Dermot Mulroney Reflects on Challenging Scenes as He Prepares for ‘Chicago Fire’ Farewell
Another Chicago Fire cast member is saying goodbye to Firehouse 51.
Dermot Mulroney will exit the NBC drama in season 15, which premieres October 7. The actor will appear in a single episode, as his character, Chief Dom Pascal, is officially written off the show. Mulroney joined the Dick Wolf procedural for season 13 in 2024.
Chief Dom Pascal will be written off ‘Chicago Fire’ in season 15
The My Best Friend’s Wedding star confirmed his departure, which was first reported by Deadline, during an appearance at Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention (via USA Today).
“This season, sadly, I have one episode,” Mulroney said. “They write the character off, so we gave it our all for two seasons. They wrote an incredible storyline that put me, as an actor, on a high challenge.”
“Sad to see it go,” he added.
In his comments, Mulroney spoke about how special it was to join the Chicago Fire family.
“[I] became friends with this incredible crew of people. Some have been there 15 years,” he. “They gave me incredibly challenging scenes. If some of you saw that season 13 I was in.”
“That is what makes it that much more – I wouldn’t say bittersweet. It’s bitter to have to leave that,” he added.
Dermot Mulroney talks filming ‘heavy’ scenes for ‘Chicago Fire’
Chief’s Pascal’s season 13 storyline centered on the tragic death of his wife in a car accident. Filming the scenes where his character copes with that devastating loss were particular different, he told the convention crowd. While he’s starred in many dramatic roles covering tough topics. (In 1989, he starred in Longtime Companion, one of the first mainstream movies that directly addressed the HIV/AIDS epidemic.)
“It’s devastating. But you’re doing it in a movie and guess what? That day’s over, and it’s gone. You shot that scene, and then they end the movie, and that’s the end of it. On TV, guess what? She’s dead next week, too,” Mulroney explained. “And it starts to feel really heavy. And they asked that of me, and I delivered.”
Mulroney’s looming departure is just the latest change for the long-running series. Shortly before Pascal’s exit was confirmed, fellow cast member Joe Miñoso, who plays Joe Cruz, revealed that he would also leave the show in season 15.
Miñoso has appeared on Chicago Fire since it premiered in 2012. With him gone, only three original cast members will remain: Taylor Kinney, (Kelly Severide) David Eigenberg (Christopher Hermann), and Christian Stolte (Randall “Mouch” McHolland).
Chicago Fire Season 15 premieres Wednesday, October 7 at 9 p.m ET/PT on NBC. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
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