Since 2012, viewers have been transported to Chicago, Illinois, to get a glimpse into the lives of firefighters, police officers, healthcare workers, lawyers, and paramedics in the “One Chicago” NBC universe, which includes “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Med,” and, for one season, “Chicago Justice,” per NBC.
Before her exit at the beginning of the third season of “Chicago Fire,” Leslie Shay, portrayed by actress Lauren German, was a fan favorite. For two seasons, Shay, a paramedic and lesbian, developed a strong following in the LGBTQ community as her character allowed the show to explore the complexities of same-sex relationships. It didnt hurt that Shay also shared an apartment with her best friend, Kelly Severide, portrayed by Taylor Kinney, who has long been considered a heartthrob on the series, per Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
Given her popularity on the series, it came as a shock to many fans when, at the end of the second season of “Chicago Fire,” Shay was involved in a building exploding by a serial arsonist that left her seriously injured. As Showbiz Cheat Sheet reported, fans were left waiting to find out about Shays fate until the premiere of the third season of the show, which confirmed what many had feared — Shay was dead and German would never be returning to “Chicago Fire” to reprise her role.
“She was very professional about it,” Olmstead told TVLine of Lauren German leaving behind her role as Shay. “She joked that she wasnt going to miss the Chicago winters. Shes a California girl. So it was nice to know she was able to joke about it a little bit.” Olmstead continued, “What Im going to miss about Shay is what Im going to miss about Lauren German, which is an extremely talented actress who can play both heavy dramatic scenes, but had a light touch and was funny and just likable.”
Since 2012, viewers have been transported to Chicago, Illinois, to get a glimpse into the lives of firefighters, police officers, healthcare workers, lawyers, and paramedics in the “One Chicago” NBC universe, which includes “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Med,” and, for one season, “Chicago Justice,” per NBC.
Given her popularity on the series, it came as a shock to many fans when, at the end of the second season of “Chicago Fire,” Shay was involved in a building exploding by a serial arsonist that left her seriously injured. As Showbiz Cheat Sheet reported, fans were left waiting to find out about Shays fate until the premiere of the third season of the show, which confirmed what many had feared — Shay was dead and German would never be returning to “Chicago Fire” to reprise her role.
Before her exit at the beginning of the third season of “Chicago Fire,” Leslie Shay, portrayed by actress Lauren German, was a fan favorite. For two seasons, Shay, a paramedic and lesbian, developed a strong following in the LGBTQ community as her character allowed the show to explore the complexities of same-sex relationships. It didnt hurt that Shay also shared an apartment with her best friend, Kelly Severide, portrayed by Taylor Kinney, who has long been considered a heartthrob on the series, per Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
Similar to shows like “Greys Anatomy,” the “One Chicago” universe is prone to injure or kill off characters simply for dramatic effect. This flair for the dramatic was showcased when the shows writers decided to kill off beloved character Leslie Shay at the beginning of the third season. In an interview with TVLine, the executive producer of “Chicago Fire,” Matt Olmstead, said that it was decided that they would kill off Shay to make a “big impact, as opposed to going for a lesser-known character.”
She was also compelling in terms of her personal life. As someone with significant trust issues, we were always rooting for Shay to overcome her past experiences and find happiness.
Shay gets a bit of a curtail call in the season 3 episode “Always, Call It Paradise, I Am the Apocalypse”. She appears in flashbacks involving Severide (Taylor Kinney), and while nothing huge is learned about the character, its certainly a delight to see her back in the fold brief though it may be).
Shay, played by actress Lauren German, was introduced in the Chicago Fire pilot and was a steady presence throughout the first two seasons. She worked as a paramedic alongside Gabby Dawson (Monica Raymund), whom she quickly grew close with. In the episode “A Nuisance Call”, however, Dawson pulls rank on an embarrassed Shay, and the pair decide to end their friendship.
Sadly, Shay’s quest for peace was cut short in tragic fashion. It’s been a long time since she graced the screen, so we thought it’d be a good time to refresh fans on Shay’s exit from the show and her ultimate fate.
Things remain tense between the two right up to the episode “Real Never Waits”. It’s here that the pair answer a call to a building fire, and Dawson tells Shay to take the lead. Things go according to plan until an explosion causes a pipe to fall and fatally strike Shay in the head.
Shay was killed off in the ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 2 finale.
At the end of Season 2, Shays life hung in the balance during an explosion that was the result of a building collapse during a fire. Although Boden accounted for most of Firehouse 51 during the incident, Dawson and Shay were noticeably absent. It wasnt until the Season 3 premiere when it was revealed what happened to Dawson and Shay during the explosion.
As fans had feared at the time, Shay was dead. Dawson tried to revive her, but Shay was killed off. It was a fitting end for the fictional hero. But it also meant that Lauren left Chicago Fire with no hope of returning. Luckily, it doesnt seem to have been a result of an issue with the actress. Instead, it was a creative decision made for the sake of the shows storylines. Article continues below advertisement
FAQ
Why was Shay killed off Chicago Fire?
Who killed Shay on Chicago Fire?
How does Shay leave Chicago Fire?
What episode of Chicago Fire is Shay killed?
At the end of Season 2, Shay’s life hung in the balance during an explosion that was the result of a building collapse during a fire.
