Chicago PD is reportedly losing one of its longest-serving cast members, with officer Kevin Atwater expected to hand in his badge as star LaRoyce Hawkins parts way with the police drama.
The character debuted at the tail-end of the show’s first season, all the way back in 2014, and has since become a firm favourite of viewers, owing to his strong moral compass and determination to do the right thing.
In recent episodes, Atwater’s love life had come into focus, but a budding romance with officer Tasha Fox (Karen Obilom) ends almost as soon as it begins when she decides to move to Miami, Florida.
Atwater struggles to move on after circumstances tear them apart, and the later reveal that Tasha is pregnant with his baby cements that their relationship is far from over.
Deadline was first to report that Hawkins would be leaving Chicago PD, with these major life developments likely to play a role in his departure storyline in season 14 (expected to premiere this autumn or winter).
Last year, Hawkins was a guest on the official One Chicago Podcast (covering the events of PD, Fire and Med), where he reminisced about securing his life-changing role on the show.
“It was amazing,” he began. “At that time, it was almost like prayers had been answered. Prior to getting the call, I felt like something was on the way.
“Every night I would go to sleep, and I had this feeling like ‘tomorrow might be the day’… I was doing whatever I could to find an audience and perfect my craft.”
Hawkins added: “It wasn’t until Chicago PD that I really learned how to act at a high level. Thank God for this cast, because I’ve really been able to learn a lot from them.”
After such a long stint in the role, it’s understandable that Hawkins may be itching to try something a bit different, with the demanding schedules of network television leaving precious little time to spare.
That said, Hawkins has managed to juggle supporting roles in Marvel’s Ironheart, Power Book IV: Force and HBO Max sitcom South Side, in addition to his duties in the One Chicago universe.
Chicago PD is available on Sky Witness and NOW.
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