Brian Tee is one actor who has managed to do well for himself on both the silver screen and the big screen. Over the years, he’s starred in some of Hollywood’s most popular movies, including The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Jurassic World, The Wolverine, and more recently, Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
Throughout his long career, Tee has also taken several tv roles. During his early years, he landed guest roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Jag, Entourage, Without a Trace, and the longest-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. And while he played a patient in Shonda Rhimes’ universe, Tee eventually went on to play a doctor in Dick Wolf’s Chicago Med. Recently though, the Japanese actor announced that he was leaving the show after being a regular cast member for eight seasons.
Brian Tee Was Cast In Chicago Med Following A Guest Appearance On Chicago P.D.
Back in 2015, Tee was only landing small roles on television. Among them was the part of gang leader Jesse Kong in Wolf’s other Chicago show, Chicago P.D (the very same series that recently saw the departure of regular Jesse Lee Soffer). Unbeknownst to Tee, that brief guest role would lead to a regular gig in Chicago Med.
“At that time, the box I was allowed to play in around 20-plus years ago, was very limited; it was very stereotypical, and cliche like playing the Asian bad guy archetype. I have nothing against it; I was able to build a career but it never propelled me to a level of which I knew I was capable,” the actor recalled.
“Then literally, as I’m playing Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the villain of all Asian villains, my phone rings and it’s my agent asking me if I want to go to Chicago.”
And because Ethan is also a Navy veteran dealing with PTSD, Tee wanted to make sure he got the portrayal right by doing his homework.
“I’ve read and talked to veterans,” the actor once explained. He also worked hard to avoid portraying a veteran stereotype, keeping in mind that “every experience is different.”
Why Is Brian Tee Leaving Chicago Med?
Tee confirmed just recently that he will exit the show after eight seasons with his final appearance set for episode 9, which will air on December 7th 2022. That said, the actor is expected back on set as he will make his directorial debut for the show’s episode 16.
Tee’s exit also comes at the end of his six-year contract and it seems he didn’t pursue any renewal talks as he wanted to spend more time with his wife and daughter and pursue other opportunities.
“Playing Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med has been such a gift and a blessing. I am forever grateful to our fans and my colleagues both in front of and behind the camera as I embark on a new journey,” the actor said. “I am forever indebted to Dick Wolf, NBC, and Universal Television for choosing me.”
And while little is known about Tee’s final episode, the actor himself promises it will be one memorable tv event. “What we’ve been planning for Dr. Choi’s sendoff is fitting, and it’s beautiful,” Tee teased.
“I think the fans are going to absolutely love it. It’s going to bring a little bit of the new Ethan and a little bit of the old. Know that episode 9 is going to be an amazing one.” Fittingly, the episode is also entitled Could Be The Start Of Something New.
What’s Next For Brian Tee After Chicago Med?
Tee may be looking to slow down a bit, but he’s also already found his next big project. Next up for the veteran actor is the upcoming Amazon Original series Expats where he will star opposite Oscar winner Nicole Kidman.
Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s bestselling novel The Expatriates, Tee plays a devoted husband to Kidman who has “no desire to exchange his ex-pat lifestyle for American suburbia, until his world is upended, and he is faced with an impossible choice.”
“Brian is a deeply compassionate actor with undeniable screen presence — an irresistible pairing with Nicole,” Lulu Want, the series’ writer, showrunner, and executive producer, said in a statement. “We are unbelievably fortunate to have him on board.”
“We are thrilled to have Brian’s talent, depth and warmth bring Clarke to life on the screen,” Albert Cheng, the COO, and co-head of Amazon Studios, also said. “He rounds out an incredible cast, we can’t wait for our Prime Video customers to see the thoughtful, moving series that Lulu has envisioned.”
As for Tee, the actor admits that he’s “still pinching” himself after his latest casting. “Working on Expats was a complete shift from Chicago Med, obviously with the story, but then also the nuances of what we were trying to convey,” he said.
“I was also completely enamored to work opposite the legendary Nicole Kidman; going toe-toe with someone of that caliber as an artist was a beautiful thing. It helped me fulfill certain things within myself that I knew I could and that I wanted to.”
So far, Amazon hasn’t announced a release date for Expats.
