Lost‘s Matthew Fox Finally Reveals Why He Retired From Acting
The mystery surrounding Matthew Fox‘s Hollywood vanishing act has been solved.
The Lost vet — who has not acted in nearly a decade — broke his silence over the weekend about his decision to leave showbiz. Fox also revealed why he recently decided to hit pause on his retirement to star in Peacock’s upcoming apocalyptic drama series Last Light.
“I kind of had a bucket list in my mind of things that I wanted to accomplish in the business, and after I did [the movie] Bone Tomahawk in 2014 that had kind of completed the bucket list,” he told reporters (per Variety) Saturday at the Monte-Carlo Film Festival, where Last Light had its world premiere. “I wanted to do a Western. It’s a very odd Western, but it’s a Western. And so that sort of completed the bucket list.”
Another factor, Fox said, was family. “At that time in my life, our kids were at an age where I felt like I needed to really reengage,” he explained of his two children with wife Margherita Ronchi. “I had been focused on work for some time, and [my wife] Margherita had been running the family so beautifully, but I felt like it was time to be home, and I really felt like I was retiring from the business, and working on other creative elements that are really personal to me — some music and writing.”
Last Light, which co-stars Downton Abbey‘s Joanne Froggatt, brings Fox — who also serves as an EP on the series — back to TV for the first time since Lost ended in 2010. The thriller imagines a world plunged into crisis when oil suppliers are jeopardized. A Peacock premiere date is TBD.
“I kind of got to a point where I thought that maybe the bucket list included executive producing,” he said of being lured back to acting. “I’d never done that before. The opportunity to be involved in Last Light came along, and so I wanted to give it a shot. And it felt like the right time.”
Fox’s retirement also came amid a turbulent time in his personal life. In 2011, he was accused of assaulting a female bus driver in Cleveland, Ohio. He denied the allegations and prosecutors ultimately opted not to charge him. A subsequent civil suit filed was withdrawn by the bus driver. Fox’s Lost co-star Dominic Monaghan added fuel to the fire, tweeting in May 2012 that Fox “beats women. Not isolated incidents. Often.”
In an October 2012 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Fox acknowledged that “it’s been a very tough year for me and my family,” adding, “It’s difficult to be accused of something you did not do.”
So…he had a bucket list, he did all this stuff, he’s such a loving family man, and oh by the way, he also beats women, which the poor woobie denies but was confirmed by third parties and he did in fact disappear but now claims was for all these press friendly reasons? We truly are in the post-Depp era now. Good lord.
How was is confirmed by a third party when it was only Monaghan? That whole bus incident was more than strange.
What does a “post-Depp era” mean?
You know how difficult it is to win a libel or slander suit? And to get the public on your side in this climate? He did both, so clearly he didn’t do anything wrong.
It’s easier when you’re a man. Amber Heard may not be completely innocent but don’t mistake her loss for Johnny Depp being innocent.
Now I’m not taking sides but a bit hypocritical for you to sit there and say that, considering Depp lost multiple big movie roles whilst Amber the liar got to keep all hers.
So much easier right?
Do you realize that is a blatantly sexist comment and judgmental conclusion? Moreover, you were not a juror. You did not hear or peruse all the data. They concluded that Mr. Depp was more a victim in the strange relationship known as “marriage.” Not every woman who screams “abuse” is unequivocally truthful. It’s time for witch hunts to end. Abuse in all its ugly forms should end but persecuting male stars because they have money to be had is shameful. Ms. Heard could have left their strange relationship the second she purportedly became fearful instead of having several affairs and amputating a finger! She had the money and means to extricate herself from ‘such horrible abuse.’ By the way, she lied about giving the millions away-not a dime was given to anyone…
I hope you are replying to Paige and not me.. nowhere in my comment is sexist or judgemental.
I thought we were done with the Depp vs Heard talk, but one last comment and Dr. Rocker seems the most intelligent.
And from the
• ‘If I Made the
Rules’ • book:
Women who make these “claims” should be made to pay for their accusations when it is found their claims could not be proven or a jury finds the accussed innocent, then the woman who made the claim needs to be punished in some way for their claim that didn’t meet the burden of proof needed as well as to dissuade others from falsely accusing someone else. A financial fee large enough to hurt but not so large as to bankrupt them, or a jail term, not long but enough time (2 weeks?) in jail to show they mean business.
And for those found to have made a false claim, both jail time & monetary fee!
Those with Real claims should be allowed to without fear of being attacked by anyone.
The “Innocent until proven guilty!” statement should be remembered & used.
Of course then again, if this were a truely perfect world, there would be no need for such claims. The Golden Rule ‘Do onto others…’ should be everyone’s mantra!
