Baz (Scott Speedman) was the right-hand man of Janine “Smurf” Cody (Ellen Barkin) during the first two seasons of *Animal Kingdom*. Fans were shocked when the character was shot to death during the Season 2 finale on Smurf’s orders. This left a significant gap in the cast for the remainder of the show’s run, which was ultimately filled through flashbacks in which Baz was portrayed by another actor.
At the time, Speedman’s departure was attributed to creative choices. Executive producer John Wells explained to *Entertainment Weekly*, “The series is based on the Australian film by David Michod and the Baz character dies in the first 15 minutes of the movie. So that’s where we thought we were going and then we realized we had more material for Baz, more stories we wanted to tell, so we put it off a little bit.” He added that Speedman was forewarned that his role would not last the entire series, so he was prepared for Baz’s death.
However, there might have been another reason behind Speedman’s exit. During a profile of Ellen Barkin published by *The Huffington Post* after Smurf’s character was killed off in Season 4, it was revealed that Speedman himself requested to leave the show to pursue other projects and was killed off without any issues.
Regardless of the reason, Scott Speedman has definitely managed to maintain a strong career following his departure from *Animal Kingdom*. He quickly returned to his recurring role on *Grey’s Anatomy*, playing Nick Marsh—boyfriend to Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo)—a character he has portrayed since 2018 alongside other acting commitments.
Speedman also starred in the short-lived Peacock thriller *Teacup* and appeared in several films including *Crimes of the Future*, *Cellar Door*, and *Sharp Stick*.
More recently, a pilot starring Speedman titled *RJ Decker* was picked up by ABC in the fall of 2025. This sunny procedural mixed with humor features Speedman in the lead role as RJ Decker, a private investigator who reinvented himself after a public disgrace as a newspaper photographer. Decker’s past as an ex-con gives him unique insight into his often unusual cases.
Surrounded by a colorful cast of characters—including a wife, an ex-girlfriend, and a wealthy benefactor funding his operation—the show is expected to debut during the 2026-2027 season.
With this promising new project on the horizon, Scott Speedman continues to build on a dynamic and varied career following his time on *Animal Kingdom*.
https://www.looper.com/2018311/why-scott-speedman-baz-left-animal-kingdom/
