"FBI: Most Wanted" actor Kellan Lutz has confirmed that he's giving up his work on the popular TV show for the sake of his new baby with Brittany Gonzales. The actor welcomed his daughter, Ashtyn Lilly, in early 2021, following a harrowing pandemic year when the family lost their other baby.
In a statement on Instagram, Lutz said he would "stop chasing the bad guys" as an FBI agent on the CBS series to focus on his family. He decided to move back closer to relatives in California so that Ashtyn Lilly could group around her grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, who all live a short drive away.
Lutz said that he realized the importance of keeping a solid relationship with family after his wife suffered a miscarriage on her sixth month of pregnancy at the start of the pandemic in 2020. The actor also said he nearly lost his wife in the ordeal. The family tragedy didn't end there as he also lost both his grandfathers while working in New York for the TV series.
"After a lot of prayer and reflection I made the difficult decision to move my growing family back to California," Lutz said.
Crosby Exits During Season 3 Premiere
Lutz's surprise exit played out during the third season premiere of "FBI: Most Wanted," which aired on Monday, September 21. His character was shot while assisting Special Agent Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym). While Agent Crosby survived after surgery, Lutz's final scene showed his character returning to his parent's home in Oklahoma to recover from the trauma.
The actor said he'll miss his co-workers and thanked them for their support during the highs and lows of his life and career. He also reflected that his character's first name, Kenny, was a tribute to one of his grandfathers.
Lutz was one of the original cast members of the series, featuring Julian McMahon, Alexa Davalos, Roxy Sternberg, and Keisha Castle Hughes. The series premiered in January 2020 as a backdoor pilot for the mother series, "FBI."
Meanwhile, since becoming a dad, Lutz has enjoyed time with Ashtyn Lilly and has been posting photos and videos of his daughter's growth on his social media. He and his wife said that their daughter had been the sunshine that melted the winter of their souls after a difficult pregnancy loss.
'The One God Created for Me'
Lutz and Gonzales started dating sometime in 2015 and got married in 2017. The actor once gushed that Gonzales is "the one God created for me" after a few failed relationships, including a rumored short-lived romance with Miley Cyrus in 2013.
Before meeting Gonzales, Lutz said he wrote a letter to God and listed down all of his desired qualities for his future wife. He also said that he fixed things about himself with "prayer, patience and perseverance" to prepare for her to come into his life.
Lutz, of Dutch descent, was born in North Dakota and grew up in the Midwest. He is a Christian who goes to Bible study and church every Sunday, telling Elle in 2012 that he has always been a believer.