That would be a horrible law to pass. So how do we decide that a victim (whether it’s a woman OR a man) made false claims? If there’s no conviction in the case? Victims are uneasy about coming forward now and facing the stigma of being THOUGHT to have made false claims because a jury doesn’t convict. How willing do you think legitimate victims of abuse will be to come forward if they face jail time or punitive damages simply for losing their case?
I’m not one to defend Ms Heard, but you said not a dime was given to anyone. She did donate some, just not nearly all that was promised. She lied about donating the whole amount of course. My only point is she did donate some.
It was not easier for him. She had all the support in the beginning. He got fired off mere allegations and no one wanted to work with him. No one takes male abuse victims seriously. Just ask Terry Crews. He fought hard to get the truth out, and now it’s being minimized as the “Post Depp Era”? No thanks. Depp was a victim of abuse, and minimizing abuse is always wrong.
Paige: Not even Johnny Depp considers himself “innocent”. But he’s not guilty of being a wife-beater (as the UK claimed), nor is he guilty of domestic violence.
And clearly, a US jury felt Amber Heard’s story was so full of holes, you could drive a truck through it…
A trial is the final say in the U.S., but ignored in the U.K? You know, where it was SUPPOSED to be much easier to win than in the U.S.
The difference is the UK judge didn’t have a jury that could ignore instructions. It doesn’t matter if you think Heard’s story was “full of holes” (because Depp’s was SO iron clad) – Depp was SUPPOSED to have to prove he never assaulted Heard one time, which is impossible. The jury is just allowed to play amateur detecive and ignore actual jury instructions.
Did Heard always come off as believable to me? No. Was everything Depp said believable to me? Not even close. You can just take every audio recording/picture/video/text message presented and there’s enough for any reasonable person to not definitively be able to say Depp never assaulted Heard one time. A jury can BELIEVE Depp didn’t assault Heard and still follow instructions and say there is no “proof” (there isn’t).
The guy was repeatedly on drugs and had a version of himself HE called “the monster”. The texts alone were enough to end his career under normal circumstances (Armie Hammer’s are more tame than Depp’s). But, so many see this guy as some kind of folk hero because he was a funny pirate.
The claim in the UK was not against Amber herself, it was against a paper. Harder. The claim in the UK had one single judge, who had purported links to both the Sun and Ms. Heard. That’s exactly what a trial by jury is hoping to fix. And there was no claims of jury nullification in this case; and the jury did not ignore any instructions. I’m sorry the current atmosphere (and apparently whatever is happening inside your funny little brain) doesn’t agree with the decided outcome of the trial, but every spurious claim you hope to bring has already been tried by Amber’s legal “experts” and has been found wanting.
JW believing every rumours in media with the crazy people after big stars money, of course they make up stories and then some other nutcases see add fuel to fire by accusing them similar stuff. You have no idea how greedy people can be if they see good way to milk money from big stars. JW you have lot to learn.
That “third party” being DM? He hated Fox when they were on “Lost.” Depp was the one abused and perhaps the new witch hunt will at least be slowed by Mr. Depp’s vindication.
You calling it the Witch hunt really does make your argument or JD look good considering most of the people who were me too’ed are guilty. And no matter how many sycophants he has, what I took away from the whole Cyrus that he put on is that he was bow much of a massive drug user/addict he was or will be again. And I will never look at him the same and wouldn’t be surprised if he never works as much as he did
You weren’t there and don’t have facts. That wimp who played Charlie has small man jealousy issues and was removed from Lost due to bad behavior so he’s not a truthful source. Matthew has been married for years and his wife stands behind him. Lost is a brilliant show and he carried lead role excellently for years so I choose to believe him.
I’m sorry, but your comment is hateful and full of prejudice. Small man jealousy? Seriously? Wtf is that supposed to mean? You’re making fun of the guy because he doesn’t meet imposed height standards (which should have never been a thing)? Or implying that he’s a hateful person because he’s not what people see as tall? So people with dwarfism are inherently jealous of tall people? That’s incredibly ableist. You must be a real gem of a person. Disgusting.
Also you choose to believe him because he was good at his role? Girl! What a load of crap, be better. What else should expect from people who think like you, though?
Did you watch the trial? Amber Heard was obviously lying! And to the person that said it’s easier for a man? In what world? All you have to do is accuse a man and 95% of the world thinks he’s guilty. Heard had to make a complete ass of herself for people to side with Depp. Everyone was against him when this first started a few years ago. Even now she tries to make it sound like people sided with him bc there fans of his which is ridiculous! I couldn’t care less about Depp but he wasn’t guilty.
You know what’s interesting about Matthew Fox?
Nothing!
100% what I thought!
Jess is quoting a movie.
Interesting enough to read the article and comment
It’s literally a movie quote, Jack.
Didn’t’ read was it another reason besides nobody wanting to higher a women beating has been?
