Dermot Mulroney is departing the NBC series Chicago Fire after two seasons, with his character, Battalion Chief Dom Pascal, exiting early in Season 15. Speaking at a Chicago fan convention, Mulroney confirmed he has only one episode remaining in the upcoming season, which is scheduled to premiere on October 7.
The exit of Dermot Mulroney marks the end of a brief but intense tenure for the actor, who joined the Wolft Entertainment and Universal Television show in 2024. While the departure is a loss for the cast, Mulroney describes the experience as a high-wire act for an actor, noting that the writers provided him with incredibly challenging scenes during his time on the procedural drama.
The Final Episode of Battalion Chief Dom Pascal
Mulroney’s time as Chief Dom Pascal will conclude shortly after the start of the new season. Deadline reported on Friday, July 31, citing sources close to production, that Mulroney will be departing the show early in its forthcoming 15th season. The actor finished filming his final appearance on a Tuesday, with the character being written off the show. This follows a tenure that saw Mulroney appear in 10 episodes during Season 14, though he had previously taken a hiatus for the latter half of that season.
“I loved every minute of it. Sad to see it go.”
Dermot Mulroney, actor
The actor’s departure follows a specific narrative arc that began in Season 13. Mulroney reflected on a tragic storyline involving a family death that added significant emotional weight to his character, stating, It starts to feel really heavy.
He compared the experience to filming a movie, adding, They asked that of me and I delivered.
Impact on First Responders and the Fanbase
For Mulroney, the weight of the role extended beyond the script. While attending the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention, he discussed the profound connection the show maintains with real-world first responders and their families. He noted that many fans are less interested in his other work, stating, I can’t tell you how many people come up and they’d much rather have an autograph on Scream VI, but they’re Chief Pascal for their dad.
Mulroney described this as an amazing thing to see and noted, That’s how meaningful that is, which makes it that much more- I won’t say bittersweet; it’s better to have to leave that.
He further elaborated that it's bitter to have to leave that.
A Rotating Door of Leadership at Firehouse 51
Mulroney’s arrival and subsequent exit are part of a larger shift in the show’s leadership dynamics. He originally boarded the series in Season 13 to fill the void left by Eamonn Walker, who scaled back his long-running role as Chief Wallace Boden after 12 seasons. However, the leadership structure remained fluid; PEOPLE confirmed in January that during Mulroney’s Season 14 hiatus, Rob Morgan joined the crew as Battalion Chief Hopkins. Mulroney eventually returned for the May 13 season finale.
The cast churn has not been limited to the upper brass. The show is also preparing for the exit of Joe Miñoso, who has played firefighter Joe Cruz since the show’s 2012 pilot. PEOPLE confirmed on Wednesday, July 29 that Miñoso is expected to appear in several episodes in season 15 before his departure.
The Challenge of Joining a Veteran Cast
Entering a series that has run for 14 seasons presents a specific professional hurdle. During a panel hosted by PEOPLE in December, Mulroney observed that the existing cast possesses a level of character immersion he had never witnessed before in his career, noting that some crew members and actors had been there 15 years.
He described the ensemble as a brilliant group of actors who’ve lived in the skin of their characters longer than I’ve ever encountered in my work,
adding that the experience was “so seamless.”
Viewers can see the resolution of Chief Pascal’s story when Season 15 premieres on October 7 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
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