‘S.W.A.T.’ Kenny Johnson Talks Luca’s Tearful Farewell
S.W.A.T. fans said goodbye to an original this week as fan-favorite Luca ended up written out of the show. This was a tough pill to swallow for many fans, and it was even harder for actor Kenny Johnson. In an interview after his final episode, Johnson talked about his character’s end and how hard it was to film his final episode.
Here is what Johnson had to say about his S.W.A.T. ending.
S.W.A.T. Says Goodbye To Luca
Heading into this week’s S.W.A.T. episode, many fans believed Luca would die. It was already known that Kenny Johnson was leaving the hit series, and his death would have devastated everyone. it was even worse because Johnson’s real-life daughter Angelica plays his daughter Kelly in the show and her character was with Luca when he was gunned down trying to stop a robbery.
The episode saw Kelly kneeling over Luca crying. Her dad took multiple gunshots and it looked bleak. Even Johnson said he didn’t think his character could survive this, saying, “It doesn’t look like there’s any way that I’m going to survive that” (via TV Line). However, shockingly, he did survive. However, Luca is still finished with S.W.A.T.
Luca survived the shooting. However, there was a time jump and he had undergone surgery and treatment only to receive bad news. A doctor called Luca and told him the bullet to his shoulder resulted in irreversible nerve damage. The nerve damage means he can’t be a S.W.A.T. officer anymore. Instead of moving to desk work, he retired. The scene people thought was a funeral was a grand ceremony for his retirement.
Kenny Johnson On His S.W.A.T. Finale
Kenny Johnson revealed that shooting his final scenes for S.W.A.T. was hard. However, he said it was more emotional for his character of Luca than it was for him as an actor leaving the show. “Luca, dude…. He’s born and bred to do what he does, and to take the only thing away from him that is everything in his blood and his fiber.” Johnson said, his voice cracking when thinking about it.
Kenny Johnson has been on a lot of shows and has been written out more than once. At least Luca lived here. In The Shield, he played Lem and his partner Shane murdered him in a shocking moment. He also starred in Sons of Anarchy as Kozik. In that series, Kozik died when he stepped on a landmine. While Luca lived, Johnson said it was still a bad situation for the officer, who only lived to be a S.W.A.T. officer.
He did say that his co-star Shemar Moore made his final episode easier. The two sat together on a beach in Luca’s final episode where he revealed he planned to retire. Johnson said he and Moore met before becoming actors and remain close. “To circle around, all these years later, to where we’re on the same show together,” Johnson said. “I think all that played into that scene.”
What were your thoughts on Luca’s final episode of S.W.A.T.? Will you miss seeing Kenny Johnson on the series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
- ‘Survivor’ Jeff Probst Says Rachel Made ‘Mob Boss Move’ On Show - September 28, 2024
- ‘Today’ Jenna Bush Hager Explains Missing Wedding Ring - September 28, 2024
- NBC Explains Who Will Replace Hoda Kotb On ‘Today’ - September 28, 2024