Why did Brian J. White leave Chicago Fire?

It may have been a while since Brian J. White was on Chicago Fire, but any longtime fan will instantly recognize him. The actor played a crucial role in the fourth season as officer Dallas Patterson, the man who was brought in to replace Severide (Taylor Kinney).

While Severide’s demotion was obviously short-lived (thank goodness), there was still plenty of interesting story directions involving Patterson and the issues he had to contend with as a fill in for such a beloved firefighter.

Here’s what you need to know about the character and the actor who played him.

Why did Dallas Patterson leave Chicago Fire?

Patterson made his debut in the season 4 episode “Let It Burn”. He was brought in on the behest of Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker), who felt that his temperament would be a good fit for the 51 in comparison to Severide’s more emotional approach.

This clash of styles led some to question whether Patterson was loyal to his team. His removed attitude and often indifferent tone also led to some arguments over whether he properly doled out credit to his team when they went above and beyond. Granted, most of these issues were presented by a bitter Severide.

Severide’s desire to get rid of Patterson led him to dig up a file of offenses that the latter had committed when he was a teenager. He considered using this file against Patterson, until he discovered that most of the offenses occurred on the heels of Patterson’s mother committing suicide. He cooled down and developed a more respectful bond with Patterson as a result.

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In contrast to most of the Chicago Fire exits, Patterson didn’t go out with a bang. He wasn’t killed or disgraced, and the actor who played him didn’t have a falling out with the production team. He simply served his purpose and moved on.

The character joined Chief Boden in welcoming Severide back, once the firefighter had proved that he should reclaim his ranking. The last time we see him is at Molly’s Pub, and he seems to be in a good place. He hasn’t been mentioned on the show since. It seems there isn’t much more to say.

White has continued to act steadily on television, however. The actor has a recurring part on Ray Donovan, and has been part of the main cast for the shows Monogamy and Ambitions. His latest credit to date was a starring role on the 2020 series Stereoscope.

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