Jeff Garlin: why has actor who plays Murray in the Goldbergs been killed off from show - what are allegations?

Jeff Garlin’s character Murray Goldberg has been killed off from US sitcom, The Goldbergs, following accusations of “inappropriate verbal and physical conduct” on set.

The 60-year-old actor left the programme last year amidst the allegations, and the show’s bosses have now revealed that his character will henceforth be absent from the show.

Season 10, which returns September 21, will be set several months after the death of the family patriarch.

So, what has been said, has Jeff Garlin commented, and what are the allegations against him?

What did show bosses say?

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, co-showrunner Alex Barnow said: “Well, [Jeff is] not going to be on the season, obviously.

“[Murray] will have passed, and we are sort of starting from a place of multiple months removed from his death.”

He added that the family will have “already grieved” and “sort of moved on”, with the sason instead focusing on the “optimism about a baby coming.”

Mr Barnow also admitted he was not certain Mr Garlin was aware of his character’s fate, though has been “assuming” the actor knew his character had died.

He explained: “I’ve had a conversation with Jeff and he’s aware that he’s not being replaced.

“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.”

What are the allegations?

During the filming of Season 9 of ‘The Goldbergs,’ Mr Garlin became the subject of an HR investigation following claims of inappropriate ‘verbal and physical conduct’ on set.

The Curb Your Enthusiasm actor came to a mutual agreement with Sony Pictures Television to leave the production immediately, according to Deadline.

The publication also reported that Mr Garlin only had a single day of shooting left for the series’ when he left.

He was replaced by a body double who was used to wrap up his character’s story, with Mr Garlin’s face later digitally superimposed.

Some of his co-workers anonymously spoke to Deadline about the allegations, with one employee describing him as “extremely verbally and emotionally abusive.”

One source said he made a variety of obscene sex jokes on set, while another said he had a tendency to refer to some female crew members by nicknames - some of which they found offensive.

He was also accused of an aggressive verbal confrontation.

A person who claimed to have witnessed the incident said that he screamed at a female stand-in, ‘Why are you always in my way? Get the f*** out of my way,’ when she walked in front of him.

He allegedly then told her husband, also a stand-in, to ‘tell your wife to get the f*** out of my way.’

Sources described this incident as ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’.

Has Jeff Garlin commented on the accusations?

In a lengthy interview with Vanity Fair in December 2021, Mr Garlin defended himself against the allegations - but admitted he had been investigated multiple times over complaints of inappropriate touching and bad language.

He however denied that he had ever been intentionally offensive, insisting: “I am always a kind and thoughtful person.”

He continued: “I make mistakes, sure. But my comedy is about easing people’s pain.

“Why would I ever want to cause pain in anybody for a laugh? That’s bullying. That’s just uncalled for.”

He also rejected claims of inappropriate touching, downplaying the allegations by saying he is a “person who hugs” - but did agree that hugging that made someone uncomfortable would be ‘wrong.’

The comedian also denied that he had ever “sent a text to a [The Goldbergs] colleague saying that they should go to the next table-read wearing only panties.”

He said: “I didn’t write those words. And I’d like to see the text and who I sent it to.

“But everything that I write like that is about joking. I am respectful of women and women’s bodies. And I don’t make jokes about that, because I don’t find it funny.”

He also implied the reason there was a “big story” was because it was framed around “political correctness”.

What is The Goldbergs?

‘The Goldbergs’ is an autobiographical comedy series inspired by creator Adam F. Goldberg’s childhood in the 1980s.

Mr Garlin starred as the patriarch Murray Christian Goldberg, who is married to Beverly Goldberg, played by Wendi McLendon-Covey.

The next season airs on ABC on 21 September.