Following Daniel Kyri‘s unexpected departure from Chicago Fire, his character, Darren Ritter, was written off the show. However, could a return be in the cards?
During the Wednesday, October 8, episode on NBC, Ritter reconnected with his former boyfriend, Dwayne (Samuel B. Jackson), and made the decision to leave Firehouse 51, returning to New York City to begin anew.
“I’m not quitting,” Ritter stated. “It’s just an extended furlough.”
Despite the assurance that his absence wouldn’t be permanent, Ritter later hinted it might last longer than a few months, adding, “We’ll see what happens.”
Kyri, 30, had previously shared his thoughts on his last day on set via an Instagram post in August.
“OK. Yesterday marked my final scenes as Ritter & I’m still in disbelief that my very first TV role — initially intended for only three episodes — blossomed into seven incredible years, spanning eight seasons of this iconic show!” he wrote. “Although I doubt I’ll ever find another cast and crew as exceptional as this one, I plan to apply what I’ve learned from you to every future set.”
In his post, Kyri expressed his appreciation for fans “who embraced & celebrated Ritter for every aspect of his humanity.” He also acknowledged his costars “who have shown up for me with relentless loyalty, compassion, & love throughout my time on this show & now as I move through this enormous transition in my life.”
“Each of you has become so incredibly important to me, & the care (& patience!) you’ve shown is entirely indispensable,” he continued. “Thank you so much for the gift of your friendship.”
Kyri described his time on Chicago Fire as an experience that “transformed & healed me in equal measure.”
“He is a man who embodies empathy, humility, compassion, and unwavering bravery to save lives,” he shared. “His heroism is further fortified by the way he navigates the world — a gay Black firefighter who is proud, fierce, loyal, & whole — a possibility I never got to see on screen in my childhood but desperately craved. … You made history. Thank you so much, Darren Ritter. And goodbye.”
Kyri’s brief return this season followed the announcement that he would not be a series regular in season 14. Jake Lockett, who portrays Sam Carver, is also stepping away from his full-time role after joining the successful NBC series in 2022.
“While I don’t exactly know what the future looks like, I do know that it won’t be exactly what it was and I am going to miss the hell out of that,” Lockett, 40, shared on Instagram in April. “So much pride in this journey.”
Lockett added: “It’s been an honor bringing Sam to life and to every one of you, thank you for the love and support over the past three years.”
One Chicago broadcasts on Wednesdays on NBC.
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