Marco Grazzini has addressed his unexpected exit from the Virgin River cast after six seasons.
In an exclusive statement to Entertainment Weekly, Grazzini — who first recurred on the Netflix drama on season 2 in 2020, before joining the main cast for seasons 3-7 — speaks on his exit, calling the series a meaningful part of his career so far.
“Character departures are very common in this business — especially on a long-running and beloved series like Virgin River. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to play Mike for six seasons,” he says of playing the local officer, who eventually becomes involved in a love triangle with Zibby Allen’s Brie and Ben Hollingsworth’s Brady.
Credit: Courtesy of Netflix
Grazzini’s statement continues, with the actor telling EW he has “nothing but love for the cast, crew, and especially the phenomenal fans who make the show so special.”
“I’m excited for this new chapter in my career,” he finishes.
Earlier Thursday (the same day season 7 premiered on Netflix), EW confirmed that Grazzini and Lauren Hammersley — the actress behind OG character Charmaine Roberts — would not return for the upcoming eighth season.
EW has additionally reached out to a representative for Hammersley for comment.
Virgin River season 7 marks one of the twistiest in the series’ history, with Mike and Charmaine at the center of a particularly harrowing subplot involving the latter’s disappearance from the titular town.
Along the way, Mike and Brie’s bond is tested, all while Brady re-enters the mix.
Adapted from Robyn Carr’s novel series, Virgin River premiered in 2019 on Netflix, and follows the life of Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), who travels to the secluded California hamlet to rebuild her life after the death of her husband.
Credit: Courtesy of Netflix
There, she meets an eclectic group of characters, including Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a former Marine who falls for Mel — all while the new couple navigates the challenges of small-town life alongside an ever-expanding roster of locals.
In addition to Virgin River, Grazzini’s work includes roles in films like Good Sam and Anon, as well as a major voice role in the animated Total Drama World Tour series.
He’s also a regular actor on the Hallmark and Lifetime circuit, having filmed several television films for both networks.