The One Chicago franchise—a sprawling, interconnected universe built on the life-and-death stakes of first responders—has long been defined by its unwavering sense of family. Whether it’s the camaraderie of Firehouse 51, the loyalty of the Intelligence Unit, or the high-stakes teamwork at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, these shows thrive on the unbreakable bonds between characters.
It is precisely this dedication to deep, familial connections that makes every major character departure feel like a punch to the gut. Over a decade of groundbreaking television, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med have forced fans to say goodbye to beloved figures, often in ways that are unexpected, tragic, or agonizingly unresolved. The sheer volume of exits in recent years has left a collective ache in the heart of the fandom, leading to one inescapable truth: We still miss them.
Here, we revisit the most significant and emotionally devastating One Chicago exits that continue to echo in the halls of their respective shows, forever changing the dynamic of the universe.
The Firehouse Falls Silent: The Deaths That Rocked Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire, the bedrock of the franchise, is no stranger to tragedy. The nature of the job means that death is an ever-present threat, and when the show claims one of its own, the loss is immediate, profound, and universally felt.
Leslie Shay (Lauren German)
The franchise’s first, and arguably most devastating, major loss was Paramedic Leslie Shay in the Season 3 premiere. Shay wasn’t just Gabriela Dawson’s partner; she was the witty, compassionate soul of Firehouse 51 and the platonic soulmate of Kelly Severide. Her sudden death, a result of injuries sustained in an explosion, was a shock that fundamentally altered the fabric of the show.
The immediate aftermath—watching Severide’s spiral into grief and the entire house mourning the loss of their “sister”—was some of the most raw television in the franchise’s history. Shay’s locker, perpetually bearing her nameplate, remains a permanent, silent memorial, a constant reminder of the first family member Firehouse 51 lost.
Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov)
Seven seasons into the show, the gut-wrenching death of Brian “Otis” Zvonecek was another irreplaceable blow. Otis, the quirky, optimistic co-owner of Molly’s, was an original cast member whose warm presence was often the comic relief in the darkest hours. His heroic death in the Season 8 premiere, succumbing to injuries from a boiler room explosion, was a masterful, yet cruel, storytelling choice.
His final, whispered words in Russian to Joe Cruz, “Brother, I will be with you always,” were a final, tear-inducing moment that left fans shattered. The dedication of the Otis memorial at Firehouse 51 serves as a perpetual, painful testament to a character whose light was extinguished too soon.
The Intelligence Unit’s Broken Circle: Chicago P.D.’s Agonizing Farewells
While Chicago Fire often deals with tragic, on-the-job deaths, Chicago P.D.’s heartbreaking exits often center on betrayal, moral compromise, or the simple desire for peace outside the brutal, murky world of the Intelligence Unit.
Detective Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas)
The departure of Alvin Olinsky stands as one of the most unjust and heartbreaking in the franchise. Al, Hank Voight’s trusted, quiet, and deeply loyal right-hand man, was murdered in prison after taking the fall for Voight’s past transgressions.
His death was a storyline-driven sacrifice that broke the entire Intelligence Unit, particularly Voight, who was forced to grapple with the monumental cost of his own ethical compromises. For fans, losing Olinsky meant losing the quiet conscience of the team and the most stable presence in Voight’s volatile life. It was a character departure dictated by narrative necessity, making it feel all the more cruel.
Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton: The End of “Upstead”
The recent double whammy of Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) leaving has arguably been the most significant emotional fallout in Chicago P.D. history.
Halstead’s abrupt decision to abandon his marriage to Upton and return to the military in Bolivia, followed by his character’s quiet request for a divorce off-screen, felt like a betrayal of the character’s core values. For a hero defined by his steadfast loyalty and moral compass, his exit left fans confused and angry at the narrative handling of a fan-favorite.
Upton’s subsequent departure, driven by her inability to move past Halstead’s abandonment and her need for a new start, was equally painful. The end of the “Upstead” relationship—a dynamic that anchored the show for years—left a massive, painful void in the Intelligence Unit that fans are still struggling to fill.
The White Coat Woes: The Emotional Turnover at Chicago Med
Chicago Med operates on a different kind of emotional frequency, often losing characters not to violent tragedy, but to complex personal decisions, burnout, or unresolvable relationship drama.
Dr. Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell) and Dr. Ava Bekker (Norma Kuhling)
The abrupt, dramatic exit of both Dr. Connor Rhodes and Dr. Ava Bekker in the Season 5 premiere left a chasm in the hospital’s heart. While their relationship was famously tempestuous, their simultaneous exit—Rhodes leaving after his father’s suspicious death, later revealed to be at the hands of a psychopathic Ava who then takes her own life—was a shocking, high-drama conclusion.
Fans missed the talent and intensity both actors brought to the ED, particularly Rhodes’ dynamic with Dr. Latham. Their storyline concluded so definitively and tragically that any hope of a return was immediately extinguished, contributing to the show’s reputation for high-stakes, dramatic turnover.
Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss)
As the last original main cast member on Chicago Med, Dr. Will Halstead’s resignation at the end of Season 8 marked the true end of an era. Will was the emotional center of the show, known for his relentless pursuit of justice for his patients, which often put him at odds with the hospital’s administration.
While his exit was less tragic—reuniting with his former fiancée, Dr. Natalie Manning, for a “happily ever after”—it was an emotionally weighty moment. Fans had watched Will’s entire journey unfold, from countless failed relationships to moral crises. Seeing him finally find peace was satisfying, but losing the show’s central protagonist created a massive vacuum in the emergency department.
The Bitter Truth of Longevity
Why do these departures hurt so much? The answer lies in the unique longevity of the ‘One Chicago’ franchise. Showrunners have often cited the sheer duration of the series as the main reason for cast turnover. Actors, after a decade or more in the same role, often seek new creative opportunities, or simply desire a better work-life balance.
However, the nature of these exits—whether a sudden death, a controversial character assassination, or a quiet fade-out—often feels unfair to fans who have invested years in these fictional lives. The heartbreak is a shared experience because, to the audience, these characters are not just players; they are the family we invite into our homes every week.
Though new characters arrive to fill the ranks, the original heroes—Shay, Otis, Olinsky, Casey, the Halsteads—leave scars that remain. Their absences are a constant, unspoken weight in the narrative, a painful reminder of what was lost. We still miss them, and their indelible mark on the One Chicago universe ensures that they will never truly be gone.
