Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) has been a centerpiece character on Chicago PD since day one. He’s been involved in the show’s most essential storylines, and his dynamics with the rest of the team give him a unique vantage point.
Sadly, that vantage point will no longer be provided. Variety has confirmed that the character will be exiting Chicago PD after season 10, and will be replaced by newcomer Dante Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar).
Here’s what we know about Halstead’s exit, and how the showrunners plan to write him out of the show.
Is Jesse Lee Soffer leaving Chicago PD?
The actor who plays Halstead, Jesse Lee Soffer, issued a statement shortly after his exit was made public. He praised the Chicago PD cast and production team, citing his time on the show as some of the best of his career.
"“I want to thank the incredible fans for their unwavering support during the past 10 years”, Soffer stated. “And want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone at Wolf Entertainment, Peter Jankowski, Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, Rick Eid, Gwen Sigan, NBC, Universal Television, my fellow castmates and our incredible crew. To create this hour drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show. I will always be proud of my time as Det. Jay Halstead.”"
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Soffer didn’t provide a reason for his departure, but based on the fact that the actor doesn’t have any future projects lined up, it’s possible that he simply wanted to take a step back and spend time with his family.
Like another One Chicago alum who recently exited, Chicago Fire‘s Jesse Spencer, Soffer has been at it for a solid decade, so the notion that he’d like to clear out his schedule makes sense. It’s still very early in the game, but hopefully the PD showrunners can convince him to make a few small cameos as Halstead at certain points.
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