Chicago PD star set to exit show after season 11
Tracy Spiridakos is hanging up her badge.
Chicago PD star Tracy Spiridakos is set to exit the show after season 11.
She has played Detective Hailey Upton Halstead on the cop procedural since season 4. Now, Spiridakos will hang up her badge after the upcoming season, according to Variety.
As a result of the recently-ended WGA and ongoing SAG-AFTRA Hollywood strikes, filming for the next season of Chicago PD has been delayed indefinitely.
There has therefore been no confirmation of how many episodes Spiridakos will feature in before her departure.
Spiridakos’ exit comes after her former Chicago PD co-star Jesse Lee Soffer bowed out of the series in October 2022. The actor played Detective Jay Halstead, Hailey’s husband, for 10 seasons since the show’s inception.
Speaking to Variety about his decision to leave, Soffer admitted that “there’s no good answer,” though he “was ready for more”.
“It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life,” he explained, adding: “Let’s be honest: I love the fans of our show so much, and I love my fans. I know that they’re still grieving this, and to some degree, I am too.”
Ahead of her final season on Chicago PD, Spiridakos recently reunited with Soffer on the SAG-AFTRA picket line as part of the actors’ strike.
The pair also met up with One Chicago‘s executive producer Derek Haas, with Soffer posting a picture of the ‘Upstead’ reunion on his Instagram, alongside the caption: “Team, assemble!”
The actors’ strike continues as SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP, which represents over 350 studios and production companies, are yet to reach an agreement. Talks have recently resumed. TV shows and movies have subsequently been delayed until a deal has been agreed.
Chicago PD star LaRoyce Hawkins confirmed the show’s delay in July whilst speaking at an acting masterclass lecture.
“I’m faithful and optimistic that it will only be a couple more months, if that, that we’re off,” he said.