Lindsay exited Chicago P.D., and Upton became the newest member of the Intelligence Unit.
Spiridakos stayed with Chicago P.D. for more than seven seasons, even after the actor who played her character's husband (Jesse Lee Soffer) departed in season 10. However, NBC announced in late 2023 that Chicago P.D. season 11 would be Spiridakos' last as she was set to exit following the finale. Of course, many were upset as they had grown attached to Upton throughout her seven seasons on the show and were confused as to why Spiridakos was leaving.
Tracy Spiridakos Left Chicago P.D. To Pursue Other Opportunities
Spiridakos Played Upton For 7 Years
Tracy Spiridakos didn't reveal the reason behind her departure until one day before Upton's final Chicago P.D. episode premiered in May 2024. During an interview with Variety, Spiridakos gave context behind why she chose to leave the NBC police procedural series. The actress explained:
"I decided at the end of my sixth season, which is when I had reached out to [Chicago P.D. showrunner] Gwen [Sigan] and to everyone at Wolf to let them know that I just wanted to do one more year. I wanted us to send out the character with one last season. It was a hard decision — very, very hard. I love everybody on the show — cast, crew, producers, writers, everybody. It's such an incredible team. I was just curious what was out there for me and wanted to switch it up, and that was it."
It's not unusual for actors and actresses to make the hard decision to leave a TV show they have starred in for many years because they are eager to seek other opportunities. Following the Chicago P.D. season 10 finale (Spiridakos' sixth full season), the actress decided she had one more season left in her before she would move on to the next project. It was as simple as that. Spiridakos understandably wanted a change in her acting career, and the only way to do so was to exit Chicago P.D.
How Chicago P.D. Season 11 Wrote Out Hailey Upton
Upton Left Chicago
When an actor or actress decides to leave a TV show, their characters are often killed as an excuse for why they are no longer in the episodes. Thankfully, Chicago P.D. didn't take this route with Tracy Spiridakos' Upton, who is still very much alive after the season 11 finale. Chicago P.D. has had its fair share of shocking deaths over the course of its 11 seasons, but Upton wasn't one of them. Instead, Upton quit the Intelligence Unit and left Chicago.
During the Chicago P.D. season 11 finale's final moments, Upton and Hank Voight shared a raw, emotional conversation about Upton's future. She explained that she didn't want to leave the Intelligence Unit or any of the people in it. However, Voight pushed, knowing that Upton needed a change and wanted more for herself, especially after Halstead abandoned her. Voight encouraged Upton to do what was best for her.
The good news is that Chicago P.D. left the door open just in case Tracy Spiridakos ever wants to reprise her role as Upton in the future.
So, Spiridakos' character left the team and began searching for a new job (the FBI, FEMA, and DEA were all options). Then, Upton hopped in a taxi and headed towards the airport. When the driver asked her where she was going, Upton smiled, and the Chicago P.D. season 11 finale ended without revealing her answer. Just like that, the Intelligence Unit had to start looking for Upton's replacement in Chicago P.D. season 12.
How Chicago P.D. Replaces Hailey Upton
Upton Gets Replaced Twice In Season 12
When season 12 opens, Detective Emily Martel, played by Victoria Cartagena, s the Chicago P.D. cast. The new character has been working at Intelligence for about a month following Upton's departure. Martel is someone who Adam Ruzek knows from his days at the police academy, and the two are seemingly close. Upton's replacement even gets along great with Kevin Atwater. Unfortunately, though, Martel's time in Intelligence comes to an abrupt end by the episode's conclusion. Spoilers for the Chicago P.D. season 12 premiere ahead!
During the hour's final moments, Upton's replacement for the Chicago P.D. season 12 premiere is shot in the head and dies. The tragedy significantly affects Ruzek but also forces Voight to look for another replacement for Upton. While Toya Turner is slated to the main cast as Kiana Cook, a patrol officer, Intelligence still needs another detective. According to reports, either Kim Burgess, Atwater, or Ruzek is getting promoted. So, one of them will technically be Upton's successor in Intelligence, while Turner is taking Spiridakos' place in the cast.
I'm Still Not Over This Chicago P.D. Death, Almost 10 Years Later
During the early seasons of Chicago PD, the show killed off one character, and their death is still one of the show's most shocking moments.
Will Tracy Spiridakos' Upton Return To Chicago P.D.?
Spiridakos Could Easily Reprise Her Role In The Future
The good news is that Chicago P.D. left the door open just in case Tracy Spiridakos ever wants to reprise her role as Upton in the future. The writers didn't kill Upton or make it so that she would never be able to interact with the characters ever again or come back to Chicago. It would be very easy to plan Upton's return (whether brief or long-term).
Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Jay Halstead (Hailey Upton's husband) in Chicago P.D., is set to the cast of FBI: International after exiting the NBC series in season 10.
Perhaps she is now an FBI agent and one of her cases brings her back to the Windy City. Or Upton might just want to see her former co-workers again. Nevertheless, Upton leaving Chicago P.D. will change the Intelligence Unit's dynamic, but it's not goodbye forever (hopefully).
What Tracy Spiridakos Has Done Since Leaving Chicago P.D.
Detective Upton Remains Her Most Recent Role
Tracy Spiridakos left Chicago P.D. in 2024, also appearing in 3 episodes of Chicago Med and 6 episodes of Chicago Fire in that time, as well as an episode of FBI (which also takes place in the Dick Wolf universe). Since her exit was so recent, she has yet to appear on screens in the post-Hailey Upton stage of her career. However, it's unlikely she'll be away from viewers for long, as she'd already built up a considerable amount of career momentum prior to ing the One Chicago universe.
While not always main or recurring roles, Tracy Spiridakos has appeared in some incredibly acclaimed TV shows over the last few decades. The Canadian actress got her start in shows like Supernatural, Bionic Woman, and The L Word in single-episode appearances. She then also went on to appear in shows like Psych, MacGyver, and Bates Motel in multi-episode roles before making her way to Chicago P.D.
It's also worth noting that playing Hailey Upton isn't the first or only time Spiridakos has been a main cast member on a show. In 2010, she played the role of Becky in the Canadian teen comedy series Majority Rules!, for example. She was also nominated for a Saturn award for Best Actress for her role as Charlie Matheson on Revolution, the 2012-2014 post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama on NBC. With this in mind, it's highly doubtful leaving Chicago P.D. marks the end of Tracy Spiridakos' career, though her next moves still remain a mystery.
Chicago P.D.
- Release Date
- January 8, 2014
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Dick Wolf
Cast
Jason Beghe
Marina Squerciati
WHERE TO WATCH
A spinoff of Chicago Fire, this police procedural drama follows the detectives and the uniformed patrol officers of the Chicago Police Department as they work to crack cases and put criminals behind bars.
Source: Variety
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