Jeffrey Salazar
Nathan Fillion played Gary West, a minor character and a creepy real-estate agent in Netflix's horror-comedy show Santa Clarita Diet. Fillion played a disembodied head in season 2 of the show, after his character was eaten by Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore. Fillion did not return for season 3 of the show, with Alan Tudyk taking over the role of voicing Gary's head.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Nathan Fillion quit Santa Clarita Diet? | No, but he no longer voices the character of Gary in season 3. |
| Reason for absence in season 3 | The actors with recurring roles have been free to go off and pursue other gigs. |
| Nathan Fillion's character in Santa Clarita Diet | Gary West, a minor character and a creepy real-estate agent |
| Gary's role in season 2 | A disembodied head |
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What You'll Learn
Nathan Fillion played Gary West in Santa Clarita Diet
Nathan Fillion played Gary West in the first two seasons of the Netflix horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet. Fillion's character, Gary, is a sleazy realtor and the co-worker/competitor of the show's main characters, Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who are also real estate agents. In the series premiere, Sheila, who has become a zombie, kills and eats parts of Gary. However, because Joel does not destroy Gary's brain, he returns in season 2 as a disembodied head.
Fillion's performance as Gary the zombie head received positive reviews, with one critic calling him the "show's latest break-out star". Fillion himself also enjoyed playing the character, telling Vulture:
> "I’ve got one last Santa Clarita Diet question. I know you can’t discuss season three, but do you think Gary could star in his own spin-off? I can hear you laughing as you ask that. I’m only laughing because I know how funny it could be. I really, really want to see that spin-off."
Fillion even suggested some potential titles for a Gary-focused spin-off, such as "Quit While You're a Head" and "What's That in the Road, a Head?". However, Fillion did not return for season 3 of Santa Clarita Diet, with Alan Tudyk taking over the role of Gary.
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Fillion's character was a disembodied head in season 2
Nathan Fillion's character in Santa Clarita Diet, Gary West, is indeed a disembodied head in season 2. In the show's first season, Fillion's character, a real estate agent, is eaten by Sheila, an undead real estate agent played by Drew Barrymore. However, since Sheila did not destroy Gary's brain, he returns as a disembodied head in season 2.
In season 2, Joel (Timothy Olyphant) and Sheila Hammond, while moving Gary's body from its initial burial spot, hear him speak from his grave. They realize that because Sheila did not kill his brain, he has become undead as well. The couple takes Gary's head home and keeps it in their basement. Gary then asks Joel and Sheila to give his niece, Kayla, the deed to his house in Michigan before they kill him.
Fillion's character as a disembodied head adds a unique twist to the show's horror-comedy premise. Fillion even joked about the odd situation, saying, "Joel doesn’t have a shoulder to cry on, and as the series would have it, he still doesn’t." He also suggested punny titles for a potential Gary-focused spin-off, such as "Quit While You're a Head" and "What's That in the Road, a Head?"
Fillion's role as a disembodied head in season 2 showcases the show's creative approach to storytelling and its blend of humour and horror. It also highlights the flexibility of the format, as the actors with recurring roles in this Netflix show were free to pursue other opportunities between seasons. For example, Fillion no longer voiced Gary in season 3, demonstrating the evolving nature of the show's cast and storylines.
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Fillion's character was eaten by Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore
Nathan Fillion's character Gary met his demise in *Santa Clarita Diet* when he was eaten by Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore. In the show, Sheila is an undead real estate agent who murders and eats terrible people. Barrymore's character is also a zombie, and when Fillion's character Gary finds out, he calls his daughter Abby for help. However, Ramona, another zombie, gets to him first and bites him.
After Gary is killed by Sheila, he becomes a zombie himself—or at least his head does. The Hammonds, played by Joel and Sheila, store his head in their basement and occasionally speak to it. In one instance, Fillion's character is even propped up in a vase during dinner with the family.
Fillion's departure from the show in season 3 was due to scheduling conflicts, as he was busy with another show, *The Rookie* on ABC. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, explained that they couldn't get Fillion back for season 3, so they had to either get rid of the character or recast him. They chose to recast, and Alan Tudyk stepped into the role of Gary. To explain Gary's changed appearance, the showrunners decided to have him deteriorate further as he wasn't receiving the serum that zombies need.
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Fillion did not return for season 3
Fillion's absence in season 3 was not due to him quitting the show. Instead, it was because the actors with recurring roles on the show had the freedom to pursue other projects. Fillion's character, Gary, was voiced by Alan Tudyk in season 3.
Fillion had expressed interest in a Gary-focused spin-off of the show, even pitching title suggestions such as "Quit While You're a Head" and "The Road Ahead".
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Fillion floated the idea of a Gary-focused spin-off
Nathan Fillion played Gary West, a minor character in Netflix's sitcom Santa Clarita Diet. Fillion's character was a real-estate agent who was eaten by Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore. However, since Joel, played by Timothy Olyphant, did not destroy Gary's brain, he returned in season 2 as a disembodied head. Fillion's character was well-received by fans, and he himself enjoyed playing the role, stating that it was a lot of fun.
Fillion even floated the idea of a spin-off centred on his character, Gary, and suggested a few titles for the potential show. One title he suggested was "Quit While You're a Head", a sitcom-style show with a vibe similar to Frasier. Fillion also suggested a buddy comedy called "What's That in the Road, a Head?", later changing the title to "The Road Ahead" to make the joke work better. Fillion's enthusiasm for the spin-off was evident, and he expressed his desire to keep Gary on TV.
While Fillion's ideas for a spin-off were playful and humorous, taking inspiration from the show's dark comedy tone, there has been no official announcement or confirmation of any spin-off centred on Gary being in development. Fillion's busy schedule and other commitments, such as his role in "A Series of Unfortunate Events", may also be a factor in the lack of progress on the potential spin-off.
It is worth noting that Fillion did not return to voice Gary in season 3 of Santa Clarita Diet, with the role being recast to Alan Tudyk. This could be due to the actor's availability or a creative decision by the showrunners. Despite this, Fillion's portrayal of Gary as a disembodied head in season 2 left a memorable impact on the show and garnered a positive response from fans.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Fillion left the show after season 2.
Fillion left the show due to his character, Gary West, being killed off in season 2.
Fillion's character, Gary West, was eaten by Sheila Hammond (played by Drew Barrymore) in the series premiere. He returned as a disembodied head in season 2 after Joel Hammond (played by Timothy Olyphant) forgot to destroy his brain.
It is unclear if Fillion wanted to leave the show, but he did express interest in a Gary West spin-off show.
In season 3 of Santa Clarita Diet, Gary West was voiced by Alan Tudyk instead of Nathan Fillion. The big twist of the season was that Sheila asked Joel if she could turn him into a zombie as well.
