Suitsstar Patrick J. Adams has explained how one premiere scene of the show changed his life, revealing how important the show was for his career. The legal drama follows college dropout Mike Ross (Adams), who becomes an associate for attorney Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) thanks to his photographic memory. The show was a moderate success when it first aired on USA Network, before exploding in popularity in 2023 after it was released on Netflix and Peacock. This resulted in theupcomingSuits: LAspinoff seriesin production starring Stephen Amell (Arrow).
Now,Entertainment Weeklyhas released a quote from the upcomingSuitsrewatch podcast,Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast, where co-host Adams reveals to fellow host Sarah Rafferty, who portrayed Donna Paulsen in the show, Mike and Harvey’s first meeting changed his life. In the scene,Mike impresses the lawyer with his photographic memory, causing him to hire him right awaydespite Harvard Law School graduates often being preferred. The actor says that scene not only changed his character’s life, but his own as well, impacting his acting career. Check out what Adams had to say below:
It’s weird to have a moment on camera where you could see your life change, you know, because this is where my life changed. The show changed my whole life. It’s changed my career. It’s changed the way that I work. It’s changed the people in my life.
So many things wouldn’t have happened were it not for the show. And I can kind of distill it all down to this one scene between Harvey and Mike in this room. It’s pretty wild.
What Adams' Statement Says About Suits
It Was The Actor’s Breakout Role
Prior to becoming the leadcast member ofSuits,Adams had bit parts as various characters in shows likeNCIS,Ghost Whisperer,Lost, andFriday Night Lights. However, following his lead role in the legal drama, the actor began to appear more prominently in other shows, such as Stefan Kilbane in the Prime Video seriesSneaky Peteand as the lead character in the season 1 Canadian anthology seriesPlan B. Without his role as Mike, the larger credits he received later in his career may never have transpired.
While Adams didn’t appear inevery season ofSuits, having departed the series as a regular after season 7,the show’s premise isn’t as engaging without him.Because of this, it makes sense why he’s most well known for the show, especially as its Netflix and Peacock success skyrocketed it to new heights four years after it ended. It also opens the door for even more roles in his future, such as his unknown role in the upcoming British dramaLockerbie.
Adams has also branched out into more lead roles in movies, his latest being the 2023 crime dramaHe Went That Way.
Our Take On How Suits Changed Adams' Life
He’s Now Most Well-Known As Mike Ross
The actor’s career clearly shifted thanks to his role inSuits, having grown more accustomed to leading roles for characters that have lengthy arcs and storylines. While another portrayal just as lengthy as his time on the legal drama has yet to crop up, his prominence in film and TV is more prevalent now than it was before the series. This makes it understandable why Mike and Harvey’s first meeting has such an impact on him, as it’s a symbolic moment not just for the character, but for the actor’s career as well.
Suits
Cast
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city’s best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
