For the first seven seasons of the NBC drama Chicago Fire, Yuri Sardarov played fan-favorite firefighter Brian “Otis” Zvonecek. But in the Season 8 premiere “Sacred Ground,” Otis died from injuries sustained while fighting a fire at a mattress factory. Years later, fans continue to mourn his loss.
Created by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, Chicago Fire premiered in 2012. It follows the lives of firefighters at the fictional Firehouse 51. Sardarov’s character was one of the original first responders. It was a source of comedic relief in every season of Chicago Fire, including a subplot where he dated the half-sister of Taylor Kinney’s character Kelly Severide. Otis’ death shook up the show and reminded viewers that, despite many of the main cast continually emerging alive after cliffhangers, the perils facing the firefighters were deadly.
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on June 18, 2024: With the recent news that Chicago Fire will lose yet another core cast member in Eamonn Walker’s fire chief, Wallace Boden, fans wonder what the series’ future will look like. However, this is far from the first time a One Chicago series has lost an integral character. In fact, Otis’s exit from the series several years ago shows that the series can survive losing important cast members. This article has been updated to include new information and to adhere to CBR’s current formatting guidelines.
