It has been over ten years since David Caruso was last on the screen, having retired after CSI: Miami, in which he starred in all 232 episodes of, was cancelled in 2012.
Though not linked to the show’s cancellation, four years later, the showrunner behind his other hit show, NYPD Blue, Steven Bochco, exposed the actor’s allegedly “volatile” behavior, revealing in his memoir, Truth Is a Total Defense, that he had become “impossible” to work with. He quit the show four episodes into its second season, after winning a Golden Globe for his role as John Kelly.
He has since stayed away from the spotlight and lives a private life, though in late February 2026, he was seen out and about in Los Angeles, wearing an all-black outfit with Crocs, and a straw hat with a small paper pinned on it that reads: “We made them rich.”
Catch up below on what David, 70, is up to know, what his former boss had to say about working with him, and his family life.
“Cancerous” behavior
In his book, NYPD Blue‘s showrunner recalled: “Every time I’d call Caruso into my office for a conversation about his problems, he’d shut down like a sullen teenager. Caruso’s behavior was, simply put, cancerous,” adding: “He was emotionally unavailable to everyone, and he was volatile, moody or sullen, depending on the day. Most people don’t function well in a dysfunctional environment, but Caruso loved it because he was the source of all the discontent, and it empowered him.”
He went on: “He never said it to me directly, but the simple truth was, Caruso felt he was too good for television. He wanted to be a movie star. And his plan was to alienate the writers, producers and his fellow castmates in hopes that we would dump him from the show. Fat chance.”
Steven also detailed the over-the-top demands David put forward when trying to get out of his contract. “One, $100,000 per episode. Two, Fridays off. Three, a 38-foot trailer. Four, an office suite on the lot, replete with his own development executive, for whom we had to foot the bill to the tune of $1,000 a week. Five, two hotel suites in New York when the company went there on location, plus a dozen first-class plane tickets. And lastly, Caruso had to have additional security to shield him from his adoring public.”
© Getty ImagesDavid responded to the allegations after an excerpt of the memoir was published on The Hollywood Reporter at the time, telling the outlet: “Young actors sometimes do very dumb things. I was no exception. NYPD Blue was a hallmark moment in my career, largely due to the talents of David Milch and Steven Bochco. I credit them both for all of the wonderful opportunities I’ve had over the 22 years since Blue.”
© Getty ImagesLife after retirement
David still lives in Los Angeles, and since retiring from acting in 2012, has pursued a career in the art business.
He is also reportedly co-owner of Steam on Sunset, a clothing store in South Miami.
© Getty ImagesDavid’s personal life
David has been married and divorced three times. He was first married to Cheri Maugans, from 1979 to 1984.
In 1984, he married actress Rachel Ticotin, with whom he shares one daughter, Greta. He was then married to Margaret Buckley from 1996 to 2007, though they had separated in 2004.
David is also a dad to son Marquez, born in 2005, and daughter Paloma, born in 2007, who he shares with former girlfriend Liza Marquez, who he dated from 2005 to around 2007. In April 2009, she sued him for fraud, breach of their settlement agreement, and emotional distress.
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