<p>Jesse Lee Soffer won fans’ hearts worldwide with his role in <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/chicago-p-d/”><em>Chicago P.D</em></a>. As one of the NBC drama’s many talented <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/actors/”>actors</a>, he also appeared on other shows in the <em>Chicago</em> franchise. But in 2022, after 10 seasons on <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/chicago-p-d-season-10-jesse-lee-soffer-will-likely-appear-1-episode-season.html/”><em>Chicago P.D</em></a>., Soffer left the series to pursue other opportunities. In a recent interview with Variety, Soffer revealed he’s ready to pour his “heart and soul” into his own show.</p>
<h2 id=”h-when-did-jesse-lee-soffer-start-acting”>When did Jesse Lee Soffer start acting?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-custom-image-1200″><img decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” width=”1500″ height=”1001″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=1200″ alt=”Chicago P.D. actor Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead” class=”wp-image-3405305″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg 1500w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=640&h=427 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=768&h=513 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=1024&h=683 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=1200&h=801 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jay-Halstead-Jesse-Lee-Soffer-Chicago-P.D.-.jpg?w=90&h=60 90w” sizes=”(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Jay Halstead actor Jesse Lee Soffer in ‘Chicago P.D.’ | Lori Allen/NBC</figcaption></figure>
<p><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/who-is-chicago-p-d-actor-jesse-lee-soffer.html/”>Jesse Lee Soffer</a> was born on Apr. 23, 1984. Though his earliest inclinations were toward sports, he began professionally acting as a child, appearing in a series of commercials. When he was only 8, he made his movie debut in the comedy <em>Matinee</em>. Throughout the ’90s, Soffer continued to act in movies, including <em>Safe Passage, The Brady Bunch Movie</em>, and <em>A Very Brady Sequel</em>, according to <a href=”https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0497522/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>IMDb</a>.</p>
<p>After graduating from high school, Soffer pursued acting with renewed vigor, tackling various roles in TV series. He earned early acclaim for his portrayal of Will Munson in the soap opera <em>As the World Turns</em>. During his stint, he received three Emmy nominations. Soffer left <em>As the World Turns</em> in 2008, and only a few years later, in 2013, he landed the role of Jay Halstead in the <em>Chicago </em>franchise.</p>
<h2 id=”h-the-former-chicago-p-d-star-would-pour-his-heart-and-soul-into-his-own-series”>The former ‘Chicago P.D.’ star would pour his ‘heart and soul’ into his own series</h2>
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<div class=”jetpack-video-wrapper”><iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Jesse Lee Soffer Chooses Between Sliding in the DMs or Posting a Thirst Trap for ‘This or That'” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/kdfvXHfQAuQ?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<p>Soffer played Jay Halstead for nearly 10 years in multiple shows. Although his primary role was in <em>Chicago P.D.,</em> he also acted in crossover events on <em>Chicago Fire</em> and <em>Chicago Med</em>. In a heartfelt social media post last summer, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/chicago-p-d-jesse-lee-soffer-will-leave-season-10.html/”>Soffer confirmed he would leave</a> the franchise and said he was grateful to fans and the production team. </p>
<p>Fans were sad to learn of <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/chicago-p-d-ratings-increase-jesse-lee-soffers-exit.html/”>Soffer’s exit</a>, but they haven’t seen the last of him. </p>
<p>In a recent interview with Variety, the actor revealed he has clear professional goals, one of which is to helm a TV series. </p>
<p>“<em>P.D.</em> is an ensemble. Jason [Beghe] is definitely the lead and the strong patriarch on that show. I definitely think I’m ready to be a lead on a show and to have my own show,” Soffer said. “I’d put all of my heart and soul into it.”</p>
<h2 id=”h-what-s-next-for-jesse-lee-soffer”>What’s next for Jesse Lee Soffer?</h2>
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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-width=”550″ data-dnt=”true”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Jesse Lee Soffer Explains His ‘Chicago P.D.’ Exit and Whether He’ll Ever Return: ‘Halstead’s Always Going to Be in My Blood’ <a href=”https://t.co/yfL3njyqoT”>https://t.co/yfL3njyqoT</a></p>— Variety (@Variety) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1628472041467682821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>February 22, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
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<p>In his <a href=”https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/why-did-jesse-lee-soffer-leave-chicago-p-d-interview-1235529696/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Variety</a> interview, Soffer discussed how he would also love to work on a Taylor Sheridan drama or period piece. He also admitted he wouldn’t close the door on returning to <em>Chicago P.D</em>. </p>
<p>“Never say never,” Soffer teased. “I feel so bad for the fans that are like, ‘Is he going to come back?’ ‘What’s he going to do?’ ‘What’s going on with him and Hailey?’ I like to think — and I hope the fans think this too — that he’s just in another country right now, doing what he does best and making the world a safer place.”</p>
<p>The actor added, “I still love it. I still love the fans. And I still love Halstead. Halstead’s always going to be in my blood. That’s never going to change.” </p>
<p><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/chicago-p-d-what-is-jesse-lee-soffers-net-worth.html/”>Soffer’s successful acting career</a> proves he’s primed to helm a TV show, whether in the <em>Chicago</em> franchise or something entirely new.</p>