Jesse Spencer Bids ‘Chicago Fire,' and Captain Matthew Casey, Goodbye
By Favour Adegoke on October 23, 2021 at 6:45 AM EDT
Following the exit of the lead character Jesse Spencer, “Chicago Fire” officially has an opening to fill in Truck 81. Spencer was known for his role as Captain Matthew Casey and was on the show for ten seasons.
The actor has been with the series since it came out in 2012 and is one of the six regulars left from the first season.
The other characters are Taylor Kinney, Joe Minoso, Eamonn Walker, David Eigenberg, and Christian Stolte.
Spencer’s character, Casey, has established his motive for leaving “Chicago Fire,” but what is Spencer’s personal reason?
Keep reading to get a rundown of why he’s saying goodbye to the show he has spearheaded for almost a decade.
Will Jesse Spencer Leave 'Chicago Fire?'
Spencer told reporters that he wanted to take some time away from his hectic television schedule and focus on his family during a Zoom press conference. He pointed out that he has been in American shows nonstop since 2004, and it was time to focus on his personal life.
In this interview, he said, “I realized I’ve been doing TV for a long time. I added it up, and I think this year is my 18th year of network television.”
Spencer initially decided to leave the show at the end of the ninth season, but Derek Haas (showrunner) asked him to stay for five more episodes to give the show a more satisfying end.
“I called [showrunner] Derek [Haas] and broke him the news, said I thought it was time to leave the show, and he agreed that we should at least get Casey to 200 episodes. It was a difficult decision because I’ve loved the show from the start, but there are other things that I would like to do in the future, and there’s some family that I need to take care of, and 18 years is a long time.”
We can’t help but hope for Casey’s return because, in the 200th episode, he tells the other characters that he’ll be back in a couple of years to resume his 51 position.
How Matt Casey Left Chicago
Meanwhile, on the show, Spencer’s character, Casey, is faced with a dilemma. After the death of firefighter Andy Darden, his sons Ben and Griffin are in need.
There’s no one to turn to with their mother in jail, and they have been left to fend for themselves.
Casey went to Oregon to visit them, and it became clear that the boys needed a parent figure. Griffin tried to fill this role, but he was in school and could barely fend for himself. Casey then decided to fill this role and submitted an inquiry about bringing the brothers back to Chicago as their guardian.
After talking to the school guidance counselor, it became clear that this move would be too disruptive for them, and he had to move to Oregon if he wanted to foster the brothers. This weighed heavily on Casey, but he decided he couldn’t let the brothers get separated, so he decided to move.
What The Move Could Mean For Matt And Casey’s Relationship
After Casey decides to move, episode five of season ten starts with him giving Sylvia Brett the news (Kara Killmer). This upsets her, which is understandable because they just started going out. His leaving is obviously going to put a strain on the new relationship.
As for options, Casey tells her that she could come with him to Oregon, or they could continue their relationship but long distance. Brett doesn’t decide at first because she had moved into a relationship before, and it didn’t work out.
However, Casey reassures her that there is no pressure, but he would really like her to go with him.
Sadly, Brett later decides that she wants to see the paramedicine program and stay in Chicago. She wants to be with Casey, but she doesn’t want to give up on her career. It’s not clear what this could mean for their relationship.
Spencer’s TV Shows And Movies Besides 'Chicago Fire'
From 1994 to 2000, Spencer starred as Billy Kennedy in “Neighbors,” the Australian soap opera.
He reprised his role in an episode that celebrated the show’s 20th anniversary in 2005. He also starred in “Time Trax,” where he played Young Bill in the Close Encounter episode.
In 2003 he made his film debut as Tony Fingleton in the film “Swimming Upstream.”
His role as Dr. Robert Chase on “House,” the Fox medical drama, aided his rise to fame. As long as the show ran, he played Chase and was the second longest-serving role on the title character’s team.
