Lindsey Morgan, known for her role as Micki Ramirez on the CW’s Walker, has opened up about the serious health issues that led to her departure from the show during its second season. In a revealing interview on an upcoming episode of Tommy DiDario’s I’ve Never Said This Before podcast, Morgan shared that a spinal injury severely impacted her nervous system and brainstem, forcing her to take a step back from her career.
The 34-year-old actress described how her injury caused overwhelming anxiety and stress that left her unable to function at work. “I had a spinal injury, which was affecting my nervous system and my brainstem,” Morgan said, adding that the physical and mental toll became so great that continuing in her role was no longer possible.
Landing a lead role on a television series had been a lifelong dream for Morgan, making her decision to leave all the more difficult. “I was really blessed and lucky that I started working and didn’t stop,” she explained. “But, looking back, I realized my mistake — like an athlete, I was constantly working and outputting, but never recovering. All my dreams were coming true, but I was a mess.”
Morgan further admitted that her anxiety had reached unbearable levels, affecting her performance and well-being. “I feel like I did not do good work. And looking back on it now, it was because I was so stressed out — mentally and physically,” she revealed. “I couldn’t figure out why. I had all of this responsibility, and I felt like I was failing everyone — and myself.”
After consulting with doctors, Morgan was given two stark choices: either continue her grueling 16-hour workdays and rely on lifelong medication to cope with the stress, or completely change her lifestyle to prioritize her health. Ultimately, she chose the latter, even though it left her feeling like she had failed.
“I’m someone who pushes themselves and has really high standards,” Morgan admitted. “I felt like I let Jared [Padalecki] and the show down, and that was the hardest part for me. But I had to take care of myself, and that’s what matters most.”
Morgan first announced her exit from Walker in December 2021, describing it as “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make” in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. At the time, she expressed a need to prioritize her physical, emotional, and mental health after years of career-driven burnout.
“My life had been so much about my career. I didn’t care for myself enough in my 20s,” Morgan reflected. “All of that ambition and running caught up to me, and now I’m facing burnout.”
Her candid revelations shed light on the importance of self-care, even in the face of seemingly unstoppable career success.