Chicago Fire is going through a major shakeup as an original cast member prepares to exit following more than a decade on the show.
Multiple outlets confirmed that Joe Miñoso is leaving the hit NBC series. Miñoso, 47, played firefighter Joe Cruz since Chicago Fire premiered in 2012. According to reports, the actor is expected to appear in several episodes during season 15.
The departure comes after Da’Vinchi joined the season as Marcus Burke, according to Deadline.
Da’Vinchi, 30, will portray a new firefighter candidate who is described as “roguish and funny with a wry sense of humor, and also a little defiant.”
Elsewhere on the show, Dermot Mulroney was missing for several episodes in season 14. He was written off the show in January through a story line that required him to be off screen.
Mulroney, 62, appeared on Chicago Fire as Dom Pascal until Rob Morgan took over his position at Firehouse 51. Mulroney returned in the May finale after his future in the franchise seemed unclear.
Off screen, showrunner Andrea Newman exited the show after more than a decade.
Newman, who worked on Chicago Fire for its entire 14-season run, confirmed her departure in April, with co-executive producer Victor Teran taking over the role.
Newman joined Chicago Fire after the pilot as coexecutive producer before being promoted to executive producer. She was then named coshowrunner before becoming the sole showrunner in 2023.
“Working at Chicago Fire, with the absolute best cast and crew in the business, has been the highlight of my career,” Newman said in a statement. “Like so many others, I was inspired to get into TV writing because of Dick [Wolf], so what a thrill it’s been to work with him and the amazing Wolf team of Peter Jankowski, Rebecca McGill and Anastasia Puglisi. I’m so grateful to them, Derek Haas and the NBC and Universal execs who have been so supportive of the show all along the way. After 14 years, you really do become a family and working with this group will always feel like home.”
Jankowski, meanwhile, released a separate statement, which read, “We’re sad to say goodbye to Andrea. She’s been at the center of the heart and soul of Chicago Fire since the beginning, and the show thrived under her watch. We’re grateful for her commitment to the development of the next generation and know the show will be in great hands with Victor taking the reins.”
Meanwhile over on Chicago P.D., LaRoyce Hawkins will be leaving the NBC series after 13 seasons as a series regular. He will wrap up his character Kevin Atwater’s arc in the first few episodes of season 14.
The police procedural, meanwhile, is currently casting a new series regular: a Black cop who is an agent of chaos. Hawkins, 38, has not yet addressed his departure.
Chicago Fire returns to NBC on October 7.
