Ten years is a long time to do anything, but for Alex O'Loughlin, a decade on Hawaii Five-0 was more than just a career stint. It was a physical gauntlet. When the show finally wrapped its 240-episode run in 2020, fans were heartbroken. Some were even confused. Ratings were still solid, and the "McDanno" chemistry was as electric as ever. So, what gives? Honestly, the answer isn't some dramatic behind-the-scenes feud or a contract dispute gone wrong. It’s much more human than that.
Alex O'Loughlin was literally falling apart.
The Physical Toll of Being Steve McGarrett
You've seen the stunts. The jumping off buildings, the hand-to-hand combat in the jungle, the high-speed chases. Early on, Alex insisted on doing a massive chunk of his own stunt work. He’s an Aussie with a background in martial arts, so it made sense at the time. But the human body has limits. By the middle of the series, the laundry list of injuries he’d racked up sounded more like a medical textbook than an actor's resume.
We’re talking about:
- Two herniated discs in his lower lumbar (a "favorite" injury of his, ironically).
- A torn right shoulder (three external tears, a labrum tear, and a detached bicep tendon).
- Torn ligaments and tendons in his ankles.
- Knocked-out front teeth.
- Injuries to both wrists and both shoulders.
Basically, he was a walking bruise. By 2012, the pain got so bad he had to take a break from Season 2 to seek supervised treatment for pain medication management. It was a wake-up call. He later admitted that he wasn't "20-something anymore" and had to start letting the stunt doubles take the hits he used to crave.
Why Season 10 Was the Hard Stop
For years, rumors swirled that Alex wanted out. In 2018, it almost happened. He was ready to hang up the tactical vest, but a round of stem cell treatments for his back supposedly worked "magic," giving him enough relief to sign on for a bit longer.
But "a bit longer" has an expiration date.
By the time Season 10 rolled around, the actor was incredibly transparent. He felt he couldn't keep going at the pace required for a 22-episode-per-year network drama. He told producers that if they wanted an 11th season, they’d likely have to do it without him. CBS actually toyed with the idea of continuing with Scott Caan’s Danny Williams and a new partner, but they eventually realized it just wouldn't be Hawaii Five-0 without the McGarrett/Danno dynamic. So, they called it a day.
Life After the Badge (2020–2026)
So, where is he now? If you’re looking for him on Instagram or Twitter, you’re out of luck. Alex has always been a private guy, and since the show ended, he’s basically gone off the grid. He still lives in Hawaii with his wife, Malia Jones, and their kids.
He didn't just walk away from a show; he seemingly walked away from the Hollywood machine entirely. While his co-stars like Scott Caan and Daniel Dae Kim have moved on to new series and production deals, Alex has focused on his family and his passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He even earned his black belt under Egan Inoue.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that he hated the show or the fame. That’s not it. In his final statements, he was nothing but grateful. He just valued his ability to walk and play with his kids more than another season of TV. He once joked that if he’d kept going, he’d be "doing the show in a wheelchair."
The Legacy of the 5-0 Reboot
Looking back, the 2010 reboot did something rare. It outshone the original in many ways—not by replacing it, but by modernizing the "Ohana" concept. O'Loughlin’s McGarrett wasn't just a stoic commander; he was a guy dealing with deep-seated trauma and a desperate need for a family he eventually built with his team.
If you’re a fan looking for your next "McGarrett fix," here are a few things you can actually do to keep the spirit of the show alive:
- Revisit his early work: Check out Moonlight or The Shield. You can see the seeds of McGarrett in his portrayal of Mick St. John.
- Support his causes: He was a huge advocate for organ donation and various Hawaiian charities.
- Watch his directorial efforts: Alex directed three episodes of Hawaii Five-0 (S8E18, S9E07, and S10E07). They offer a cool look at his creative vision behind the camera.
Alex O'Loughlin gave everything he had to Hawaii Five-0—quite literally his blood, sweat, and spinal fluid. Whether he ever returns to the screen or stays "retired" in the islands, he’s earned the right to just be Alex for a while.