Watch:Chicago P.D.’s LaRoyce Hawkins Leaving Show After 13 Seasons
Chicago P.D. is losing a beloved officer
LaRoyce Hawkins, who has portrayed Officer Kevin Atwater since the crime-fighting drama debuted in 2014, is leaving the NBC procedural after 13 seasons, E! News has learned
However, Atwater isn’t turning in his badge just yet as Hawkins will continue his role for several episodes at the top of season 14, set to premiere later this year, to wrap up his character’s storyline
Season 13 saw Atwater spark a romance with coworker Officer Tasha Fox (Karen Obilom), who relocated to Miami for a new job before learning she’s pregnant with their first baby. So, with Hawkins’ impending departure, the character could be looking to exit Windy City to join Fox and their unborn baby in Florida
Of course, Hawkins is hardly the first main cast member to make a surprise exit from the Chicago precinct—dating back to Sophia Bush’s surprise exit back in 2017
Jesse Lee Soffer(Jay Halstead) departed in 2022 before going on to star in FBI: Internationalwhile Tracy Spiridakos (Detective Hailey Upton) walked away from the series in 2024. Spiridakos is returning to TV this fall as the titular mystery-solving park ranger in USA’s adaptation of the best-selling book seriesAnna Pigeon
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And while fans will surely miss Hawkins’ presence on the force next season, he couldn’t be more grateful to have been part of the cast for over a decade
“I’ve had some great roles over time and I’ve been able to learn from all of them in different ways,” the 38-year-old told people.com/chicago-pd-laroyce-hawkins-on-sexiest-most-intense-episode-yet-exclusive-11840351″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>People in 2025, “but the longevity and the consistency that I’ve been able to create with learning from Kevin Atwater has really strengthened my confidence more than anything.”
Plus, the job helped Hawkins grow as an actor
Lori Allen/NBC
“The nature of the role being a first responder, being the only Black cop in the unit, it’s a combination of so many things that, honestly, really contributes to feeling very confident and grateful in my skillset over time,” he continued. “I think the longevity on this show has allowed me just the time and the space to just learn and grow. And I feel so much more confident and comfortable on camera now.”
Chicago P.D., as well as Chicago Fire and Chicago Med, return this fall on NBC
While fans emotionally prepare for Hawkins’ departure, keep reading to see more TV stars who shocked fans by walking away from their hit shows
Clifton Prescod/Bravo
So when the attorney met her end on an April 2026 episode, “I wasn’t surprised,” Regan noted. “I thought, ‘Fair enough.’ She’s had an amazing run, four years on this show. I’m only filled with gratitude.”
The exit isn’t so shocking to fans given that Ganesh’s character has been planning to take on a new residency program at another medical center.
Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.
“The rumors …..Are true,” the former J. Crew Creative Director wrote on Instagram Nov. 21. “I was grateful to be asked to join season 16 of RHONY ‘as a friend of ‘- knowing my personal life was not really available to be filmed, we agreed that made sense.”
The fashion icon—who joined the Bravo series for season 14 in 2022—explained that she later realized being a supporting castmember wasn’t for her.
“And after thinking it through I have made the difficult decision not return to the show,” she continued. “I would be the oldest and only openly gay woman on the show and feel like this is an opportunity for a new dynamic to emerge.”
“I’ve gotten to a place where I don’t need the show financially,” Chrishell announed in November via social media. “I’m lucky to have other forms of employment, because it’s no longer good for my mental health.”
“Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting,” the Bravo star—who is embroiled in a nasty divorce from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright—shared in July 2025. “Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself—especially for our son, Cruz.”
Longfellow and Walker each spent three seasons on SNL while Wakim exited after just one season.
“It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece,” the actress posted on Instagram July 10. “Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me.”
Pascal, meanwhile, who also died onscreen in Game of Thrones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, took his game over status in stride. “I get killed a lot,” he joked to Entertainment Weekly. “I like to die.”
“Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice, and he was built for this,” Krause wrote in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them.”
Killing off the somewhat tormented, but beloved, firefighter was certainly a hot topic, showrunner Tim Minear acknowledged to Variety, “but after eight years, it just felt like, if we have any hope of creating stories going forward that have actual stakes, then someone’s got to die.”
Paige DeSorbo announced in June 2025 that she was walking away from the Bravo series after seven seasons.
“You’ve seen me grow up over these last 7 summers. I’ll always be grateful for the memories, the community, and the opportunities this wild ride has brought me,” the Giggly Squad podcast cohost shared with fans on Instagram. “But like all good things (and some bad decisions), it’s time for this chapter to close.”
“After an incredible journey, I’ve made the decision to step away from Emily in Paris,” she wrote in an April 23 Instagram post, alongside pictures of her and her former castmates on set. “It has been a truly wonderful experience, one filled with growth, creativity, and unforgettable memories.”
“College Girls moved me out to LA and introduced me to some of my favorite people,” she wrote on social media in July 2023. “2 and a half years later—it’s given me y’all and this community.”
The show’s co-creator Mindy Kaling also confirmed Rapp’s exit. “We love @reneerapp so much and of course will be so sad to say goodbye to Leighton Murray!” Kaling wrote on her Instagram Stories before referencing Rapp’s thriving music career. “We can’t wait to see our friend on tour!!”
“I gotta mix it up a little bit,” Pompeo explained on The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2022, though she has already returned for a May guest appearance and continues narrating the series. “I’m 53, my brain is like scrambled eggs. I gotta do something new. You can’t do The New York Times crossword puzzle every single day.”
But she’s not gone for good. Pompeo still pops in and out of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures,” Cavill wrote on Instagram in October 2022. “Alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4.”
“To create this hour drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show,” Soffer said in a statement after his final appearance in the NBC procedural’s Oct. 5 episode. “I will always be proud of my time as Det. Jay Halstead.”
“I signed up to do a job and I did the job and then I did some other jobs,” he later explained to Vanity Fair. “That’s it. That’s the story. I wish it was more glamorous than that.”
Later on in season two, Kate got a bit of a face swap and returned played by Wallis Day.
View More Photos From TV’s Most Shocking Exits: Stars Who Left Hit Shows
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