Max Thieriot was one of the most popular stars on CBS/Paramount+'s SEAL Team. So, why did the Clay Spenser actor depart the series in Season 6?
Max Thieriot's Clay Spenser was one of SEAL Team's most popular characters. When a sixth season came to Paramount+, it seemed like Clay's future alongside on Team Bravo was pretty secure. However, the news that Thieriot was starring in a new TV project threw that future into doubt.
Since 2022, Thieriot has played the main character on Fire Country, a series for CBS from Jerry Bruckheimer Television. The drama tells the story of a young convict who earns a second chance when he joins a program that puts prisoners and firefighters together.
Thieriot co-wrote the pilot episode and is among the show's executive producers. When it was revealed the actor was also going to take on the lead role, it had SEAL Team fans worried that Clay's about to be killed off between seasons like Linda Reagan on Blue Bloods or Leslie Shay on Chicago Fire. Given his two conflicting roles, fans wondered if Max Thieriot would leave SEAL Team and if his character would meet a horrible fate.In the SEAL Team Season 5 finale, Clay informed his fellow Bravo Team members that their mission to Mali would be his last. He was planning on transferring back to Green Team in order to spend more time with his wife, Stella, and their newborn son, Brian. However, during that mission, Bravo was ambushed by a hail of RPGs, with the screen fading to black. Clay's fate -- and that of his entire team -- was up in the air.
The SEAL Team finale provided an easy opening for Thieriot to walk away, having his character killed in the attack. It's common for actors to leave a show to pursue other projects (like Julian McMahon with FBI: Most Wanted or Monica Raymund with Chicago Fire). But the possibility also existed for the actor to pull double duty -- starring in Fire Country and SEAL Team simultaneously. For fans, Clay bowing out of Bravo Team was the ideal opportunity for reduced screen time, allowing Thieriot to make occasional appearances while filming Fire Country.
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