Max Thieriot is best known to fans as Clay Spenser on SEAL Team before becoming Bode Leone on Fire Country. The actor appeared on six seasons of the military drama and left after a lucrative development deal for a pilot he pitched to CBS. The network picked up Fire Country and Thieriot’s character was killed off on SEAL Team when the actor moved on to another series. However, Thieriot revealed to Deadline that he had complicated feelings about leaving the show, as it taught him a lot as a young actor and aspiring writer/producer/director. SEAL Team ended one season later.
“It’s tough to see it end,” Thieriot said of the show, which he has yet to see the final episode. “Also, it was hard to leave that show, it had such an amazing cast and crew and really, really great people,” he added. “There was definitely a big case of FOMO where I was really like, who are these people that I spent every day with, what are they doing?” the actor revealed his feelings after leaving the show.
‘SEAL Team’ changed Max Thieriot forever
Through the show, Thieriot built strong relationships with the cast and crew, and SEAL Team gave him a front-row seat to hear impactful stories about veterans. It opened doors for him as he formed a relationship with CBS and its production division. “The show was really an incredible experience, one because I got to know everyone at CBS Paramount and join the CBS Paramount family, and obviously, those relationships and friendships have taken me to where I am now, and that has changed my career forever,” he said. He added about the impact it had on him, saying,
But, the show also had a huge impact on me. It was really a humbling experience to work with all these veterans and to tell stories that I think are really important and need to be told to support the military community. I think that show did an incredible job of bringing a lot of things to light and raising awareness for people, and being able to be a small part of that and tell some really impactful stories has changed my life.
“I hope that with Fire Country, we can continue to do the same for firefighters and first responders and focus on some of the human stories about real hardships, about families and how families are impacted.”
SEAL Team has come to an end after seven seasons and 114 episodes. The final episode, which aired on October 6, is available to stream on Paramount+ along with the entire series.
