Graham Wardle played Ty Borden for thirteen seasons before he decided he was done. He didn’t make a fuss about it. He told The Canadian Press that he felt in his heart it was time to move in a new direction, and left it at that. There was no contract dispute, no creative fallout, and no behind-the-scenes drama — just a man in his mid-thirties who had spent most of his adult life on the same ranch set in High River, Alberta, and was ready for a change.
The writers wrote Ty out with little warning. In the Season 14 premiere, Ty collapses and dies without warning in the middle of an ordinary day. There were no emotional bedside speeches or long, drawn-out goodbyes.
The character who had arrived on Heartland as an angry teenage delinquent — working off a community service sentence at the Fleming ranch, of all places — died the way most people do: before anyone was ready.
Shortly after the news broke, Wardle posted a YouTube video admitting that walking away from the show and the cast was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He had literally grown up with these people. Amber Marshall, who plays Amy, had been his on-screen partner for over a decade.
“I’m following my heart, and I don’t know where it’s leading me,” he told fans, “but that’s what life is about.”
He didn’t rush right back onto another TV set, either. Instead, Wardle launched a podcast called Time Has Come, hosting conversations about creativity, spirituality, and personal growth. One of his first guests was Marshall herself, and the two sat down to talk, reflecting about what all those years together actually meant to them. Outside of that, he has spent his time traveling, writing, and pursuing photography—deliberately choosing a much slower, quieter lifestyle.
For Heartland, which has now run for nearly 20 seasons and remains a massive hit, Ty’s absence became a permanent part of the show’s structure, rather than a hole they tried to quickly patch over. The writers didn’t rush to replace him or wrap up Amy’s grief in a neat little bow. Instead, they let the loss sit with her across multiple seasons, slowly shaping the person she became. Ty’s name still comes up on the ranch, and his memory still carries real weight.
That kind of impact was only possible because Wardle left on his own terms. He didn’t overstay his welcome, and he didn’t leave angry. The years he spent building Ty Borden—taking him from a juvenile delinquent to a husband, father, and veterinarian—feel complete rather than interrupted. Not every long-running TV character gets that kind of closure, but this one did.
For more context on how the show carried that weight, see Top 10 Saddest Heartland Moments.
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Well when I first started watching this series I didn’t like it and the more I watched it with my 75 year old mom the more it grew in my heart and soul I’ve never cried as much on any other movie like I did with this one, and doe ty passing was nuts and I still don’t get why it when down that way but the actor that played as ty b open my eyes to aLot of things in my own life and it pretty much showed me no matter what’s gos on inones life anything can happen and I’m thankful for being able to watch this and also learn from it hate the fact that theres aLot of drama in this series but we all know drama is in everyone’s life and we learn to either over look it or just block it all out at once . But I have to say I love the series Heartland and all the Characters are great love watching Jack and Tim they always have my mom laughing and it great to be able to watch her get into this series and talk about it all the time to me it gives my mom more to live for so I want to thank everyone who’s on this series For sharing their parts on here I hope it keeps playing it so worth the time and effort to be in patience for the next to watch . Going to miss this series and all the character’s in this .Sorry to see and know it’s going to end .
I loved watching the show with ty and Amy I hoping if ty comes back they can continue where they left off with Amy and ty raising there beautiful little girl the show just won’t be the same if they are not together
My husband and I love Heartland ❤️ We have watched the series 3 times so far. We never get tired of it 😍
I am watching for the 76 th time xx
I love Heartland and I am watching it again for probably the 5th or 6th time. I miss Ty.
It’s the best for Graham wardle as Ty. There are something I noticed some actor or actress left the show. It may have something to do with director or someone did do wrong . I really have no details of knowledge., However, yes I miss Ty since the show till season 14.. if you bring him back, it won’t be the same due the long gap years apart . It’s matters to Mr Wardle’s goal. But I’m sure he worked so hard for his podcast n his long journey in his future. It may affect him to experience by interview with other people. Hey May your road stay straight n go for ur goal to the stars.
Following your heart is a life time! Finding your heart needs by prayer. Serving your Creator, Knowing, serving, loving your God and your neighbor. Graham, you were doing this as an example in Heartland for the world families .You are a good actor. You need your heart to be seen by the youth of this world. Sometimes we look to far ahead and miss what the Creator wants from us. We are here to serve Him not ourselves! Love-ya. PawT
I hated that ty left but he will never be forgotten he will be missed and he will always be loved. He has fans everywhere and they love him know matter where he is or what he’s doing.
My wife and I watch Heartland on Up Faith and Family channel. We have follow this series since it started and wait patiently for it to come back on each season, it’s actually our date night thing to watch along with Sullivans Crossing. Although the series is still great to watch, we still wish that Ty would come back somehow. We understand that Graham left for his own reasons and we definitely wish him well. But the love that Ty and Amy had felt like real life, there were the ups and downs of their relationship, but they always ended up back together. The show is definitely different to watch and even in season 19 Ty’s still in the show within Amy’s mind as well as her daughters. Nathan is good for Amy, but he is no Ty. The new actor who just popped up is what Jack saw in Ty, I believe a new love story is blooming with this new actor and and Katie. We will continue to watch the show because it’s been something we have watched since we got married. We are going on 20 years of marriage, so we have followed this series since it started around the same time we got married. It’s a great date night thing to do.