Kevin Spacey testifies in Santa Monica court in $100 million 'House of Cards' lawsuit

Kevin Spacey testified on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, before a court in Santa Monica as part of a multi-million dollar legal dispute concerning the circumstances behind the end of production of the series House of Cards. The actor appeared in the courtroom as a witness in a case filed by the production company Media Rights Capital against its insurer, from which it is demanding payment of $100 million in compensation. The dispute focuses on the financial losses the studio incurred after removing the actor from the cast in 2017 following accusations of sexual assault. Kevin Spacey, who for five seasons played the role of Frank Underwood, argued in court that the decision to fire him was motivated by a desire to obtain a high compensation payout from an insurance policy.

During his testimony, Kevin Spacey publicly confirmed for the first time that he had been diagnosed with disorders characterized by compulsive sexual behavior. The actor argued that his health condition should be treated as an illness covered by insurance, which in turn would justify the producers' claims against the insurer. The opposing side claims that halting production and the necessity to rewrite the script for the final season were not directly a result of the actor's diagnosis, but were a reaction to the sharp decline in his reputation and the media storm surrounding him. The series House of Cards was the first major production for the Netflix platform, which in 2011 invested approximately $100 million in the production of the first two seasons. Kevin Spacey won a Golden Globe, among other awards, for this role. However, after the scandal erupted in 2017, production of the sixth season was halted for several months. Ultimately, the final season was created without the actor's involvement, with the character played by Robin Wright becoming the main protagonist.

The insurer's defense line is based on demonstrating that it was not the actor's alleged illness, but his behavior and the resulting reputational scandal that led to the financial losses of Media Rights Capital. The insurance company's lawyers are trying to prove that the producers made an autonomous decision to remove the star, guided by public opinion, not by medical grounds that would qualify for an insurance payout. Kevin Spacey countered these accusations during questioning, suggesting he became a tool in a game for big money. „I was unfairly removed from the show just so the producers could facilitate an insurance payout” — Kevin Spacey via Rolling Stone

The trial in Santa Monica is another chapter in the years-long legal battles associated with the fall of the two-time Oscar winner's career. 100 (mln dolarów) — the amount of compensation demanded by the producer The House of Cards Dispute: October 2017 — Accusations; November 2017 — Firing; November 2018 — Final season; March 10, 2026 — Testimony