When SEAL Team returned for its sixth season, fans were stunned to see Clay Spenser, played by Max Thieriot, meet a tragic end. The character had been a cornerstone of the Bravo Team since the very first episode, so his sudden departure left viewers reeling. But behind the scenes, Thieriot was juggling two demanding shows, and something had to give.
Clay Spenser's Heartbreaking Final Arc
At the close of Season 5, Clay was gravely wounded in an RPG attack during what was supposed to be his last mission. He had decided to retire from active duty to spend more time with his family, leaving fans on a cliffhanger about his fate. Season 6 picked up with Clay losing his leg and struggling to adapt to civilian life. He worked on his marriage with Stella (Alona Tal) and cared for their son Ben, even planning a fresh start away from the military.
In the episode "Aces and Eights," Clay's story came to a poignant end. He intervened to stop a troubled veteran named Ben (Joey Pollari) from taking his own life at a recruitment center. After saving Ben, Clay was mistakenly shot by a security guard who saw him holding the gun. His final act was one of heroism, echoing the real-life story of Chris Kyle, the inspiration behind American Sniper. Interestingly, Clay was nicknamed "American Sniper" back in Season 1, a subtle foreshadowing of his fate.
Why Max Thieriot Left SEAL Team
The reason for Clay's exit was simple: Thieriot was stretched too thin. While filming SEAL Team's sixth season, he was also developing and starring in Fire Country, a CBS drama about a convict firefighter. "At the time, I was fully involved with SEAL Team, so it was hard to imagine being able to go do something else," Thieriot told Collider. "It became clear that it wasn't like SEAL Team was gonna be over and done with, and here's the next thing I could do."
When both shows were renewed—SEAL Team for a seventh season and Fire Country for a second—Thieriot had to make a choice. With Fire Country's 22-episode seasons compared to SEAL Team's 12, the workload was immense. SEAL Team showrunner Spencer Hudnut explained to TV Insider, "It really started toward the end of Season 5. There were some questions about whether Max would be back for Season 6... As Fire Country kept passing each development checkmark, it got clearer and clearer that there was a real possibility that we'd be losing Max." The logistical nightmare of filming in Vancouver for Fire Country and Los Angeles for SEAL Team made it impossible to do both.
How SEAL Team Inspired Fire Country
Thieriot's new show isn't just another acting gig—it's his passion project. He co-created, executive produces, and stars in Fire Country, which draws from his own upbringing in a Northern California firefighting community. The idea came to him during a commute with his SEAL Team co-star A.J. Buckley. "I was driving to work one day with my buddy A.J. Buckley from SEAL Team, and we were sitting there going back and forth," Thieriot recalled on The Late Late Show. "I started telling him about [my experience growing up in a firefighting community], and he was like, 'Dude, this is a show.'"
Buckley, who also serves as a co-producer on Fire Country, helped turn Thieriot's vision into reality. Thieriot co-wrote the pilot with Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and later directed an episode. The show has become a major hit for CBS, now in its fifth season. While fans of SEAL Team mourned Clay's loss, Thieriot's new venture has clearly paid off. For those looking for more streaming options, check out what's leaving Netflix this month, including Fast & Furious movies and Jake Gyllenhaal's Nightcrawler.
Clay Spenser's death was a tough pill to swallow, but it was a necessary sacrifice for Thieriot's career. As he told Collider, "I wasn't sure what the route was gonna be. In the beginning, my intentions were to try to create this world and pitch it, and then have them make a show, best case scenario." That best-case scenario has become a reality, and Thieriot's legacy now includes two beloved TV characters—even if one had to say goodbye.
