Joe Miñoso says goodbye to Chicago Fire after 300 episodes
Original cast member Joe Miñoso has officially left NBC's Chicago Fire. Per TVLine, his character, firefighter Joe Cruz, departed during the show's 300th episode.
In the episode, titled "Three Hundred," Cruz makes a major physical recovery from a job injury but decides not to return to Firehouse 51. With his wife overwhelmed and newborn twins arriving early, he announces his family is moving to Minnesota to be closer to her parents and a better recovery center.
Cruz shares a final moment with his mentor, Severide (Taylor Kinney), telling him, "You taught me everything I know." He also visits the memorial for his late friend Otis before leaving the squad.
Speaking to TVLine, Miñoso said the decision for his exit came from the show's producers, but he felt it was the right time. He called the multi-episode sendoff an "honor" and praised showrunner Victor Teran for being collaborative. Miñoso confirmed the writers had considered killing off Cruz but opted for a different path, which he described as a "touching, beautiful exit."
The actor, who has been with the series since its pilot, will remain involved with the show by directing future episodes.
