In May, we learned that Daniel Kyri would not be returning to Chicago Fire this season. However, he was asked to play Darren Ritter for a few more episodes.
Yesterday, he put on his firefighter costume one last time. Today, he said goodbye to the person whom he has played for seven years. A part that was only supposed to last for three episodes, which turned into eight seasons.
He wrote: “Chicago Fire changed my life. Bringing Darren Ritter to the screen has transformed & healed me in equal measure. He is a man who embodies empathy, humility, compassion, and unwavering bravery to save lives. His heroism is further fortified by the way he navigates the world—a gay Black firefighter who is proud, fierce, loyal, & whole—a possibility I never got to see onscreen in my childhood but desperately craved…
“I am so humbled & proud to have portrayed you. I’m thrilled that my inner child would have looked at you each week in awe of everything you represent. You made history. Thank you so much, Darren Ritter. And goodbye.”
Station House 51 is not going to be the same without him. He was an underused character who should have been used more.
So even though we will be seeing the last of Ritter, I doubt this is the last we are going to see of Kyri.
