Actor Rockmond Dunbar from “9-1-1” faces a major lawsuit against Disney after losing a lucrative $100K-per-episode role over his COVID vaccine stance.

A federal jury in Los Angeles has delivered a significant verdict against actor Rockmond Dunbar, who alleged that Disney unlawfully fired him from the successful series “9-1-1” due to his refusal to comply with the company’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The unanimous decision, reached after a four-day trial, concludes a legal struggle spanning three years wherein Dunbar claimed religious discrimination, racial bias, and wrongful termination.

Background of the Lawsuit

Dunbar filed his lawsuit in federal court in 2022, asserting that Disney failed to accommodate his deeply held religious beliefs. As a member of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom—a relatively obscure religious organization established by chiropractor Walter P. Schilling—he argued that his faith prohibited vaccines and other “unnatural” medical procedures. Along with his religious discrimination claim, Dunbar contended that white employees who also refused vaccinations faced different treatment.

The initial claims in Dunbar’s lawsuit were narrowed down by District Judge Dolly Gee in 2024 to three critical questions:

1. Whether Dunbar’s beliefs qualify as religious under Title VI.
2. Whether the company failed to engage in a meaningful dialogue to explore accommodations.
3. Whether any proposed accommodations would impose undue hardship on the studio.

During the pre-trial discovery phase, Disney uncovered documentation that significantly challenged Dunbar’s assertions, including evidence that joining the Congregation cost just $1 and that he was receiving monthly testosterone injections, which contradicted his argument against receiving the COVID vaccine.

Trial Proceedings and Verdict

Throughout the four-day trial, Dunbar offered heartfelt testimony regarding his faith and opposition to vaccinations, stating, “Man created the COVID-19 vaccine to separate you from God. This is a spiritual war — a war of evil against good. I stood on the side of God.” He insisted he wasn’t “anti-vaccine,” even though he acknowledged that his children had not received any vaccinations.

During cross-examination, Disney’s lead counsel, Maria Rodriguez, questioned Dunbar’s credibility by presenting medical records that showed he regularly received testosterone and anastrozole—substances deemed “sacrilegious” by his church leader. In her closing arguments, Rodriguez highlighted a comprehensive list of 37 prescription medications that Dunbar had used.

The jury ultimately sided with Disney, determining that Dunbar’s objections were based on personal preference rather than protected religious belief and concluding that the studio acted lawfully in enforcing its health and safety mandates.

Financial and Career Implications

During the trial, Dunbar revealed that he earned approximately $100,000 per episode of “9-1-1” and received compensation for episodes in which he did not appear—a situation he described as “a dream job.” Since his exit from the show, he has reportedly faced challenges finding new work and has depleted his savings. “I’m underwater,” he stated. “This has taken my life into a financial hole that I will never be able to escape.“

While Dunbar framed his lawsuit as an act of faith, the jury’s decision leaves him without legal recourse and facing considerable financial distress. Disney’s victory is being closely monitored in Hollywood, reflecting the contentious debate surrounding vaccination policies within the industry during the pandemic. For Dunbar, this ruling marks a significant turn in a career that has included prominent roles in “Prison Break,” “Sons of Anarchy,” and “Soul Food.”

As he departed the courthouse, Dunbar expressed his unshaken belief, stating, “Take my cars, my money — I don’t care. You have to leave here with your soul intact. This was my spiritual test, and I passed.“