Eugene Barkley left the Big Valley series to continue his education.
Eugene Barkley, portrayed by actor Charles Briles, was one of the Barkley family’s sons in the American Western television series “The Big Valley,” which aired from 1965 to 1969. Eugene was the youngest son and was featured in the first season of the show. However, after the first season, the character made no further appearances.
The in-universe explanation for Eugene’s absence was that he went off to college to continue his education and was therefore no longer present at the family’s ranch, the focal point of the series. This allowed the show to continue without the need to address the character’s absence in every episode.
Behind the scenes, Charles Briles was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War, which led to his departure from the show. As a result, the producers decided to write his character out rather than recast the role. The show then continued to focus on the remaining family members: Victoria Barkley, played by Barbara Stanwyck, and her other children Jarrod, Nick, Heath, and Audra, without further mention of Eugene after his departure to college.