Warning: Contains spoilers for The Goldberg series 10
The Goldbergs actor Jeff Garlin has opened up about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder 'for the first time' following his exit from the popular sitcom.
The comedy returned to ABC for its 10th series last night (21 September), with returning cast members including star Sean Giambrone and Wendi McLendon-Covey, who plays mum Beverly.
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After more than eight years playing dad Murray, Garlin did not return for the show following his exit last December, when he became subject to HR investigations into misconduct allegations.
Showrunner Alex Barnow discussed Garlin's exit in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where he announced that season 10 would pick up following the death of Murray.
"This is going to be a family that has not reconciled the fact that their father’s gone but has sort of moved on and has dealt with a lot of that,” he explained at the time.
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A voiceover quickly set the scene at the start of the new series, when Giambrone's character Adam explained: "That year, there was one change that made everything stop. 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.”
With the first episode airing last night, Garlin took to Instagram to share a post with the caption: "Bipolar is a motherf***er. 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."
Bipolar is a mental health condition which can make your mood swing from one extreme to another.
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It's unclear whether Garlin knew his character was being killed off before the season 10 premiere aired this week, though Barnow previously said he didn't know if Garlin 'knows what [Murray's] fate is'.
"I've had a conversation with Jeff and he's aware that he's not being replaced," Barnow said. "The truth is, I don't know if he knows what his fate is, but I'm assuming he knows, would be the answer to that question. We haven't had a subsequent conversation since the beginning of writing that he would have any specific clarity on that."
A report from Deadline revealed Garlin reached a 'mutual agreement' with Sony Pictures Television to leave the show immediately in the wake of the allegations.
UNILAD has reached out to reps for Garlin and Sony Pictures Television for comment.
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Topics: Film and TV, Mental Health
Emily Brown