Chicago Fire spoilers: Why did Jesse Spencer leave Chicago Fire?
Chicago Fire has reached its 200th episode, and all eyes are on Casey. The beloved character has decided to leave Firehouse 51 to look after the sons of his deceased friend, Andy Darden (Corey Sorenson).
The decision came as a shock to many fans, as Casey has been an anchor for the show since it first started. His absence will be notable, and force other supporting characters to step up and attempt to fill his shoes.
Casey’s motives for leaving Chicago Fire have been established over the course of season 10, but less clear is why Casey’s actor, Jesse Spencer, decided to leave. Here’s a rundown of what led the actor to say goodbye to the show he helped spearhead for over a decade.
Is Jesse Spencer leaving Chicago Fire?
During a recent interview, Spencer revealed that he wanted to take time away from his busy TV schedule and focus on being with his family. The actor pointed out that he’s been a nonstop presence on American shows since 2004, and decided that it was time put focus towards his personal life rather than his career.
“It was a difficult decision, because I’ve loved the show from the start”, Spencer explained. “But there’s other things I would like to do in the future and there’s some family that I need to take care of, and 18 years is a long time.”
Chicago Fire showrunner Derek Haas revealed that Spencer had made his decision to leave the show at the end of season 9, but the actor agreed to stay on for five more episodes to provide a satisfying sendoff. “It was awesome because a shorter arc makes for sharper storytelling than when you’re trying to stretch things over 8 or 9 episodes”, Haas added.
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In spite of his decision, Spencer remains friendly with Haas and has left the door open for a possible return or guest spot down the line. In the 200th episode Casey repeatedly tells other characters that he’ll be back in a couple years to resume his 51 position, and one can’t but read this as an attempt to comfort the viewers as much as the characters.
Casey may be leaving, but that doesn’t mean he has to be gone for good.
Next. Who’s in, who’s out on Chicago Fire, PD and Med. dark
For the latest Chicago Fire season 10 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.