Jeff Garlin Blames Bipolar Disorder for 'Goldbergs' Exit; Co-Star Disagrees

Jeff Garlin has stated that his undiagnosed bipolar disorder contributed to his contentious departure from the ABC sitcom "The Goldbergs." The actor, who played Murray Goldberg, left the show in December 2021 amid investigations into his on-set behavior, which included accusations of inappropriate conduct and creating an uncomfortable work environment.

In a recent interview on the Daily Beast's "Obsessed" podcast, Garlin addressed comments made by his co-star Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played his wife Beverly Goldberg. McLendon-Covey had previously described Garlin's exit as "a long time coming" and expressed exhaustion with the situation, citing "PTSD." Garlin responded, "It wasn't a long time coming for me. I actually empathize with her because, at the time, I was undiagnosed bipolar, and I was miserable on the show."

Garlin explained that his condition led to mood swings, describing himself as sometimes "dark, dark, dark," other times experiencing "mania," and at other times being "really, really mean." He received his diagnosis at age 59, toward the end of his tenure on "The Goldbergs." He added that he did not harbor resentment toward McLendon-Covey for her past remarks, calling her "one of the greatest actors" he has ever worked with.

McLendon-Covey, however, publicly disputed Garlin's account on social media. After a clip of his podcast interview was shared on Instagram, she commented, "Let's just say I remember things very differently, as does the crew, the other actors, the writers, and our executives."

Garlin's exit from "The Goldbergs" occurred during its ninth season. The show completed the season using existing footage and stand-ins before Murray Goldberg was written out entirely. The character's death was revealed off-screen at the start of the tenth season, which ultimately proved to be the show's last. The series finale aired in May 2023.

Since leaving "The Goldbergs," Garlin has undergone treatment for bipolar disorder and addiction. He mentioned attending Alcoholics Anonymous, experiencing a nervous breakdown, and suicidal thoughts, which led him to seek therapy, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). He expressed regret for his past behavior, stating he is now "a different person" and "more enlightened."

He reflected on his past actions, saying, "I still have regrets on a lot of my behavior, in terms of being a jerk. But I'm really a different person." Garlin added that he is now grateful for his current state of being and his sobriety, acknowledging that he was not grateful for his time on "The Goldbergs" during his tenure there. "I'm grateful for everything, and so it has changed me."