You may need to turn up the A.C., because these stars have been making it hot in here.
Let’s face it: One Chicago Wednesdays is a nail-biting watch, and many of the actors of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. are easy on the eyes.
After all, what’s hotter than saving lives? First responders’ jobs may not leave a ton of personal time for romance but, when these men are saving patients or running into blazing infernos, you can count on them to look good doing it.
Get ready to swoon, sigh, and be swept away by these One Chicago heartthrobs in and out of their iconic uniforms.
Chicago Fire‘s Kelly Severide, played by Taylor Kinney
Where would Chicago Fire — dare we say One Chicago franchise — be without Taylor Kinney’s beloved firefighter, Kelly Severide? Severide has been extinguishing fires while simultaneously turning up the One Chicago heat for 12 action-packed seasons, and his longtime Firehouse 51 reign is a testament to Chi-Hards’ affinity for seeing the first responder sweat. Kinney has been the star of several passionate Chicago Fire romances, and currently steals the show anytime he gets alone time with his wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo).
Aside from his brief Season 11 hiatus, Kinney has been steaming up Chicago Fire since the flagship series’ debut in 2012, and fans can’t get enough of him.
“It’s never lost on me how special it is to be a part of something with the longevity this has,” Kinney told Us Weekly in May 2022. “It’s a testament to [show creator] Dick Wolf and the team of people he puts together.”
Chicago P.D.‘s Dante Torres, played by Benjamin Levy Aguilar
Sure, Benjamin Levy Aguilar is one of the more fresh-faced One Chicago stars, but Officer Dante Torres has already made a very positive impression. Torres’ dark and twisty past and silent yet deadly demeanor make him the epitome of an eye-catching brooding babe, leading to some steamy P.D. scenes. Torres keeps his fellow officers on their toes and Chicago P.D. fan’s eyes glued to the screen.
Aguilar, meanwhile, has been stealing hearts on primetime for a while.
“I was in love with this character from the start,” Aguilar said in an interview with Wolf Entertainment in 2023. “He had a tough upbringing, just like I did. He often finds himself in gray areas since he’s familiar with so many different worlds, and I relate to that, too. In spite of the circumstances of his life, he always chooses what’s right, and I aim to do the same.”
Chicago Med‘s Dr. Will Halstead, played by Nick Gehlfuss
For years on Chicago Med, the doctor who always made the miracles possible was the daring and downright magnetic Dr. Will Halstead, played by Nick Gehlfuss. Until the renegade doctor’s Season 8 exit, Dr. Halstead was the star of dozens of swoon-worthy One Chicago romances, ultimately parting with his post at Gaffney Medical Center to pursue the love of his life. Can it get more romantic than that?
Gehlfuss’ wry smile and quick-witted one-liners made for some seriously steamy tension during his Chicago Med tenure, so fans were rightfully sad to see him go.
“It was a difficult decision, but ultimately, I felt I’d taken Dr. Halstead as far as I can go with him,” Gehlfuss told Variety in 2023. “I am attracted to the profession for the variety in it, and eight years is a long time… It’s overwhelming, because of all the emotions. It wouldn’t be that way if it didn’t mean so much.”
Chicago P.D.‘s Jay Halstead, played by Jesse Lee Soffer
When it comes to playing good-cop-bad-cop, Chicago P.D. fans never tired of watching Jesse Lee Soffer’s Detective Jay Halstead in the interrogation room. From Season 1-10 of Chicago P.D., Halstead turned heads with his powerhouse combination of striking good looks and smooth investigation tactics.
He was half of the beloved former P.D. couple “Upstead” along with Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), so aside from all those rugged muscles, he was also the star of some of the most romantic P.D. scenes.
But after making waves on the One Chicago scene for nearly a decade, Soffer left the series to explore new horizons — including behind the camera. After Halstead’s tearjerking Season 10 farewell, Soffer returned to set to make his directorial debut, taking the helm for Season 10, Episode 16 (“Deadlocked”).
“It was a great experience. I learned so much,” Soffer told NBC Insider before contemplating the idea of directing another P.D. episode. “Leaving the show, I was grateful for the opportunity to have this experience, to keep learning and growing, and I definitely would not say no.”
Chicago Med‘s Dr. Connor Rhodes, played by Colin Donnell
Colin Donnell’s Dr. Connor Rhodes tagged along on several nail-biting patient cases during Seasons 1-4 of Chicago Med, ultimately leaving in the Season 5 premiere to start a new chapter. The trauma surgeon was driven and passionate, leading him to get into one or two (or three) romantic entanglements on the show, largely thanks to those swoon-worthy blue eyes. Dr. Rhodes lives on in Chi-Hard’s hearts as one of the most compelling characters.
Donnell’s charm has continued to be a scene-stealer on both the screen and stage since his Chicago Med tenure. After leaving the One Chicago universe, Donnell appeared in the 2022 Broadway production of The Shark Is Broken, adding yet another credit to his sprawling theatrical portfolio. Donnell also appeared in two Hallmark films: 2021’s Love on Iceland and 2021’s To Catch a Spy.
In 2022, Connell starred in the Peacock miniseries Irreverent as quick-witted mafia negotiator Paulo.
Chicago Fire‘s Matthew Casey, played by Jesse Spencer
For several years and heartwarming seasons, Matthew Casey, played by Jesse Spencer, was the driving force for romance on the show. A career as a firefighter admittedly leaves little room for romance — but Casey never let that stop him, ultimately falling in love and choosing to marry Firehouse 51 sweetheart Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer).
Casey may have left 51 in Season 10, but Brett and Casey’s happily-ever-after is one of the most swoon-worthy One Chicago stories of all time.
After proving that love always prevails on Chicago Fire, Spencer has maintains his chokehold on fans with his recurring guest star status. Between his long-distance love with Brett and his deep loyalty to his 51 friends, Chi-Hards relish any Spencer screen time.
Chicago Med‘s Dr. Ethan Choi, played by Brian Tee
From Seasons 1-8 of Chicago Med, Brian Tee stole viewers’ hearts as Emergency Room Chief Ethan Choi. As one of the certified hotties of One Chicago, Choi was the star of several beloved plot lines and saved countless patients, making Chi-Hards swoon at every twist and turn. He might have left the hospital in Season 8, but his charm lives rent-free in fans’ minds long after his exit.
Since his One Chicago tenure, Tee has starred in the TV drama Expats and returned to the Chicago Med set to direct a Season 8 episode.
“I think you create a family environment being on the show for so long, and you know, I think it was great to come home if that makes sense,” Tee told NBC Insider. “It was really nice to see the cast and crew, all the wonderful faces that you’ve lived with and grew up with for the last eight seasons.”
Watch all One Chicago series on Wednesdays on NBC.
