‘Chicago Med’ Star Brian Tee To Exit After 8 Seasons… But He Will Return to Direct!
Another OneChicago fan favorite is exiting, but don’t worry, ChiHards, he will be back. Chicago Med star Brian Tee will exit the series following eight seasons on the medical drama. His final appearance will be Episode 9, titled “Could Be The Start Of Something New,” airing December 7th. But the good news is Brian will be remaining in the OneChicago universe as he returns for Episode 16… to make his directorial debut.
So why is the actor who plays “Dr. Ethan Choi” on the show moving on? It was Tee’s decision to depart from the series following the end of his six-year contract to spend more time with his family, according to Deadline. Tee’s family includes his daughter with his wife Mirelly Taylor, Madelyn, who was only five weeks old when he started on Chicago Med. Tee will pursue other opportunities expanding on his experience as an actor, a budding director, and producer.
Let’s enjoy some of Dr. Ethan Choi’s most memorable moments on the show with this quick mashup…
“What we’ve been planning for Dr. Choi’s sendoff is fitting, and it’s beautiful,” Brian said to Deadline in an exclusive interview. “I think the fans are going to absolutely love it. It’s going to bring a little bit of the new Ethan and a little bit of the old. Know that episode 9 is going to be an amazing one.”
“I’ve thought a lot about what Dr. Choi represents. As far as my career path, it was the school of hard knocks for a long time,” he shared. “I took what the industry granted me as far as opportunities were concerned. At that time, the box I was allowed to play in around 20-plus years ago, was very limited; it was very stereotypical, and cliche like playing the Asian bad guy archetype. I have nothing against it; I was able to build a career but it never propelled me to a level of which I knew I was capable. Then literally, as I’m playing Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the villain of all Asian villains, my phone rings and it’s my agent asking me if I want to go to Chicago.”
Brian continued, “Ethan Choi represents to me the first time I’ve actually played a protagonist in such a strong way and he catapulted me into a different arena, one where I feel the perception of not only myself but Asian Americans had been changed. Just having an Asian face as a leading man was a stepping stone if not the ladder.”
The Fate of Dr. Ethan Choi
Will Dr. Ethan Choi be, for lack of a better term, “killed off,” or will he simply be leaving the hospital? In his interview with Deadline, Tee didn’t disclose too much about how Dr. Choi will be exiting the show. But he did say he’d be open to coming back in the future.
“I would never say no. Yeah, if the opportunity arose, absolutely. I feel like I’ve been a part of this family and will remain a part of this family, whether it’s on-screen or off-screen. So if there’s an opportunity to bring him back, I would absolutely jump right in. For now, it’s just, I’ll see you later. I’ll be back around. You can’t get rid of me,” he declared.
Playing “The Moral Compass of Chicago Med“
“Playing Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med has been such a gift and a blessing. I am forever grateful to our fans and my colleagues both in front of and behind the camera as I embark on a new journey. I am forever indebted to Dick Wolf, NBC, and Universal Television for choosing me.”
He added, “I hope Dr. Choi is remembered for being the moral compass of Chicago Med that the fans and patients trusted. He always did everything he could for his patients to earn their trust and to give them the best care he could. As far as a legacy, that’s the essence of what I hope he leaves behind. When he walks away, that trust he instilled will remain there.”
Click here for Brian’s full interview with Deadline.
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