How Jeff Garlin’s ‘Goldbergs’ Character Was Killed Off The Show

Jeff Garlin has officially been killed off The Goldbergs about a month after the show first revealed its dark plans for his character. Garlin — who exited the ABC sitcom last season following an HR investigation into his onset behavior — was written off the show in last night’s Season 10 premiere.

The episode was set months after Murray (Goldberg) died, opening with a voiceover from Adam (Sean Giambrone) explaining what had happened since last season.

“That year, there was one change that made everything stop,” Adam said, per Deadline. He added, “Just a few months ago, out of nowhere, we lost my dad. We will always love you, dad. Always. And we will find a way to continue on together. Because, after all, we’re the Goldbergs.”

While Garlin was nowhere to be seen in last night’s episode, The Goldbergs still kept a small symbol of his character, choosing to keep Murray’s signature recliner chair and incorporate it into Erica’s nursery for her new baby.

Adam bid a final farewell to his dad at the end of the episode, saying, “It turns out the people we say goodbye to never really leave us. But that doesn’t mean we don’t miss them.”

The Goldbergs showrunner Alex Barnow revealed in August that the show was killing off Murray, telling Entertainment Weekly at the time, “We’re starting with optimism about [Erica’s] baby coming and looking forward to the future. It’s an opportunity for this interesting emotional basis for the way people are behaving.”

Barnow said at the time that Garlin was “aware that he’s not being replaced” on The Goldbergs, but said he wasn’t sure if the actor knew his character was killed off: “I don’t know if he knows what his fate is, but I’m assuming he knows.” Well, he definitely knows now!

Garlin left The Goldbergs in December 2021, and maintained to Vanity Fair that he was not fired from the show, but quit voluntarily. His exit followed claims that Garlin “engaged in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on set that made people uncomfortable” and “would touch or hug people whether or not they were comfortable with that contact,” per Vanity Fair.

He denied the physical incidents took place and described the alleged “verbal conduct” as a poorly received joke. Since his Vanity Fair interview, Garlin has spoken out again, this time revealing his bipolar diagnosis on Instagram.

“Bipolar is a motherfucker. Sometimes it’s just too much to deal with. I’m doing the best I can. This the first time that I’ve opened up about this. #bipolar,” he posted on Tuesday, the day of The Goldbergs Season 10 premiere.