Chicago Med: Find out which Walking Dead star turned down a role

Chicago Med is all about the power of the ensemble. While someone like Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) could have laid claim at being the protagonist, the show really thrives on the way that the different characters interact and impact each others lives. That’s why it’s such a big deal when someone like Gehlfuss leaves.

There was a character who was set to play a huge part in the first season of Chicago Med, and even appeared in the backdoor pilot that introduced the Gaffney team on Chicago Fire. When it came time for Med to get underway, though, she was nowhere to be found. The actress who played her was kind of a big deal.

What happened to Hannah Tramble on Chicago Med?

The character in question was Dr. Hannah Tramble, and the actress who played her was none other than Laurie Holden of The Walking Dead. Holden was an established name in the world of TV, with memorable turns in The X-Files and The Shield, in addition to the aforementioned zombie drama.  She was all set to bring her unique charisma to the screen as a veteran surgeon, but was forced to drop out at the last minute due for family reasons.

Holden issued a statement explaining her decision. “I am so grateful to Dick Wolf, my fellow cast members, NBC and the entire Chicago Med team for their understanding”, she wrote. “Sometimes we must make tough choices and, for family reasons, not doing Chicago Med is one of those for me at this time. I know the show is going to be a huge success and I’ll be watching.”

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The reasoning behind Holden’s exit was verified by an NBC spokesperson, who issued a statement to EW. “It was Laurie’s decision to opt out of the series”, they stated. “We are sorry to see her go. We are currently casting additional new roles which we hope to have confirmed very soon.”

While it would have been nice to see how Dr. Tramble would have slotted into the Chicago Med lineup, the show managed to recover with a revolving door of stellar characters. Holden currently stars on Amazon’s The Boys, which means both sides came out on top.

For the latest Chicago Med spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Med category at One Chicago Center.