Graham Wardle Opens Up: Why He Walked Away From Ty Borden and Heartland

Ty Borden’s death in Season 14 didn’t come with speeches or buildup. He collapsed, quietly, in the middle of a normal day. The boy who arrived at Heartland Ranch angry and lost — the man who built a life with Amy — was suddenly gone.

There was no scandal behind it. No fight. No secret offer. Just a choice Graham Wardle had been sitting with for years.

“I felt in my heart it was time to move in a new direction.” — Graham Wardle, The Canadian Press

He later told fans that leaving wasn’t easy or impulsive. It was the kind of decision you make slowly, when you realize staying would mean pretending. In a YouTube message, he said stepping away from Ty — and from a cast he’d grown up with — was one of the hardest moments of his career. But it was honest.

Leaving Heartland wasn’t about escaping something. It was about following something.

Where to watch Heartland right now

Availability changes by region, but as of late 2025 most seasons are still carried on major streaming platforms and select TV provider on-demand libraries. If it’s missing from your app, check the regional catalog — international releases often lag a bit.

Life after the ranch

Graham didn’t disappear. He shifted pace.

He launched Time Has Come, a podcast centered on creativity, change, and faith — and one of his first deep conversations was with Amber Marshall, reflecting on their years together on set.

Outside the mic, he’s been traveling, photographing, writing, and sharing pieces of his life at a slower rhythm. He still appears at occasional fan events, but he’s following his own compass now.

How the Show Handled Ty’s Death

Ty’s passing wasn’t written for shock value. It was small, sudden, and real — the kind of moment that hits harder because it doesn’t feel scripted.

The writers didn’t try to replace him. They let the loss reshape the ranch. Amy’s story didn’t erase him; it carried the weight of who he was and what he meant. Even now, Ty shows up in the choices characters make, long after he’s gone.

“I’m following my heart, and I don’t know where it’s leading me, but that’s what life is about.” — Graham Wardle

There was no neat goodbye, and that fits both the character and the actor. Graham left when it felt right — and because he did, the years he spent as Ty still feel true.

If you ever loved Amy and Ty’s story, that honesty is part of why it lingers.

For more context on how the show carried that weight, see Top 10 Saddest Heartland Moments, and for what’s next, Season 18: Everything We Know.

Quick FAQ

Did Graham Wardle leave on bad terms?
No. It was a personal, long-considered decision.

Will Ty ever return?
The departure was written as final.

Is Heartland still filming?
Yes. New seasons continue the story.