LaRoyce Hawkins deja 'Chicago P.D.' tras más de una década como Kevin Atwater

Chicago, 16 de octubre de 2026.- LaRoyce Hawkins dejó la serie 'Chicago P.D.' después de más de una década interpretando al oficial Kevin Atwater, informó The Hollywood Reporter. El episodio final del actor, titulado 'Don't Blink', se emitió el 14 de octubre.

La noticia de la salida de Hawkins se dio durante el fin de semana festivo del 4 de julio, sin que hubiera una explicación oficial de Hawkins ni de NBC, según el reporte. La especulación sobre su salida se centró en dinero y recortes de costos en la industria. Los fans se enteraron de que el episodio del 14 de octubre sería el último de Atwater hasta el avance del episodio emitido la semana anterior.

En 'Don't Blink', el episodio comienza en el hospital con el bebé, un hijo, y Atwater y Tasha Fox, personaje interpretado por Karen Obilom. Atwater decide mudarse con Tasha y el bebé de Chicago a Atlanta. El final en el bar incluye a colegas y amigos cantando 'He's A Jolly Good Fellow'.

La relación entre Atwater y Fox se desarrolló a lo largo de la temporada: Fox anunció su intención de dejar Chicago y unirse a la policía en Miami en un episodio de octubre pasado; Fox y Atwater compartieron una noche de pasión que resultó en un embarazo revelado en el episodio de enero 'On the Way'; acordaron trabajar en hacer su relación real en 'The Wicked River', unos episodios antes del final de esa temporada; y en el estreno de la temporada 14 ('Demolition') lo único claro era que el bebé venía.

Hawkins, originario de Harvey, área de Chicago, reflexionó sobre el impacto del personaje. "Because I grew up watching reruns from shows that were over way before I was born, I wasn't unaware of the impact that you can still have for generations that you're not necessarily a part of", dijo. "So now I'm very interested in how we will rediscover and explore Atwater".

Sobre el periodo de la pandemia, el actor señaló: "By the time we remind ourselves about the pandemic period and we unpack how Atwater had to be on the front line as a cop for television, and the way that the Black man and his life seem not to matter as much [then], and to play a character that had to hold the weight of both of those, at the time, I was just ready". Agregó: "I was locked in, and I don't think I even understood then that this is going to be a capsule of a time period that is going to [represent] a significant shift in TV. It was a significant shift in the nation".

Hawkins también recordó el apoyo del equipo de Dick Wolf: "I'll never forget how intentional the Dick Wolf team and the powers that be in that universe were about how we told stories after the pandemic, and I was grateful to be instrumental in how we were able to tell those stories".

El episodio final fue dirigido por Jesse Lee Soffer, quien interpretó a Halstead hasta salir en la temporada 10. Hawkins relató una conversación con Soffer: "Bro, are you hyper aware of yourself? I was like, Yeah, low key, I am. And he was like, You got to stop that. You can't be so aware of yourself because sometimes I can see you editing your performance within the performance. You have to block out LaRoyce Hawkins' thoughts and focus on the Atwater's thoughts".

En una escena del episodio, Atwater pregunta: "Why didn't you give them my name?", a lo que el sargento Hank Voight, interpretado por Jason Beghe, responde: "Well, I ain't wanna lose you".

Hawkins también habló sobre los nombres de las parejas que creó: "Burgewater" y "Foxwater". "I came up with that", afirmó. "I was the first one to be like, yo, let's just put our names together, because I felt like Atwater was just dope; you can put anything before 'water' and make it sound cool. Burgewater was the first one I came up with. Foxwater was easy. I like Tasha Fox [portrayed by Karen Obilom] a lot. I think she was proud of me. She was my personal favorite love interest. I know everybody had their opinions about them all, but I think she was the best one. I think we got it right when we found her".

Respecto a la reacción de los fans ante su salida, Hawkins comentó: "I've been hearing a lot of that, too. And it's hard because I love the show. I'm a fan of the show minus myself, but it's because of myself that I'm a part of the show. So there's a part of me that's like, yeah, y'all ain't gotta watch that shit no more. And then there's a part of me that does want to see the show grow still. Actually it confirms the fact that Atwater is a true vibe [and a] part of the fabric of the show that makes it good. You don't always know that you're doing that".

Sobre la evolución del personaje, Hawkins explicó: "I haven't been either. And that was a struggle for me too as an actor. Because Atwater is a cop, sometimes the hard part for me was wrapping my mind around how a cop would think and what a cop's opinions would be. And that didn't always align with what LaRoyce would do. But that's why LaRoyce isn't Atwater. I would infuse and texturize Atwater with what made sense for LaRoyce. Whether it was empathy or some humor here, or I would drop in moments that made sense. But Atwater's a cop, so you know his opinion would probably disagree with the average Black person based on his intentions to protect and serve".

La postura de Atwater contra el Muro Azul y el racismo sistémico en la policía en la temporada ocho bloqueó sus opciones de ascenso y aumento, según el reporte. Hawkins señaló sobre la decisión final de su personaje: "He put himself first obviously because of his family. And you gotta understand Atwater lost his family once upon a time because of the job, and he wasn't willing to do that this time".

'Chicago P.D.' se estrenó con el episodio 'Stepping Stone' el 8 de enero de 2014. La serie se transmite en NBC los miércoles a las 10pm ET como parte del bloque One Chicago que incluye 'Chicago Med' y 'Chicago Fire'. El artículo fue escrito por Ronda Racha Penrice.