Rick Hoffman has never been shy about his affection for Louis Litt, the volatile yet oddly lovable attorney he played for nine seasons on Suits.
Now—thanks to a surprise stint in NBC’s Suits LA—the Emmy-nominated actor is once again basking in the glow of fandom.
In an exclusive conversation, Rick Hoffman explains how the cameo happened, why Louis landed in a Malibu anger-management retreat, and what it might mean for any future Suits projects.
A Phone Call From Aaron Korsh
When Suits creator Aaron Korsh phoned last winter, Rick Hoffman assumed it was one of their usual catch-ups. Instead, Korsh pitched a one-off arc that would drop Louis into Suits LA’s penultimate episode, “Angry Sylvester.” The hook? Litt squares off with new-series lawyer Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) after the two clash over a hotel luggage cart.
“It fit like a glove—Louis Litt plus anger management equals comedy gold,” Rick Hoffman says, laughing. “I didn’t hesitate.”
The Malibu Meltdown
Fans quickly discovered that Louis hadn’t lost his flair for chaos. After throat-punching a rival who’d mocked his beloved cat Alice, the Harvard-trained partner checked himself into Calamigos Ranch to work on “hostility mitigation.” There he meets Stuart, and the pair bond over shared grievances—Harvey Specter’s pranks for Louis, Ted Black’s beard-shaving for Stuart.
Rick Hoffman relished the opportunity to play Litt’s softer side again. “He’s achieved everything—family, managing partner—and yet the insecurity remains. That contradiction is what makes him resonate,” the actor notes.
Channeling the Classic “Louis-isms”
All the signature quirks returned: prune smoothies, mudding, and wildly inappropriate lines (“I’m a federale friend!”) that slip out when Louis sees red. Which “Louis-ism” does Rick Hoffman cherish most?
“Telling Harvey I’d ‘ride him bareback’ still cracks me up,” he admits. “I read that script thinking, ‘There’s no way this works.’ But grounding absurdity is Louis’ secret sauce.”
Why Viewers Love (and Hate) Louis
Asked why audiences either adore Louis or can’t stand him, Rick Hoffman points to universal insecurity: “Louis embodies the parts of ourselves we try to hide—pettiness, jealousy, desperation for validation.
That’s polarizing, but it’s honest.” His journey from office villain to “walking heart” was carefully crafted with the writers, evolving from a beta male to a flawed leader who owns his emotions.
The Suits LA Cancellation & What Comes Next
NBC’s decision to cancel Suits LA after one season landed just days after Hoffman’s episode aired, leaving fans wondering if Louis might pop back up elsewhere. The actor remains hopeful:
- “There’s talk of a Suits movie, or maybe Louis heading a spinoff firm,” Rick Hoffman teases.
- “If Aaron calls, I’m in. That character changed my life.”
Living the Dual-Citizen Life
During Suits’ original Toronto shoot, Rick Hoffman fell in love with Canada and stayed.
Now a dual citizen raising a son near Lake Huron, he jokes that friends envy his passport: “They say, ‘You knew!’ Honestly, small-town Canada cuts my stress in half.”
Masculinity & Modern Anti-Heroes
While Louis joins TV’s roster of complicated male leads, Rick Hoffman never chased alpha bravado. “He wanted respect, not domination,” he says. “Louis is comfortable owning both his toughness and his vulnerability—screaming one minute, crying the next. That layered masculinity is why he sticks.”
Final Thoughts from Rick Hoffman
Re-entering Louis’ pin-striped, mud-splattered world for two whirlwind days reminded Rick Hoffman why the role endures:
- “It’s rare to revisit a character after six years and feel he’s still alive inside you.”
- “Louis Litt taught me that audiences crave authenticity—even when it’s messy, neurotic, and covered in prune juice.”
Whether or not a Suits reunion film materializes, Rick Hoffman knows one truth: Louis Litt will always be just a throat-punch away from his next meltdown—and fans will be ready to “get Litt up” again.
