Two fan-favorite actors, Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter) and Jake Lockett (Sam Carver), are officially exiting Chicago Fire after Season 13 — and the fandom is in mourning. Known for bringing heart, humor, and diversity to the firehouse, their departures come as part of a network-wide restructuring effort aimed at reducing production costs.
For Daniel Kyri, who joined the show back in Season 7, the role of Darren Ritter represented far more than just another firefighter. As one of the few openly gay characters in the One Chicago universe, Ritter gave fans a character they could deeply relate to — and his friendship with Mouch, Gallo, and Violet was among the most genuine in the show.
Jake Lockett, who arrived more recently, brought a raw, tough energy to Firehouse 51. Carver’s battles with trauma and his efforts to evolve as a teammate earned him quick fan admiration.
Although their exits were not written with death or tragedy, fans were left devastated. Many took to Twitter and Reddit to say their emotional goodbyes, with posts like “I can’t believe they’re gone — they were the soul of Squad!” Now, as Season 14 gears up for a new chapter, the absence of these two actors will be deeply felt.
