All the Chicago Fire Actors Who Have Said Goodbye to Firehouse 51 (Including Surprising Season 14 Shakeups!)
For over a decade, Firehouse 51 has been more than just a setting for Dick Wolf’s hit drama, Chicago Fire—it has been a home. The show’s success is built on the unwavering loyalty of its family of firefighters, paramedics, and leaders. But as is the case in any long-running series, the doors of Firehouse 51 have seen their fair share of goodbyes. From heroes who retired to characters who met a tragic fate, the show has never shied away from shocking its audience with unexpected departures.
While every exit leaves an emotional mark, the most recent announcements for Season 14 have fans reeling. The upcoming season will see some of the most surprising shake-ups in the show’s history, with a new wave of actors saying a heartfelt farewell to their roles. This comprehensive list takes a look back at every major actor who has left the show and provides a detailed breakdown of the recent, and truly surprising, departures.
The Early Departures: The First Wave of Goodbyes
In its initial seasons, Chicago Fire established its dramatic tone by not being afraid to say goodbye to its characters, no matter how beloved. These early exits set a precedent that every character, no matter how central, was vulnerable.
- Lauren German (Leslie Shay): One of the most heartbreaking goodbyes came at the end of Season 2 with the tragic death of Paramedic Leslie Shay. A fan-favorite from the beginning, Shay’s death in the line of duty was a gut-wrenching moment that profoundly impacted the rest of the crew, particularly her best friend Kelly Severide. Her death remains one of the show’s most emotional and formative events.
- Charlie Barnett (Peter Mills): Mills was an original member of Firehouse 51, a passionate young firefighter with a complex family history. He departed at the end of Season 3, leaving the firehouse to move to North Carolina to be with his family. His departure was a quiet, emotional one, a rare instance of a character leaving on their own terms.
- Dora Madison (Jessica “Chili” Chilton): Chili was a paramedic who joined the show after Shay’s death. Her character’s arc was a challenging one, as she struggled with personal trauma and substance abuse. She was written off the show in Season 4 after her struggles became a liability at the firehouse. Her departure was a sad but realistic portrayal of the toll a high-stress job can have on a person’s mental health.
The Mid-Run Shakeups: The Departures of Mainstays
As the show matured, the exits became more significant, involving characters who had been with the show for years and were central to its identity.
- Monica Raymund (Gabriela Dawson): A beloved original cast member, Gabriela Dawson was the heart and soul of the paramedic crew. Her complex relationship with Matt Casey was a central theme for several seasons. Raymund’s departure at the beginning of Season 7 was a shock to fans. Dawson decided to move to Puerto Rico to help with hurricane relief efforts, a bittersweet ending that left her relationship with Casey unresolved for years.
- Jon Seda (Antonio Dawson): While a star of Chicago P.D., Jon Seda’s character Antonio Dawson was a frequent presence on Chicago Fire due to his relationship with his sister, Gabriela. He officially left the One Chicago franchise in Season 7, his character retiring from the police department to go into private security.
- Jesse Spencer (Matthew Casey): Arguably the most significant departure in the show’s history was that of Captain Matthew Casey in Season 10. The original lead of the series, Casey’s exit was a monumental change for the show. He left Chicago to move to Oregon to take care of the sons of his late friend, Andy Darden. While he has made a few cameo appearances since then, his permanent exit marked the beginning of a new era for Firehouse 51.
- Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead): A fan-favorite from Chicago P.D., Jay Halstead was a key player in countless crossover episodes. His departure from the franchise in Season 10 was a major loss for the entire One Chicago universe. Halstead’s exit to join a new task force left a major hole in the show’s law enforcement side.
- Kara Killmer (Sylvie Brett): In what was one of the most emotional exits of all, Sylvie Brett said her final goodbyes in Season 12. After a long-distance relationship, Brett and Casey finally reunited and got married, leaving Chicago to start a new life in Oregon. Her farewell was a beautiful and heartwarming conclusion to a storyline that had been building for seasons.
The Season 14 Shakeups: A New Wave of Goodbyes
While the previous exits were spaced out over years, Season 14 is set to see a sudden and dramatic cast purge that has left the fandom in a state of shock.
- Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter): A beloved character since Season 7, Darren Ritter was the heart of the squad. His journey from a nervous recruit to a confident and brave firefighter was a fan-favorite arc. His departure, reportedly due to cost-cutting measures, is a major blow to the show’s morale and will leave a significant void in the firehouse family.
- Jake Lockett (Sam Carver): Joining the cast in Season 11, Sam Carver quickly became a central figure due to his complex personality and his on-again, off-again relationship with Paramedic Violet Mikami. His departure, also reportedly due to budget cuts, means that one of the show’s key romantic storylines has been abruptly cut short, leaving fans with an emotional cliffhanger.
- Michael Bradway (Jack Damon): In a truly surprising twist, actor Michael Bradway, who joined the cast in Season 13 as Jack Damon, a long-lost son of Benny Severide, will not be returning as a series regular. This departure leaves the promising storyline of a new Severide brother tragically unresolved, and its impact on Kelly Severide’s character will be immense.
The Legacy of the Farewell
The revolving door of Firehouse 51 is a testament to the show’s commitment to realism and its ability to adapt. While the goodbyes are always painful, each one has served a purpose, whether to elevate the show’s drama or to give the story room to grow.
The Season 14 shake-ups, in particular, signal a new era for Chicago Fire. The show is not afraid to take risks, even if it means saying goodbye to beloved characters. As Firehouse 51 welcomes a new recruit, Sal Vasquez, played by Brandon Larracuente, fans will have to brace themselves for another round of emotional goodbyes while keeping their eyes peeled for the new dynamics and challenges that lie ahead. The fire may burn on, but the family at Firehouse 51 is forever changing.
