LOCAL ACTOR SHOWCASES HIS TALENT ON NBC’S ‘CHICAGO FIRE’

Daniel Kyri grew up performing on local stages and is now a recurring character on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.”
Daniel Kyri grew up performing on local stages and is now a recurring character on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.”

Local actor showcases his talent on NBC’s ‘Chicago Fire’

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Daniel Kyri began acting in local community theater productions and is now a cast member on “Chicago Fire.” He says his transition from theater to television hasn’t been too much of a transition at all.

Kyri said the role as Ritter on “Chicago Fire” came at an interesting time in his career. He was working on “The T,” a web-based series he described as a “passion project.”

“I was pouring all of my time, money and energy into it,” he said. Then, he got a role as a day player on “Chicago Med.” He said he was “in the throws of dealing with the struggling actor thing,” when he got an audition for “Chicago PD.”

“I was down on myself and ready to call it quits,” he said. Then, a casting director called him in for something else with the director for “Chicago Fire.” It was a much bigger part with a potential recurring story arc.

“I read the sides and went in the next day,” he said. “I went in and I nailed it. Four days later, I got the call.”

Kyri said it felt like a breakthrough.

“You do so much work for the audition. I’m so much in the habit of doing the work and letting it go,” he said. “Then, they call and it was so much relief and joy.”

In his youth, he performed at ETA and participated in After School Matters. He was also in a production of “ Once On This Island.”

Kyri has been on the show since Season 7, which began in 2018. This season, Kyri’s character, Ritter, came out to his mentor, Hermann, played by David Eigenberg.

“I remember reading it, it was a mixture of surprise and anxiety and a little bit of pride,” he said. “Reading the bit in the script, seeing that on the page for me was a signal.”

Kyri said it signals a need for a greater conversation, especially in the world we live in today, about empathy and humanity. He said his character is a strong person, who is a firefighter, who happens to be queer and is proud of who he is.

“Once I started to let go of the anxiety, we found the joy in the moment,” he said. “It was so simple and so subtle and we’re moving along.”

Kyri said he has become part of the fabric of the show and somewhat of a fan favorite.

“In order to tell the story authentically and truthfully, it’s my job to tell the story and embody the character,” he said.

When Kyri is not working on “Chicago Fire,” he is working on season 2 of “The T.” He has also been trying to hone his own voice.

As for what’s next, Kyri said he wants to continue to act and write and direct. “There are a lot of opportunities ahead of me,” he said. “I’m planting seeds and watering and we’ll see what grows.”

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