Chicago Med star Marlyne Barrett to take temporary leave

Marlyne Barrett, a series regular on Chicago Med since its 2015 debut, is stepping away from the NBC medical drama for personal reasons as the show prepares to return for its 11th season on Oct. 1, 2025. Producers described the leave as envisioned to be temporary, but they have not confirmed when or if Barrett will rejoin the cast or how the departure will be explained on screen.

Barrett has portrayed charge nurse Maggie Lockwood for ten seasons, a stabilizing presence in the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center emergency department and a close confidante of many characters. Her exit leaves S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays Sharon Goodwin, and Oliver Platt, who plays Dr. Daniel Charles, as the only remaining original cast members expected to appear as regulars in Season 11.

Series and industry sources said Barrett disclosed in July 2022 that she had been diagnosed with uterine and ovarian cancer and underwent surgery and 30 rounds of chemotherapy. She announced she was in remission in 2024 and has spoken publicly about how continuing to work on the show during treatment felt lifegiving. Barrett said at the time, I feel fantastic, and she described returning to normal rhythms as...