhile, Adams is hosting a “Suits” rewatch podcast with co-star Sarah Rafferty.

Despite the personal struggles he faced during his “Suits” run, Adams said he is “filled with so much compassion for myself” when he looks back on the series, adding, “(I am able to be kinder to myself and realize how amazing this whole group of people were.”

Listen to Adams’ full interview on the Dinner’s on Me podcast here.