Long before Taylor Kinney became a household name as the smoldering firefighter Kelly Severide on NBC’s Chicago Fire, he was carving out an impressive resume with guest spots, soap operas, and surprisingly — a supporting role in an Oscar-winning thriller you might not even remember he was in.
It’s easy to associate Kinney with the One Chicago universe. Since Chicago Fire debuted in 2012, the actor has been a consistent presence on our screens, making appearances across Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med, and anchoring countless memorable storylines involving everything from daring rescues to dramatic romances. But that very same year, Kinney also quietly appeared in a film that would go on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards: Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty.
Kinney’s Path to the Big Screen
Before the red carpets and primetime stardom, Taylor Kinney’s career started modestly in 2006 with the MyNetworkTV soap Fashion House. The show was short-lived, but as Kinney once said in an interview, the intense filming schedule taught him discipline and gave him a “bootcamp” in acting. “We shot 60 episodes in four months,” he recalled. “It was like acting camp.”
From there, Kinney made rounds on network television with roles in Bones, What About Brian, and the high-octane medical drama Trauma. His breakthrough came in The Vampire Diaries as the rugged and brooding werewolf Mason Lockwood, a fan-favorite character who met a dramatic end but helped put Kinney on Hollywood’s radar.
The Oscar-Winner That Changed Everything
In 2012, Taylor Kinney’s career took a double leap forward. Not only did he land the role of Severide in Chicago Fire, but he also appeared in Kathryn Bigelow’s critically acclaimed thriller Zero Dark Thirty — a film that dramatized the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden.
Kinney played Jared, the Navy SEAL Team 6 operative and team member who took part in the climactic raid on bin Laden’s Abbottabad compound. While his role wasn’t a lead, Kinney brought his signature blend of physicality and intensity to the part, standing out even among a cast that included Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, and Chris Pratt.
The film earned widespread praise and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Sound Editing and most notably, Best Picture. For Kinney, it was a moment of validation — an indie-cred milestone that helped solidify his versatility in both television and film.
From Navy SEAL to Firehouse Lieutenant
Of course, the same year Zero Dark Thirty hit theaters, Chicago Fire premiered on NBC — and Kinney’s role as Lt. Kelly Severide quickly became the cornerstone of his career. Brooding, brave, and occasionally reckless, Severide quickly captured the hearts of viewers and has been central to Chicago Fire‘s most emotional and action-packed arcs.
In a strange twist of fate, Kinney’s role in Zero Dark Thirty and Chicago Fire overlapped in a way that emphasized his particular strength as a performer: the ability to bring gravitas to men in uniform, whether they’re storming enemy territory or rushing into burning buildings.
Romance, Drama, and Fan Favorite Status
Kinney’s Severide has become synonymous with One Chicago’s romantic rollercoaster — having been involved in more on-screen relationships than perhaps any other character across the franchise. His will-they-won’t-they with Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), his past with Renee Royce, and even his entanglements with paramedics and doctors have made him a magnetic figure in the Chicago Fire universe.
While Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med have their own fair share of drama, Chicago Fire arguably takes the crown when it comes to romantic turbulence — and a lot of that comes down to Severide’s passionate (and often chaotic) love life.
From Supporting Star to Leading Man
Kinney’s journey from background player in Zero Dark Thirty to the leading man of one of NBC’s flagship shows is a testament to both his talent and work ethic. Though fans may know him best for the smoldering gaze and sharp instincts of Kelly Severide, it’s worth remembering that before he was running into fires on primetime TV, he was helping take down one of the most infamous terrorists in modern history — on the silver screen.
So the next time you rewatch Zero Dark Thirty (or stumble across it during awards season), keep an eye out for a familiar face in camo and night vision goggles. Yes, that’s Taylor Kinney. And yes, even then, he was setting the screen on fire.
Catch Taylor Kinney in Chicago Fire, returning Fall 2025 on NBC. And if you want to revisit his Oscar-winning cameo, Zero Dark Thirty is streaming now on multiple platforms.
