Joe Miñoso, an original cast member of “Chicago Fire,” is leaving his iconic firefighter role after 15 seasons. The 47-year-old actor will appear in a few episodes of the upcoming Season 15 to complete his character arc and turn the page. After appearing as a recurring character in the first season, he became a beloved character in the series in the second season. His exit leaves only three original characters to continue their journeys: Taylor Kinney and David Eggenberga series regular since the first episode, and Christian Stoltewho started out as a recurring character in the first season. Here are the details on Joe Miñoso’s exit after 15 seasons with the Chicago Fire.
Joe Minoso leaves ‘Chicago Fire’ after 15 seasons as Joe Cruz
Joe Miñoso stars as the tough and loyal Joe Cruz, who started his journey with a guest role in the first few episodes, but left an indelible impression on fans with his skills, eventually being promoted to a regular firefighter according to Deadline. DaVinci left shortly after he joined Firehouse 51 as new firefighter Marcus Burke. Meanwhile, Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo May signed a new deal with the production team to continue the show. In addition, veteran series producer Andrea Newman also left the show after 14 seasons, and Victor Teran joined as the new creator. In the season 14 finale, Joe Cruz discussed the arrival of his third child with colleagues in the precinct. Additionally, his wife was panicking due to unprecedented bleeding. After arriving at the hospital, the nurse revealed that a small blood vessel was irritated. As for the good news, the Cruz family has welcomed twins. The detailed reasons for Joe Minoso’s exit remain unclear. Season 15 of “Chicago Fire” will begin airing on October 7, 2026.
