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Chicago Fire original cast member Joe Miñoso leaving after 15 seasons
Joe Cruz will get an on-screen farewell early in season 15.
NBC Universal
- Morgan Cormack
Published: Thursday, 30 July 2026 at 10:20 am
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Actor Joe Miñoso is leaving Chicago Fire, saying goodbye to Firehouse 51 after his long tenure on the drama. The actor, who has played Joe Cruz on the NBC series since it began in 2012, is departing in season 15, Deadline first reported.
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The actor will appear in a handful of episodes at the start of the new season so writers can wrap up Cruz's storyline, before the character departs Firehouse 51 for good.
Fans of the show will know that Miñoso has been a beloved fixture on the series since the 2012 pilot, first appearing as a guest star and then going on to feature in nearly every episode of the first season as a recurring star. He was then promoted to series regular at the start of season 2 and has been an integral part of the show ever since – so it's quite the sad loss for the series.
His exit now leaves just three original cast members on the show: Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg and Christian Stolte.
Anthony Ferraris as Tony Ferraris, Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, Brandon Larracuente as Sal Vasquez, Jocelyn Hudon as Lyla Novak, Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter in Chicago Fire season 14. Peter Gordon/NBC via Getty Images
While no details have yet been unveiled as to how Miñoso will be written out, we can assume that because of this new departure news, Cruz will survive the season 14 cliffhanger and exit under different storyline circumstances. But of course, we'll just have to wait and see.
What is certain is that season 14 ended on a knife-edge. Not only did Cruz and his wife learn that they were expecting twins, but the episode then closed with the rescue squad being trapped inside a burning storage facility. The roof threatened to collapse and the fate of many of the show's main characters remained in the balance, with answers only set to be answered in brand new season 15 episodes.
Whilst Miñoso has yet to comment publicly on his departure from the show, he has shared Deadline's report about the cast shake-up to his Instagram account.
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The change comes amid a wider reshuffle across the franchise, following news that Chicago PD original cast member, LaRoyce Hawkins, is also departing.
As for what's on the horizon for Chicago Fire, Da'Vinchi, known for the crime drama BMF, is joining season 15 as a series regular, playing firefighter candidate Marcus Burke. The season also brings in new showrunner Victor Teran, a former co-executive producer and writer on the series, who has been promoted following Andrea Newman's exit after 14 seasons at the helm. Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo, who plays Stella Kidd, have also signed new deals to continue on the show.
Chicago Fire, the longest-running series in the One Chicago franchise, has a confirmed US release date so our burning questions won't go unanswered for too long. Season 15 will premiere on Wednesday 7 October on NBC, slotted between the premieres of Chicago Med and Chicago PD in the usual Wednesday-night line-up.
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Authors
Morgan CormackDrama Writer
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.
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