EXCLUSIVE: The Intelligence Unit of Chicago P.D.‘s 21st District will be down an officer for some time this season. Original cast member Patrick John Flueger is taking a leave of absence from the popular NBC police drama, where he plays Adam Ruzek, to deal with a personal matter, sources tell Deadline. He will return later in the season.
The temporary departure was unexpected, and scripts are being reworked to reflect Ruzek’s absence, we hear. According to sources, the time off comes as Flueger has been going through a difficult period personally, with an instance of alcohol use on set.
The Chicago franchise, produced by Universal Television in association with Wolf Entertainment, is known for accommodating its actors when they need a break for personal reasons. Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney also took a leave of absence, returning to the firefighter drama 10 months later.
Since Chicago P.D.’s inception, Flueger’s Adam Ruzek has been an integral part of the Intelligence Unit led by Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe). After years of an on- and off- relationship between Ruzek and Detective Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati), the couple tied the knot in front of their friends and family in the Season 12 finale. They share a daughter, Makayla, whom they adopted in Season 8. Ruzek also looks after his father, Disco Bob (Jack Coleman), who last season was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and is now living at a nursing home in Chicago.
In the current Season 13, the team is dealing with the fallout of Deputy Chief Charlie Reid (Shawn Hatosy), which Voight orchestrated. As the intelligence team gets back to business after they were cleared, Ruzek and Burgess are focused on their marriage and family, and treading lightly on the streets of Chicago.
Rosy Cordero contributed to this report.
