Why Did Lisseth Chavez Really Leave Chicago P.D.? Inside the Shocking Exit of Vanessa Rojas

Lisseth Chavez’s time on Chicago P.D. was one of the show’s most puzzling. The actor joined the NBC drama in the second episode of Season 7 as the street-smart Officer Vanessa Rojas. But before Season 8 premiered, it was announced Rojas wouldn’t return to the One Chicago universe. Around the same time, Chavez booked a new role in another major TV franchise when she joined DC’s Legends of Tomorrow as a series regular.

So was Vanessa Rojas written out of Chicago P.D. because the actor who played her landed another gig? Or were there personal reasons involved, like when Sophia Bush exited the series years earlier? Fans have continued to speculate because Rojas received the most low-key departure in One Chicago history. Here’s what is known about Lisseth Chavez, Vanessa Rojas and why neither of them is part of the popular crime drama any longer.

Updated on May 24, 2024 by Katie Doll: Lisseth Chavez wasn’t on Chicago P.D. for very long, raising the question of why she was ever on the show to begin with. But her character, Vanessa Rojas, had a purpose, even if it was short-lived. This article has been updated to expand on Chavez’s future after Chicago P.D. and other reasons for her departure.

Who Was Vanessa Rojas on Chicago P.D.?

Appearing In Only One Season, Vanessa Rojas Was a New Addition to the Cast as a Potential Romantic Interest

Vanessa Rojas was the replacement for Antonio Dawson after Chicago P.D. producers decided not to bring Jon Seda back to the series. (Seda moved on to star in NBC’s sci-fi/fantasy drama La Brea, which is returning for Season 3.) Rojas’ arrival in Season 7, Episode 2, “Assets,” meant that Chicago P.D. still had a Latin-American character in the cast and added another female character. She started as an undercover cop working in drug lord Darius Walker’s club before making the leap to the Intelligence Unit in her next episode.

Large parts of Season 7 focused on Rojas as the series integrated her into Intelligence. Her debut episode clarified that she was a potential girlfriend for the usually unlucky-in-love Kevin Atwater, while later in the season, Rojas moved in with Hailey Upton. Several cases of the week put Rojas front and center; in Season 7, Episode 14, “Center Mass,” she bonded with a mentally ill suspect. And four episodes later, “Lines” had her ex-boyfriend as the prime suspect. Despite all this attention, Rojas did not return for Season 8, and her departure from the unit was never addressed in detail, nor did it seem to have much of an impact on her now ex-coworkers.

Fans were left confused by this general lack of resolution — especially since she lived with Upton — but it’s unlikely that Chicago P.D. will ever provide more answers about Rojas since the series is now into its fourth season without her. She hasn’t even been talked about since.

Why Lisseth Chavez Left Chicago P.D.

Due to Unfortunate Timing and Poor Reception of Her Character, Lisseth Chavez Didn’t Return for Season 8

Many characters have come and gone in the One Chicago franchise, like Sylvie Brett from Chicago Fire and Jay Halstead from Chicago PD.

The timing of Lisseth Chavez’s departure from Chicago P.D. and her arrival on Legends of Tomorrow had some viewers thinking she may have left P.D. to pursue another project like Monica Raymund moved on from Chicago Fire. However, that’s not the case; Deadline reported that, like Jon Seda, the Chicago P.D. creative team decided not to bring back her character. Season 7 also came at the unfortunate time of the COVID-19 pandemic. With such short notice and the world in panic, the series was forced to conclude its seventh season prematurely. This meant that Rojas storyline ended quite abruptly and without closure. But the showrunners’ choice to suspend Rojas as a character then made Chavez available to sign up for the CW series, which was canceled after Season 7.

Despite how much Chicago P.D. tried to give Vanessa Rojas a place by creating relationships with existing fan-favorite characters, she didn’t entirely click with the producers. Lisseth Chavez’s short run on the show was one example of how the series struggled to shake up its cast; after she left, they introduced the recurring character of Officer Andre Cooper, who almost joined Intelligence to take Rojas’ spot but instead disappeared just like her. In Season 9, the writers abandoned adding a new character and chose to focus on the existing members of the cast. Then, in Season 10, they added the character of Dante Torres. It’s theoretically possible that Chavez could guest star as Rojas someday (similar to how Brian Geraghty returned as Officer Sean Roman in Season 7). Still, since Rojas doesn’t seem to be missed, it’d be a surprise if she turns up again.

Lisseth Chavez’s Movies and TV Shows Outside of Chicago PD

While She Didn’t Find Success With Chicago P.D., Lisseth Chavez Found Bigger Roles in Legends of Tomorrow and The Rookie

Although Chavez wasn’t brought back to Chicago P.D. after Season 7, she found meaningful roles on other television series. Chavez made brief appearances on shows like Shameless, Lucifer, Southland and more, but had longer stays that really solidified her as an actor. Particularly, Chavez became well-known for her work on The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow, in which she played Esperanza “Spooner” Cruz during Seasons 6 and 7. The character was the first to come out as asexual in the Arrowverse, making her a significant character in the LGBTQ+ television and superhero community.

Lisseth Chavez’s Most Notable Roles Outside Chicago P.D.

• The Fosters (2017-2018)
• The OA (2019)
• Station 19 (2019)
• Legends of Tomorrow (2021-2022)
• The Rookie (2022-present)

After Legends of Tomorrow ended, she began a recurring role as Officer Celina Juarez on ABC’s The Rookie. She starts out as a superstitious police officer training under John Nolan, who is initially suspicious of her apprehensive behavior. After only just one season of appearing on the series, Chavez was bumped to series regular. The promotion came as a surprise to fans, as many recurring characters spend years earning that upgrade to the main cast. Many fans also weren’t that big of a fan of her character, as her obsession over dreams and fallacies didn’t sit well with people. But it seems like Chavez has won people over in Season 6 with her and Aaron (who nearly died in the Season 5 finale) in a romantic storyline. And it all couldn’t have been done without Chavez’s brief stay on Chicago P.D., which drove attention to the talented actor.