Wondering why Lauren German, who plays Leslie Shay, had to leave Chicago Fire? Her exit is one of the most shocking moments for fans of the show. After all, her departure in the Season 3 premiere was the first time a major character’s tenure on the NBC series ended.
Here are all the details on why Lauren German’s Leslie Shay is leaving Chicago Fire.
Here’s when Lauren German’s Leslie Shay left Chicago Fire and why
Leslie Shay tragically died.
The Chicago Fire Season 2 finale set up Leslie Shay’s tragic fate, ending with Firehouse 51 responding to a building explosion. The shocking reveal in the Season 3 opener confirmed that Shay had died from her injuries. Kelly Severide, in particular, struggled with losing his best friend and roommate, while Firehouse 51 honored her memory.
Leslie Shay’s decision to leave Chicago Fire was not the choice of actress Lauren German. The show’s creative team dictated her departure. Executive producer Matt Olmstead revealed in a 2014 interview that the showrunners decided to kill off a beloved character for maximum emotional impact. “Going into it, we knew if we were going to do it, it had to be someone who was going to give us a big impact. As opposed to going for a lesser-known character, which would equate to a pulled punch,” Olmstead explained. (via TV Line)
The writers carefully debated who to remove, considering the emotional and narrative consequences. Shay was ultimately chosen because her death would affect many characters, particularly Gabby Dawson and Kelly Severide. Shay was killed in the Season 3 premiere, which aired on September 23, 2014.
Despite her sudden exit, Lauren German handled the news with professionalism and grace. Olmstead recalled that she took it well and even joked about not missing Chicago’s harsh winters.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.
