Wendell Pierce revealed if Suits daughter Meghan Markle reacted to his CBS show Elsbeth finding a way to defend her against public criticism.
During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly at the Elsbeth season 3 premiere on Wednesday, October 8, Pierce, 61, noted that Markle, 44, hasn’t shared her thoughts yet, saying, “No, I haven’t. I haven’t heard from her [about that scene] but it’s always great to have a little Easter egg like that.”
Pierce wouldn’t be surprised if Markle was aware of the show of support.
“I know she gets to see those things because the last time I did see her, she referenced all the other times I mentioned her,” he shared. “So I know she got to see it. It’s a great little Easter egg to just let her know that we’re thinking about her.”
A scene from a January episode of the show followed Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) as she investigated a holistic wellness center after a patient was found dead in his car. Elsbeth immediately got a bad feeling about the facility’s founder (Eric McCormack) after getting the case assignment from Captain Wagner (Pierce).
“In the meantime, I need you on a case. A young man, Cole Campbell, was found deceased on the highway. His car ran off the road,” Captain Wagner said. “The last place he was seen was some fancy spa where celebrities and the royals go to.”
Wagner poked fun at the wellness center’s popularity, adding, “The global press was already trying to frame Meghan Markle, and she wasn’t even there!”
Before starring on Elsbeth, Pierce played Markle’s dad on Suits, which ran from 2011 to 2019. Markle filmed her final scene for Suits in 2017 amid her engagement to Prince Harry. She later departed the series, moved to the U.K. and married the Duke of Sussex, 41, in 2018.
Pierce, meanwhile, previously recalled the last time he filmed a scene with Markle.
“It was the last night of working and I said, ‘Meghan, your life is going to change, and you’re going to be in a bubble, but just always remember, no matter what, I’m your friend, you have lots of friends,’” he recalled on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? in March 2024. “‘We’re always thinking about you, we’ll always be there for you. And you know, no matter where you are, always know you have a friend in me.’”
The actor is now focused on his role in Elsbeth, which is returning for a third season on Sunday, October 12. Elsbeth will premiere alongside Matlock after several cast members told Us about their vision for a crossover.
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“Elsbeth is right there. Not only are we on the same night, it’s the world of law. I just think it would be so fun,” Jason Ritter told Us in September. “I love Carrie Preston so much and I think she’s brilliant. I would love to see that Elsbeth energy on an episode of Matlock — or some of us over in an episode of Elsbeth.”
He continued: “Sometimes they do two episodes of each show where they cross into each other. So that would be so fun. That would be my dream.”
Skye P. Marshall had a similar outlook. “I want to be related to Wendell Pierce’s character on Elsbeth, since we’re both in New York,” she suggested to Us. “Maybe they need Jacobson & Moore to step in or Jacobson & Moore needs the cops to pull up. And can you imagine Carrie Preston with Kathy Bates? Elsbeth and Matlock? Their quirkiness and their awkwardness — that’s a crossover I want to see!”
Elsbeth season 3 premieres on CBS Sunday, October 10, at 9:30 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.
