Chicago Fire is about to be down to just three original cast members. The NBC drama is losing actor Joe Miñoso during the upcoming Season 15, per a Deadline report. No immediate reason for his departure was given, but it’s a reminder of one of the harsh realities of long-running TV shows: very few stars stay forever.
The good news is that Miñoso will appear in a couple of Chicago Fire Season 15 episodes to give Cruz a proper sendoff, which is deserved for someone who’s been part of the show from the first season and also an improvement over some recent character exits (see: the downward slide and eventual departure of Sam Carver, although Jake Lockett’s character did get to return for an episode in Season 14). But it’s always sad when an original cast member leaves any series, and moreso when one realizes that Fire‘s ensemble isn’t far from turning completely over. Only Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg and Christian Stolte remain from Season 1.
But this is the nature of success; in October, Chicago Fire will have been on the air for almost a decade and a half. Actors and creatives decide to move on to other things, like showrunner Andrea Newman’s recent departure. The One Chicago franchise is also known for cast turnover, particularly Fire. Co-creator Derek Haas spoke openly over the years about shaking up Firehouse 51 periodically, while off-screen, it’s been well-documented how budget constraints have resulted in all three shows giving cast members certain episodes off each season.
And in the case of Joe Cruz, the character’s arc has reached at least a decent landing spot. Most of his storylines in recent seasons have revolved around his home life, and some of them have worked better than others. He hasn’t had a lot that’s really been attention-grabbing. And with Cruz and Chloe expanding their family in the Season 14 finale, that feels like a place to start a happy ending. They could get some great opportunity for their family that requires them to move on from Firehouse 51. A newly available promotion chance for Cruz would be the easiest idea—maybe the budget reorganizations open up some position elsewhere that comes with a pay raise—but Cruz would also be the type to sacrifice if Chloe or his kids had an opportunity of their own, too.
What new showrunner Victor Teran and company can’t do is kill Joe Cruz. It would be unnecessarily cruel to have him die in the line of duty when his wife has just given birth. And it would be even more painful for fans since Cruz’s best friend Brian “Otis” Zvonecek died in the infamous Arnow factory fire years ago. Repeating that concept would just feel both unoriginal and kind of mean. Luckily, since the Deadline report says Joe Miñoso will be in several Season 15 episodes, his character logically has to survive the cliffhanger that started in the Season 14 finale. Unless he’s coming back as a ghost, which would be an entirely different show on another network.
But Cruz needs an exit storyline that puts him front and center. It shouldn’t be a subplot and it shouldn’t be rushed. It needs to be a Cruz-centric episode or episodes that make him the hero, even if it’s not in a physical fire and rescue situation. His final arc should include at least one moment that honors the friendship and support he’s given Kelly Severide over the years, and there ought to be a callback to Otis, too. Because saying goodbye to Joe Cruz is also a chance to recognize and reinforce what Joe Miñoso brought to the series. And above all, whatever happens needs to be a happy ending. There will always be room for more action, excitement and tragedy in the world of Chicago Fire. But after building his dream life over the last few seasons, Cruz deserves to keep enjoying it.
Aside from Newman, Miñoso joins Chicago PD star LaRoyce Hawkins and Law & Order actor Reid Scott in leaving the Wolf Entertainment universe in the 2026-2027 season. Chicago Fire has already cast Da’Vinchi as a new series regular for Season 15.
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Photo Credit: Courtesy of NBC.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
