For over a decade, Chicago Fire has followed the lives of the brave men and women at Firehouse 51, blending heart-pounding rescues with personal drama. But long-running shows face a common challenge: keeping a sprawling cast engaged while navigating actors’ career moves. Across 14 seasons, Chicago Fire has seen its share of shocking departures — some story-driven, some voluntary, and some a mix of both.

---

Early Departures That Shocked Fans

Teri Reeves (Hallie Thomas) – Hallie, Matt Casey’s girlfriend, died in the first season under mysterious circumstances, teaching viewers that no one was safe in Chicago.

Lauren German (Leslie Shay) – A fan-favorite paramedic, Shay perished in a fire during season two, leaving a lasting impact on Firehouse 51 and the audience.

Charlie Barnett (Peter Mills) – Peter left to work at his family’s restaurant, marking a story-driven exit that still left the door open for a potential return.

Dora Madison (Jessica ‘Chili’ Chilton) – Chili was written out mid-season four after self-destructive behavior, reminding fans that exits could happen at any time.

Steven R. McQueen (Jimmy Borrelli) – Jimmy’s tragic accidents and personal challenges highlighted the real dangers faced by firefighters, eventually leading to his departure.

---

Original Cast Members Saying Goodbye

Monica Raymund (Gabriela Dawson) – A key figure and Casey’s love interest, Dawson left after six seasons to pursue new opportunities.

Yuriy Sardarov (Brian ‘Otis’ Zvonecek) – Otis’s death in season eight hit fans hard, underscoring that no one in Firehouse 51 is invincible.

Annie Ilonzeh (Emily Foster) – Introduced as a new paramedic, Emily left after season eight to return to medical school, though her training came in handy during real-life emergencies.

---

Later Departures and Recent Exits

Adriyan Rae (Gianna Mackey) – Only nine episodes on the series, Rae’s exit was due to personal reasons, though the door remains open for a return.

Jesse Spencer (Matt Casey) – One of the longest-running characters, Casey moved to Portland after the 200th episode to focus on family and future projects.

Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide) – Took a temporary leave in season 11 but later returned, showing some exits are never permanent.

Alberto Rosende (Blake Gallo) – After four seasons, Gallo left to reunite with family, marking another heartfelt exit from Firehouse 51.

Kara Killmer (Sylvie Brett) – Followed Casey to Portland after a decade on the show, finally achieving the “Brettsey” wedding fans had waited for.

Eamonn Walker (Chief Boden) – The steadfast Firehouse 51 leader exited to run for Deputy Commissioner, returning for guest appearances later.

Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter) – Left after season 13 as NBC reduced the cast budget, with a proper goodbye scheduled in season 14.

Jake Lockett (Sam Carver) – His character was affected by budget cuts after season 13; Lockett shared heartfelt thanks to fans on Instagram.

Michael Bradway (Jack Damon) – Appeared briefly in season 12, cut after season 13, though sources suggest a potential future return.