Jesse Spencer returns to “Chicago Fire” and warms up his homecoming to the station.
The Australian actor, 44, played Matt Casey on the Dick Wolf drama for nine seasons, leaving in Season 10. Casey moved on to a new life and a new job as a captain in Portland, Oregon but returned for the Season 10 finale wedding of Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo).
“Matt’s the best guy, so it’s fitting to come back,” Spencer said.
Now, urgent fire business and discussions with fires past bring Casey back to Firehouse 51 and local hangout Molly for Wednesday’s episode (now streaming on Peacock).
“I’ve always said that if you want to bring Casey back in line, I’m open to it,” Spencer said. “And it’s fun, because they put me in the middle of a pile of things that stir things up.”
Here’s the fallout from Casey’s “Chicago Fire” comeback.
Why did Jesse Spencer leave ‘Chicago Fire’?
Spencer, who played Dr. Robert Chase on the Fox medical drama “House” from 2004-12, was a fan favorite during his decade-long “Chicago Fire” run. But Spencer’s life priorities changed with his 2020 marriage to neuroscientist Kali Woodruff Carr and the birth of the couple’s first child.
“I got married and had a baby. So things changed in my life,” said Spencer, who left for personal reasons after his 200th episode, but still lives in Chicago.
He still has his “Chicago Fire” helmet and keeps his firefighter Halligan bar forcible entry tool in his apartment. “You never know when you’re going to need one,” he said. When her son got stuck in an apartment building elevator earlier this year, Spencer immediately thought of opening the elevator doors herself.
“I almost ran upstairs and grabbed my Halligan,” Spencer said. “But then I thought the building HOA didn’t appreciate me opening the doors. So I called the fire department. They came and got my son out.”
Matt Casey has a ‘Chicago Fire’ business and an unrequited love
Casey has urgent business: Kidd is alerted to a secret Department of Homeland Security and FBI task force recruiting key first responders to prevent domestic terrorist attacks.
“Stella was his inspiration. She watched him grow as a firefighter and encouraged him to take on a leadership role,” Spencer said. “So that’s his first pick.”
But the real heat is between him and ex-flame paramedic Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), who is visibly shocked by Casey’s return. “That was a really rough call by Casey, just coming out,” Spencer said. “But things happened really fast.”
The two officially called off their relationship earlier this season over the phone, and Sylvie is dating Dylan (Christopher Allen). But Casey-Brett sparks fly with intense eye contact during a late night meeting at Molly’s that ends in a nine second (we timed it) full hug.
“Even though they broke up, he still has a lot of love for the woman,” says Spencer. “I still wonder if that’s the real reason he came back: for her. She’s in a relationship, and he’ll stand down. But he wants her to know he’s still there. He’s like a ghost from Christmas past.”
Casey was unable to reach Severide, who was called out of state on assignment (Kinney was leaving the show for personal reasons).
Matt Casey enters ‘Chicago Fire’ rescue action
It wouldn’t be homecoming if Casey didn’t come back for a fire shift. He still knows how to wear complicated safety equipment during drills.
“I know where the buckles and straps are, just like riding a bike,” Spencer said. “The only thing I forgot was how heavy that gear is. And you’re taking it on and off for scenes, like 30 times. I didn’t miss that.”
Of course, the crew on Casey’s former rig Truck 81 was called to rescue a man hanging from a window of a Chicago apartment building.
“We ride the rig, just like old times; it’s fun,” Spencer said. “It’s like I never left the show.”
Don’t leave us hanging: Will Matt Casey stay on ‘Chicago Fire’?
Nope. The return of “Chicago Fire” is a guest appearance, and Casey will return to his new life in Oregon. But Spencer is eager to get back to her TV family as soon as possible. He is still close to his castmates, including Killmer.
“He brought his family and we all hung out; we were good friends,” Spencer said. “This show was such a special part of my life for 10 years, so I’m always open to coming back.”
