Ben Hollingsworth tells EW the cast is “all going to miss him” before Marco Grazzini, who plays Mike on the Netflix series, departs.

*Virgin River *actor reacts to costar’s shocking exit from show: ‘Stings a bit’

Ben Hollingsworth tells EW the cast is "all going to miss him" before Marco Grazzini, who plays Mike on the Netflix series, departs.

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Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul’s Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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March 16, 2026 3:58 p.m. ET

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Zibby Allen, Marco Grazzini, Ben Hollingsworth. Credit:

Courtesy of Netflix (3)

Two longtime residents are moving out of *Virgin River* for good — but their presence will long be felt echoing through the mountains of the show's titular town, actor Ben Hollingsworth tells **.

After EW confirmed last week that stars Marco Grazzini (who played local officer Mike) and Lauren Hammersley (the actress behind hair stylist Charmaine) would not return for season 8 of the romantic drama adapted from Robyn Carr's novel series, Hollingsworth laments their loss and what it means for the show going forward.

"We found out about a month ago, when [showrunner] Patrick Sean Smith reached out to the cast members. He didn’t want us to find out via an article, and I reached out to Marco immediately and offered my condolences," Hollingsworth shares. "But also, I let him know how much the show won’t be the same without him, and how much he meant to all of us."

Martin Henderson, Marco Grazzini, Colin Lawrence in 'Virgin River'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Hollingsworth, who's played heartthrob Brady since season 1 premiered in 2019, speculates that "this is just the start of great things" for Grazzini, who also regularly appears in Lifetime and Hallmark television films.

"He’s a talented actor with a lot to offer, and I wouldn't be surprised if he’s leading his own series next year at this time," Hollingsworth says. "What people might not realize about Marco is he’s such a sweetheart and a fantastic guy. We’re all going to miss him. He adds this specific flavor and texture to our set that will be sorely missed."

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The star says that "it stings a bit" saying goodbye to two performers who've been with the show for so long (Grazzini since season 2, Hammersley since season 1), "But I do know that he’s off to do great things after this," he says.

Still, the development also "makes me a little worried" for Brady's fate — especially after season 7 ended on a cliffhanger, leaving Brady's future hanging in the balance.

Benjamin Hollingsworth as Brady in 'Virgin River' season 7.

Courtesy of Netflix

“You never know. There are a lot of cast members and storylines on the show. Part of what makes any show good is the unexpected!" he says.

In an exclusive statement to EW, Grazzini said last week that, "Character departures are very common in this business — especially on a long-running and beloved series like *Virgin River. *It’s been a wonderful opportunity to play Mike for six seasons."

He added that he has "nothing but love for the cast, crew, and especially the phenomenal fans who make the show so special," and that he's "excited for this new chapter in my career."

*Virgin River *season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Drama”