For a decade a half, Joe Minoso has been Joe Cruz on NBC’s long running hit Chicago Fire. His shift has come to an end, as Cruz left Firehouse 51 for the final time.
Minoso, a 2004 M.F.A. acting graduate from the NIU School of Theatre and Dance told US Magazine that he was pleasantly surprised with how his character evolved over the years. “What’s great about what we did with the character was [that] I never imagined him becoming such a leader or really even a father,” Minoso said. “The arc, whether or not by design from the very beginning really felt fulfilling. We did it in such a positive way. I’m super proud of it.”
Minoso has been a part of Chicago Fire from the very beginning. His final episode, Wednesday night was the 300th in the show’s long running history. The only original cast members who remain are Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg and Christian Stolte.
Minoso told the Chicago Tribune that his decision to leave as a series regular was “weirdly mutual” and that he can now focus on doing more producing and directing films in Chicago, and that leaving after 15 years “felt right.” But he’s unlikely to be gone from the show forever. He plans to return from time to time in front of and behind the camera.
He is a native of Brooklyn who first came to the Midwest to attend NIU. His degree led to several roles in Chicago theater and eventually to Chicago Fire. Minoso was honored in 2018 with NIU’s Alumni Achievement in the Arts award.
“NIU is almost single-handedly the reason that I work,” Minoso says. “NIU gave me the tools, taught me to hone my talent and to be able to use it on call. I wouldn’t be able to do the things that I do on screen or on stage without any of the skills I learned at Northern.
“I was something of a lost actor when I came to the school. I felt like I learned how to learn. I was finally able to take things in and apply them. I got all of that from Northern. I wouldn’t be in the position that I am without my degree.”
