‘Chicago Fire’ Original Cast Member Joe Miñoso Leaving In Season 15 Of NBC Drama - Deadline

What the report says

Deadline reports that Joe Miñoso, an original “Chicago Fire” cast member, will leave the NBC drama during its upcoming 15th season. Miñoso, who plays firefighter Joe Cruz, is expected to appear in several early Season 15 episodes so the series can close out his character’s storyline. The show comes from Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television.

Miñoso has been part of the series since its 2012 launch, first appearing as a guest star in the pilot and recurring through most of Season 1 before becoming a series regular in Season 2. His exit reduces the number of remaining early cast members; Deadline notes that Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg and Christian Stolte are among the other original-era actors still associated with the show.

The departure comes during a period of transition for “Chicago Fire.” Deadline previously reported that Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo signed new deals to remain with the series, while “BMF” actor Da’Vinchi is joining Season 15 as a regular in the role of a new firefighter. The new season will also have Victor Teran as showrunner after Andrea Newman’s departure following 14 seasons.

Storywise, Cruz’s family life was left in a major place at the end of Season 14, with his wife’s pregnancy revealed to involve twins. The finale also ended with Firehouse 51 responding to a storage facility blaze that put several main characters in danger, leaving Season 15 to resolve both the emergency and the future of Cruz.