Gabriel Macht has appeared in many roles throughout his career after debuting at the age of only eight in the 1980 movie Why Would I Lie? In 2008, the actor had the lead role in the comic-inspired The Spirit, a movie that not many remember today but which was a great step in his career.
However, fans remember him primarily as the dashing and charismatic Harvey Specter, the legal maverick on Suits. Having played the role for eight years, during which time he also became a producer for the series, it was a surprise for fans that he would not fight for the show to remain on the air and instead chose freedom.
Gabriel Macht Played Harvey For Eight Years
Gabriel Macht was the face of the beloved legal show Suits for its entire run, from 2011 to its finale in 2019. He did not miss even one episode, starring in all 134.
Over the years, he was the show's main star, and most of it revolved around him and his actions. As the show evolved, he also became a producer, which allowed him to influence the plot and his character's direction. It was no surprise, as such, that he chose a similar fate for his character as he did for himself once the show wrapped up.
In a 2019 interview with TV Insider regarding his next moves after the show ended, Gabriel said, "As much as I felt that Harvey and I were so vastly different from each other, and we are in many ways, there are a lot of similarities, and I think in the last few years, he's really come to understand that vulnerability is not weakness. It is strength."
So, the same strength that saw Harvey move to Seattle to once again work with Mike on-screen pushed Gabriel to move on from the show.
He chose freedom after the eight years that witnessed him become a household name and part of a close-knit family who also attended some fairytale events, like their co-star Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018, in real life.
Why Did Gabriel Macht Leave Suits?
In the same interview with TV Insider, Gabriel explained his decision to move on from the show at the end of its run.
"I know that I need to take some time off, and I know I need to invest my energy and my focus and my creativity elsewhere from Suits. [...] I've spent a lot of time playing this guy, and I think we did right by him, so maybe it's time to move on," he told the publication.
Moreover, the show was ending, and Gabriel Macht was unsure whether he wanted to star in its spin-off, Pearson. He felt like a clean break would be more beneficial to his career than continuing along the same path.
As it turned out, his decision to avoid starring in the spin-off was not wrong. Pearson was canceled after only one season in October 2019.
Another reason Gabriel did not want to continue with Suits was his relationship with his wife, fellow actor Jacinda Barrett. Although she had a recurring role on the show, the Australian beauty understandably wanted a break from it and more time with Gabriel and their family.
Back in 2019, Gabriel was planning to travel the world with her and their children as a well-deserved reward for his hard work on the show.
However, it is unknown how much of his dream he was able to accomplish, given the travel restrictions that were put in place after March 2020 because of the pandemic.
What Is Gabriel Macht Doing Now?
Not much is known about what Gabriel Macht is doing now, at least not regarding new projects. He has not signed up with another production since 2019 and has been conspicuously absent from both the small and large screens.
He seems to have found happiness and stability in concentrating on his family, charity, and the world. During his visit to the Scottish Highlands in October 2019, he described his peace with being away from the show and filming in general.
He said, "Beyond is a harbor with a large cruise ship and houses lining the inlet [...]. The land is theirs. I want to sit and stare out the window at them, undisturbed, for as long as I can, but children call me back."
It appears that his focus on family, including the wedding of his brother and his own 19th wedding anniversary, has been the main interest for the actor.
Since he doesn't seem keen to return to the acting world, fans may end up best remembering him as Harvey Specter.
However, Gabriel Macht is far from the end of his career. Even with his lack of major projects in 2023, he can always have a change of heart and return to acting, which has been his favorite job for the last forty years.
Fans shouldn't give up hope on seeing him in a movie or show again, although he may never give life to a character iconic enough to match Harvey Specter.
