Hill Harper Bids Farewell to 'The Good Doctor' Season 7, Announces Run for US Senate Seat

Hill Harper. ABC/Art Streiber

Hill Harper, known for his role in The Good Doctor, will not be returning for season 7 as he has launched a senate campaign. According to his campaign spokesperson, Harper is committed to addressing the crisis in American democracy and is running for the U.S. Senate to give working people a stronger voice in Congress as an active union member.

Harper, 57, has been a key figure of The Good Doctor since the beginning, playing the role of Dr. Marcus Andrews in the 2017 pilot. He has appeared in a total of 116 episodes of the ABC medical drama. With his departure, the only original cast members remaining will be Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy and Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman.

In the season 6 finale, viewers watched Dr. Andrews step down as the president of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. It appears that this marks the conclusion of the character's storyline heading into the premiere of season 7 on Tuesday, February 20th, at 10 p.m. ET.

Prior to pursuing a career in acting, Harper pursued a career in law, earning his undergraduate degree from Brown University before attending Harvard Law School, where he was classmates with future president Barack Obama. He made his on-screen debut in the 1990s, securing guest starring roles on popular shows such as Married… With Children and Walker, Texas Ranger. He went on to portray significant characters on CSI: NY, Covert Affairs, and Homeland before ultimately joining the cast of The Good Doctor.

Jemal Countess/Getty Images for NOBCO

After leaving the show, Harper relocated to Michigan where he is now the proud owner of The Roasting Plant, a coffee shop, and has also declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate in July. His goal is to secure the seat of the retiring Senator Debbie Stabenow, but first, he must clinch the Democratic primary against five other competitors.

Having purchased a home in Detroit back in 2016, the Iowa native remained tight-lipped about a potential endorsement from Obama, suggesting that it may only come after he secures victory in the primary.

Deal of the Day

Up to 50% Off! Lancôme’s Black Friday Early Access Sale Just Dropped

View Deal

President Obama has been a long-time friend whom I've always looked up to, not just because he's taller than me, but also because of his commitment to improving the world and our democracy. Open seat primaries are supposed to be free of outside influence, and that's the way it should be done. The primary is scheduled for August 6, 2024.