Wesam Keesh knows his way around the Dick Wolf universe.
We’ve been wondering who would replace Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) on Chicago Fire, and we finally got the answer. The promo photos for the episode “Red Flag” confirm that the new medic is named Lennox, and while he may not look familiar at first glance, the actor who plays him actually has quite the history in the greater One Chicago universe.
Most actors who have the honor of being labeled One Chicago alum get their label from appearing in Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, or Chicago PD. Wesam Keesh is a little different. Instead of making a brief appearance on any of these long-running shows, the actor actually had a one episode stint on the ignored stepchild of the franchise: Chicago Justice!
Wesam Keesh is a former Chicago Justice star
For context, there have been 33 seasons and counting of One Chicago television, and Chicago Justice only makes up one of them. Keesh is an anomaly in this regard, but given how crucial a role he’s set to play in upcoming Chicago Fire episodes, it may be fun to go back and revisit his one-off performance in the Chicago Justice episode “See Something” (2017).
If that bizarre connecting point wasn’t enough, than Keesh also has an entryway into One Chicago by way of another interconnected Dick Wolf franchise: Law & Order. The actor Adam “Malachi” Matlock in a substantial 10 episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime between 2021 and 2022.
Keesh also appeared on Law & Order: OC
Keesh talked about his experience shooting Law & Order: Organized Crime with The List, and he was effusive in his praise for the cast, crew and entire Dick Wolf production. He also noted that he was thrilled to find that Fred Burner, a fellow Chicago Justice alum, was part of the Organized Crime production team:
“I got to do a wonderful guest spot on that and working with Philip Winchester on that show was such a blast and yeah, [Fred] had remembered me from Chicago Justice.”
Dick Wolf shows are famous for using the same actors in different scenarios, so it was only a matter of time before Keesh would reenter the fold and grace one of the remaining One Chicago titles with his presence.
It remains to be seen whether his stint as Lennox will be short-lived or long-term, but we’re sure that it will be enjoyable regardless.
