Chicago Fire, P.D., and Med: Remembering the Stars Who’ve Left the One Chicago Universe

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Chicago Fire, P.D., and Med: Remembering the Stars Who’ve Left the One Chicago Universe

Since Chicago Fire debuted in 2012, Dick Wolf’s “One Chicago” franchise has been a staple of the NBC primetime schedule. The universe, which spans three interconnected series – Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med – has seen plenty of cast turnover over more than a decade. While core anchors such as Taylor Kinney (Fire) and Marina Squerciati (P.D.) have had long runs, many high-profile actors have left the shows, giving fans teary goodbyes.

This retrospective takes stock of notable cast members who have left the franchise, separating those who were planned, those who were at the end of their contracts, and those who were unexpected.

The “One Chicago” franchise has seen some major cast departures since 2012. Notable departures include Jesse Spencer (Chicago Fire), Jason Beghe (Chicago P.D.), and Oliver Platt (Chicago Med). Cast departures usually stem from contracts expiring, creative choices, or actors moving on to other projects. Most exits happen through narrative events like character deaths, transfers, or retirements within the show’s story.

Key Details

  • Franchise Debut: October 2012 (Debut with Chicago Fire)
  • Current Series: Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med
  • Reasons for Departure: Contract expired, creative refresh, actor career moves
  • Notable Recent Exits: Jesse Spencer (Casey), Jason Beghe (Voight), Yaya DaCosta (Charles)
  • Network: NBC

Major Departures from Chicago Fire

The flagship series Chicago Fire has kept some original cast but has also made big changes to its firehouse roster.

Jesse Spencer (Lt. Matthew Casey)

One of the biggest recent departures was Jesse Spencer, who played Lt. Matthew Casey. Spencer left the show in Season 10 (2022) to move to Australia with his family. The show wrote him out by moving him to Oregon, leaving the door open for possible guest spots. Still, he has not returned as a regular on the series.

Other Notable Fire Alumni

  • Charlie Barnett (Peter Mills): The original cast member who left in Season 4 for other opportunities. His character was killed in the line of duty, a key moment in the early series.
  • Lauren German (Leslie Shay): German left in Season 3. One of the most memorable and tragic events in the franchise’s history is her character’s death in a truck explosion.
  • Eamonn Walker (Chief Wallace Boden): Walker has been a fixture for many seasons, but stories in late 2023 and 2024 suggested he would eventually leave. It brings an end to an era of the original Fire leadership.

Significant Exits from Chicago P.D.

Chicago P.D. has experienced a lot of cast turnover, especially in its early seasons as the show figured out its ensemble dynamic.

Jason Beghe (Sgt. Hank Voight)

Jason Beghe, who has been the face of Chicago P.D. since its 2014 premiere, announced his departure in 2024. Beghe’s departure ends the run of the Intelligence Unit’s controversial but central leader. His exit was described as a natural end to the character’s story after 10 years on the air.

Early Cast Turnover

Quick changes marked the early seasons of P.D.:

  • Jon Seda as Antonio Dawson: Seda departed P.D. in Season 6 to return to Chicago Fire for a brief stint before leaving the franchise for good to pursue other roles.
  • Sophia Bush (Erin Lindsay): Bush left during Season 4 amidst alleged on-set tensions. Her character moved to New York and crossed over into Law & Order: SVU.
  • Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead): Soffer departed in Season 9 to pursue directing and other acting opportunities. His character went to the FBI.

Chicago Med Cast Changes

The youngest of the three series, Chicago Med has had a slightly more stable core, but still sees regular turnover typical of medical procedurals.

Oliver Platt (Dr. Daniel Charles)

The head of psychiatry, Dr. Daniel Charles, portrayed by Oliver Platt, left in 2023. Platt said after six seasons, he wanted to chase new creative opportunities. The writers wrote him out with a plotline that saw his character make a career change.

Other Med Departures

  • Yaya DaCosta (April Sexton): DaCosta departed in Season 8 to star in the Will Trent series. Her character’s exit was amicable and driven by character growth.
  • Brian Tee as Dr. Ethan Choi: Tee left in Season 9 for a role on Terminator Zero and other projects. His character left County General for a job with the VA.

Why Do One Chicago Stars Leave?

Procedurals have a long history of cast turnover. Within the context of “One Chicago,” there are many reasons for people to leave:
  1. Contract Cycles: TV contracts are generally 5-7 years. During this time, actors often elect not to renew contracts to avoid typecasting or to pursue film roles.
  2. Creative Refresh: Showrunners may rotate characters to keep it fresh. The emotional impact is the backbone of high-stakes dramas: deaths or dramatic character exits generate viewer engagement.
  3. Crossover Fatigue: When you have three shows that are in the same universe, juggling large casts across multiple episodes can be a logistical nightmare. Streamlining Casts Narrows Narratives

What Happens Next for the Franchise?

NBC is showing faith in the brand, renewing all three “One Chicago” series for more seasons, despite cast changes. New characters are introduced regularly to fill gaps, often as an entry point for new viewers. The network has continued to use crossovers between the three shows to keep the audience flowing, even as individual cast rosters evolve.

FAQ

Why did Jason Beghe leave Chicago PD?
Jason Beghe left Chicago P.D. after 10 seasons to wrap up his character’s story. The exit was deliberate and gave the show a chance to say a narrative farewell to Sgt. Hank Voight.

Did Jesse Spencer leave Chicago Fire permanently?
Jesse Spencer left Chicago Fire in 2022 to move to Australia. Spencer’s character, Matthew Casey, is still on the show but hasn’t returned as a series regular yet.

How many One Chicago shows are there?
The franchise currently has three active shows: Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med. A fourth series, Chicago Justice, was piloted but not picked up.

Are any of the original cast still living?
Yeah. A few original or early cast members are still around, including Taylor Kinney (Fire), Patrick John Flueger (P.D.), and Nick Gehlfuss (Med), but the ensemble has changed a lot since 2012.

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