The One Chicago franchise—spanning the intense professional lives of firefighters, police officers, and doctors—thrives on the on-screen drama, but what about the love lives of the stars when the cameras stop rolling? For years, millions of viewers have rooted for Stellaride, Linstead, and Manstead, but the real-life dating histories of the actors who bring these complex characters to life are often just as captivating.
From long-term engagements with global superstars to quiet, enduring marriages, the actors of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med have navigated the world of Hollywood romance with varying degrees of spotlight. This deep dive pulls back the curtain on the romantic relationships—past and present—of the stars of the Windy City.
The Firehouse Heartthrobs: Chicago Fire
The heroes of Firehouse 51 are known for their passion, and in real life, the actors have matched that intensity, often dating outside the One Chicago universe.
Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide)
Taylor Kinney is arguably the most high-profile romantic figure in the franchise, primarily due to his past relationship with a global icon.
- The Global Romance (Past): Kinney was famously engaged to pop superstar Lady Gaga for a year before their split in 2016. Their five-year relationship began in 2011 after meeting on the set of her “You and I” music video. This relationship placed Kinney squarely in the Hollywood spotlight, a stark contrast to his rugged on-screen persona.
- A Quiet Engagement (Present): Since 2022, Kinney has been in a serious relationship with model Ashley Cruger. The couple maintains a relatively private life, frequently sharing glimpses of their adventures, and they are now engaged, suggesting a happy new chapter for the actor.
Jesse Spencer (Matt Casey)
After leading Chicago Fire for ten seasons, Jesse Spencer‘s real-life commitment has been much more settled than his character’s turbulent romance with Dawson.
- Long-Term Engagement (Past): Before landing the role of Casey, Spencer was engaged to his House co-star Jennifer Morrison (who would later star in Once Upon a Time). They dated for three years before calling off their engagement in 2007.
- Married Life (Present): Spencer married research scientist Kali Woodruff in a private ceremony in 2020. They maintain a very low profile, reflecting Spencer’s preference for privacy outside of acting.
Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Kidd)
The fierce Lieutenant Kidd, played by Miranda Rae Mayo, has kept her personal life extremely private, a rare feat in the age of social media.
- Ultra-Private (Present): Mayo has never publicly disclosed a relationship, choosing instead to focus her online presence on her work, fitness, and advocacy. She is one of the few core cast members whose dating history remains almost entirely shielded from the public eye.
The Intelligence Unit’s Love Lives: Chicago P.D.
The detectives of Intelligence are trained to keep secrets, and some of the P.D. actors have been successful in keeping their real-life romances under wraps—or in one major case, right out in the open.
Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead)
Jesse Lee Soffer has a dating history closely linked to the One Chicago set, creating real-life sparks with his co-stars.
- On-Set Romances (Past): Soffer dated his on-screen partner and “Linstead” half, Sophia Bush (Erin Lindsay), for about a year before their split in 2015. He later dated Chicago Med star Torrey DeVitto (Natalie Manning) for over a year, further cementing the tight-knit nature of the franchise.
- The Current Chapter (Present): Soffer married long-time girlfriend, model Gemma Carmichael, in a small ceremony in late 2023.
Marina Squerciati (Kim Burgess)
The actress behind the resilient Kim Burgess has a history that is surprisingly private, despite being a core cast member for over a decade.
- Private Marriage (Present): Marina Squerciati is married to Eli J. Kay-Oliphant, a high-profile attorney. Squerciati is intensely private about her family life, occasionally sharing humorous, filtered photos of her child but never revealing her husband’s identity or details about their relationship to the press, focusing instead on her professional work.
Patrick John Flueger (Adam Ruzek)
Patrick John Flueger has also kept his personal life out of the tabloids, focusing on stable, long-term relationships.
- Long-Term Relationship (Present): Flueger has been in a relationship with actress Reem Amara for several years. Like many of his castmates, they prefer a quiet life, sharing occasional, supportive posts about each other on social media.
The Emergency Room Romances: Chicago Med
The high-pressure world of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center saw plenty of on-screen relationships, and the actors frequently found chemistry outside their hospital walls.
Nick Gehlfuss (Will Halstead)
The actor who played the often-troubled Dr. Will Halstead has maintained a steady and supportive partnership in real life.
- Married Life (Present): Nick Gehlfuss has been married to Lilian Matsuda since 2016. Matsuda is a manager at a major talent agency, and the couple has maintained a stable, private relationship throughout Gehlfuss’s run on Chicago Med.
Torrey DeVitto (Natalie Manning)
A veteran of TV dramas, Torrey DeVitto‘s public dating history has often been as dynamic as her on-screen romances.
- The One Chicago Connection (Past): As mentioned, she dated her Chicago P.D. neighbor Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead) for over a year.
- High-Profile Marriages (Past): Before One Chicago, DeVitto was married to actor Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries) from 2011 to 2013.
- New Love (Present): DeVitto announced her engagement to Director of Development for a major television network, Jared LaGroone, in 2023, stepping away from the Hollywood dating pool.
Brian Tee (Ethan Choi)
The actor behind the highly disciplined Dr. Ethan Choi is a dedicated family man in real life.
- Enduring Marriage (Present): Brian Tee has been married to actress Mirelly Taylor since 2010. The couple is one of the most stable in the One Chicago sphere, often sharing heartwarming posts about their daughter and their life together, showing a strong, public commitment to family.
The Intersection of Fiction and Reality
The dating histories of the One Chicago cast offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of actors who are part of one of television’s tightest-knit franchises. The common thread for many is the tendency to gravitate toward fellow professionals, whether they be co-stars (like Soffer and Bush/DeVitto) or individuals working in the surrounding entertainment industry (like Gehlfuss’s wife or DeVitto’s fiancé).
While the dramatic on-screen romances of Linstead and Dawsey continue to define the fictional landscape, the real-life couples—like the enduring marriage of Brian Tee and the quiet stability of Jesse Spencer and Nick Gehlfuss—underscore a different, equally compelling narrative: the ability to find lasting, supportive love even in the high-pressure environment of a prime-time television star. The actors who save lives and solve crimes on screen are, off-screen, simply seeking the same kind of peace and commitment the rest of us are.
