Joe Miñoso, who has played firefighter Joe Cruz on NBC’s “Chicago Fire” since the show’s first episode, is leaving the series after 15 seasons. The actor will appear in a handful of episodes at the start of the upcoming 15th season to wrap up his character’s arc, according to sources confirming his departure. Miñoso was an original cast member on the drama, which is produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television. His character, Joe Cruz, has been a staple at Firehouse 51 since the pilot. The news comes as the show prepares for its 15th season, with Miñoso’s exit marking the end of an era for the long-running series. Further details about how Cruz will be written out have not been disclosed. The announcement was first reported by Deadline and independently confirmed by Variety.