There must have been at least one witness on that bus to prove his side of the story (besides the bus’ nanny cam.)
There are enough accusations out there about Fox to make it very concerning, but no real proof of anything. Perhaps if the bus footage had been released publicly people would be render a fact-based opinion.
I am not aware of other accusations other the bus incident and Dominic Monaghans accusations? What accusations are those?
My comments weren’t completely accurate. He did have a DUI, but in terms of abuse, the only other thing out there is his discussion of having “intense fights” with his wife. He later denied ever hitting a woman when responding to Monaghan’s tweet.
He quit acting?
.
So relevant to Hollywood that I never noticed either way.
Does anyone care at all? I guess he has to find reasons to get coverage now that he is attempting to act again…
I can’t answer if people care about the project itself, though on some level you, I, and others clearly cared to help justify the articles existence by clicking and then commenting on it. Even commenting about not caring is equated with interest.
Anyway, wile you’re implying that he’s seeking attention, the reality is that an actor doesn’t have to be attempting to act again in order to be interviewed about a new show or movie or have an article about it, especially on an entertainment based site. Interviews have been part of the standard procedure for decades. Things that stand out to even a small degree, such as someone returning from an hiatus, are going to get attention. Not that you don’t know any of that.
beats women, says one guy… sigh. prosecutors choose not to prosecute over the one specific incident noted here. why not? this business is rife with jealousy, has been since long over a century. And, scandal by rumour, gossip leading to blacklists & death — Hedda Hopper meets mad Joe McCarthy, you know the rest. i would love to see Fox in anything again. if a woman out there somewhere has something to say, go to the cops and say it.
Can you back this allegation up with some PROOF PLEASE!
Not HEARSAY!
Thank YOU!
Matthew was excellent in Lost and I hope his new show is great too can’t wait to watch
For whatever reason he was accused, it’s over. For whatever reason he left show business, he’s back. At least he has a job. To compare him to anyone else is silly. JD had a video of how crazy he gets. So I would believe he had a problem with anger before Fox. The fact that JD came out ahead, how someone who was ordered to pay $2 million is a “winner” makes no sense, was only because AH sounded stupid on the stand. Oh well, she needs more acting classes and he needs to sober up. I have never really seen them in anything except what Amber filmed and he came off as really violent. Regardless, I look forward to tuning in Fox’s new show to see if it’s worth watching. I just finished watching Lost for the first time and it wasn’t that bad but not a rerun worthy show for me. Not the acting, more the writing. The last season was really stupid.
I’m pretty sure the answer is actually drugs. I feel like they should have gotten co-credits along with him on lost. cocaine is my best guess.
I always figured he tried to make the jump from tv to movie star and it didn’t work out.
An accusation—regardless of the specific words—by either gender is difficult to prove. I’m in my mid-70s. I’ve watched many an actor fall from the words of the accuser. Back when I was younger, the accusations were baseless unless the one suffering the act itself could prove it. If enough time was taken for investigation before the words were out in the open—regardless of the unpleasant waiting—we the viewers wouldn’t be the losers here. But this isn’t how the world operates. We must slander and in the case of Chris Noth, his several decades career is gone. Why must we accuse before there is proof in black and white? Case in point: Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard.
Outstanding Actor. Brilliant performance as Jack on LOST.
Why comment about rumors from long ago as though they’re unproven facts? ONE co-star trashed him with allegations (which proves nothing). He was never prosecuted for the alleged “bus incident”. How would any of us know what’s true and what isn’t?
What appears to be true is that he’s managed to raise a family and stay married for quite some time. Not always an easy thing to do in Hollywood.
After reading these comments, one thing is for sure. America’s command of the english language as totally deteriorated!! We can’t even make complete sentences anymore! We can’t use correct spelling, or know the difference between “there” and “their” or “the” and “that” …. It’s really sad.
It’s always awesome when the English, not english, police show up and post with multiple errors and egregious punction!!!
Have people learned nothing. He’s not been accused of anything. Except by an irrelevant has been actor who is literally showing his malice. I’m glad he’s coming back I always liked him.
Fox is a good actor, glad he’s back.
I’ve been waiting for him to come back to TV ever since Lost, I loved Jack and I’ve always wanted to see more of Matthew.
As for the accusations of the bus driver, I really hope they’re not true. Shouldn’t there be some witnesses? I mean the bus is a public place. And Dominic making his comments on social media without giving a single example… Anybody can write anything on the Internet, but if you say that someone beats women often, give at least one example – what women? on the set? at home? or just random by-passers?
Where is the rest of the article? There is SO much left out, like what happened with the accusations. There was a time when you could read a news story and get a beginning and an ending, nowadays the writers start with beginning and you either have to have a creative mind to do your own ending or a good researcher.