Firehouse 51 is losing a veteran firefighter as Joe Miñoso will depart Chicago Fire as Joe Cruz in the upcoming 15th season.
Joe was a guest star in the pilot and appeared in almost every episode of season one before being promoted to a regular in season two. He was one of only four remaining original cast members, alongside Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg, and Christian Stolte.
Joe shared the news on social media, and One Chicago family members were quick to pay tribute to the actor.
“I can not wait to see what you build next; you’re killing it as a filmmaker. The world is ready!!!” shared PD’s Marina Squerciati, adding a sad crying emoji.
Friend and local radio DJ Yaya Martinez added: “It better be a peaceful departure we don’t need Joe Cruz going out traumatically,” while Merle Dandrige who played Lynn Fitori in Chicago Fire, wrote: “Standing O, Joe! “
© Peter Gordon/NBCAt the end of season 14, fans saw Joe and his wife discover that they were having twins. The pair are parents to two sons, and in the finale he admitted he would love a third boy because “girls are scary”.
His departure comes as Victor Teran joins the show as the new showrunner, following Andrea Newman’s exit. Joe is an accomplished theater actor, and has also branched into filmmaking in recent years.
His wife is a former make-up artist on Chicago Fire, and owns a boutique and tattoo salon called Willow & Birch.
© Peter Gordon/NBCChicago Fire season 14 concluded on a series of cliffhangers, as Firehouse 51 attended to a rapidly escalating structure fire. Chief Dom Pascal ordered an immediate evacuation but an explosion left the fates of Kelly Severide (Kinney), Christopher Herrmann (Eisenberg), and Lieutenant Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) up in the air.
Before the event, Pascal had offered Severide two new career opportunities – Chief of Firehouse 51 or Chief of Fire Investigation. Severide never revealed his decision as the emergency call came in.
Herrmann also told his best friend, Mouch (Stolte), that he was considering retirement after renewing his vows.
© Art Streiber/NBCThe One Chicago family has seen popular stars come and go, including Jesse Spencer from Fire, Tracy Spiridakos and Jesse Lee Soffer from PD, and Nick Gehlfuss from Med.
Most recently, it was confirmed that LaRoyce Hawkins, an original PD star who has played Kevin Atwater for 13 seasons, will leave the show during the upcoming 14th season.
Viewers will see his character arc wrap up in the first few episodes.
© Lori Allen/NBCIn season 13, fans saw Kevin reconnect with his former police academy colleague, Officer Tasha Fox, but she moved to Miami. She later returned to Chicago to tell Kevin she was pregnant, and they were last seen navigating how to balance their careers and raise their child together.
BMF star Da’Vinchi has joined Fire as a series regular for season 15 as Marcus Burke, a firefighter candidate at Firehouse 51. Roguish and funny with a wry sense of humor, he’s also a little defiant, reads the character synopsis.
One Chicago will return to NBC on Wednesday, October 7 at 8/7c.
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