Larvis Hawkins on his latest episode of "Chicago P.D." Speaks as Kevin Atwater.

After saying goodbye to an era, the Chicago-area native reflects on his journey and discusses his departure and the fans' reaction to his departure after 14 seasons.

There was no indication that LaRois Hawkins, known to fans as Kevin Atwater, was leaving Chicago PD. When season 13 ended in May. Then, over the Fourth of July weekend, news broke that she would be leaving the series, which she's starred in since it aired, and now, that final episode has aired.

Ever since the series premiered with 'Stepping Stone' on January 8, 2014, the star has been a fan favorite. With no official explanation from Hawkins or NBC, speculation turned to money and cost-cutting measures across the industry. Even before the episode preview that aired last week, fans didn't realize that the Oct. 14 episode ("Don't Blink") would be Atwater's last.

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"Don't Blink" opens in the hospital with a baby, a boy, and Atwater and Tasha. As Atwater returns to work to solve a robbery, he is an attentive father who calls during breaks and goes to the hospital when the child is sick. But he is deeply affected by a suspect, a father who has been absent from his son's life. This makes Atwater think about what she wants not just for herself, but for her son. His stance against the blue wall and systemic racism in the police force in season eight, his options for promotion and in the end, he decides to move from Chicago to Atlanta with Tasha and the baby. And the finale in the bar, with co-workers and friends singing "He's a good good fellow," ends Atwater's Chicago P.D. series. to reign

It was a bittersweet moment and many agreed that the finale was well handled.

Last year, the Chicago-area native from Harvey spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about Atwater's evolution, expressing his gratitude while also discussing the pressure of representing his hometown. He also shared how honored and privileged he felt to be a part of Dick Wolf's world.

Speaking to THR the day before his final episode aired, he said he plans to watch the show for the first time surrounded by family for real. Hawkins reflected on Atwater's importance and influence.

"Because I grew up watching reruns of shows that ended before I was born, I had no idea the impact you can still have on generations that you're not necessarily a part of," he said. "So now I'm very interested in how we can rediscover and explore Atwater."

How Chicago P.D. Dealing with the epidemic is of particular importance. "When we think back to the pandemic and how Atwater had to be at the forefront as a TV cop, and the way the black man and his life didn't seem to matter [at the time], and to play a character who had to carry the weight of both, I was just ready at the time," he shared. "I was locked in, and I don't think I even realized at the time that this was a capsule of a time period that would [represent] a significant change in television. It was a significant change in the country.

"I'll never forget how intentional the Dick Wolf team and the powers that be in that world were about how we told our stories post-pandemic, and I was grateful for how we were able to tell those stories," he added.

Then, after watching his final episode as Atwater, Hawkins took time again to talk with THR about the episode, sharing behind-the-scenes gems, everything from the babies who played Atwater's son to sharing the screen with Jason Beghe for the last time, fans' reaction to his exit, and putting together a good series finale to tell friends and family.

I was surprised by the tenderness and thoughtfulness in the last episode. I don't think we should introduce the policemen in this perspective. And I really don't think we've ever seen a black cop presented like this.

I think that's a good thing to see, especially in today's world. And when you consider all the characters who have left the show at a high level, no one really goes out like that.

People on social media were upset when they thought Atwater had been shot and might be killed.

They had to throw it in there to throw people off. This was crazy. Yes, my mom was shaving. My older sister was crazy. I thought, no, everything will be fine.

While the episode did a really good job of showing how fatherhood can change a man, how parenthood changes a person, it also showed how this other man's regret as a father makes Atwater more responsible and caring.

When it comes to babies, we don't often see fathers show up when they are sick in the hospital. It was the little things that we don't see shown, that we almost never see shown for a black father.

This was not a bad way. I was proud of it.

How did you feel while filming?

To be honest, there were moments, especially at the beginning of filming, when I had to isolate myself because everyone knew it was my last episode. Imagine the crew and cast, like everyone else, trying to come up with their last conversation or make a last impression. It throws me off because I try to cook what we want. I realized after the first day of shooting. When I realized that people wanted to take those windows, I went to the side. I'm very social on stage because there's an energy that I like to try to maintain. I like to go around and connect with people, and I really couldn't do that because I couldn't.

This was the second episode after a heavy hiatus, and it really takes four or five episodes to warm up for a season like Chicago P.D. When you're doing 20 episodes, you don't really warm up until the sixth episode. So for us to still only be in the second [episode], I was trying to get my conditioning back. I had to isolate myself from distractions

But I was confident because Jesse [Lee Soffer, who played Halstead until the end of season 10] directed it, and Jesse gave me one of the best notes I've probably had since I've been on the show. He would say, "Brother, are you too self-aware?" And he said, "You've got to block it out. You can't be so self-aware because sometimes I can see you're editing your performance. You've got to block out the thoughts of LaRois Hawkins and focus on the thoughts of Atwater."

You can't tell me to trust myself. Directors are sometimes like, "Yeah, just trust yourself." But I can trust myself too much, and I can forget that there is a world to lose. So, it was great shooting with Jesse, because every day was like a master class in being specific in the character's thoughts. Sometimes Larvis Hawkins' thoughts and the character's thoughts don't always line up. So I was sure that this episode would be good because I remember working hard on the set.

It was dope to shoot, but it was also bittersweet because certain scenes, I knew it was going to be my last scene in Bullet. The last scene I shot was with me and Sarge [Jason Beghe, who plays Sargan Hankowt] in his office.

How was that character-to-character experience with Atwater and Voight, as well as actor-to-actor with you and Jason Beghe?

It was emotional at times, to be honest with you. I didn't even realize I might cry until I watched [the episode]. But that's how I felt at that moment. Honestly, it was, damn it, dude. This was my last scene with Sarge. I love Sarge. So the conversation paralleled what was going on with the character and with myself, which was interesting. Sarge was saying I can do anything, I deserve it all, all those moments felt like they really reflected our real relationship sometimes, and I could tell he was getting emotional at times too. But we just made sure it was fun. That scene was less on paper. I don't want to say we put humor in it, but we found moments where it felt real. Like when [Atwater] said, "Why didn't you give them my name?" [And Sarge] was like, 'Well, I don't want to lose you.'

So there were more smiles that day that we realized weren't on the screen at first. [The main scene] seemed almost too dramatic. It was like a scene where I was being fired, and we didn't want to feel that way. We were able to make some adjustments. Then on the actual [last] day, I asked my family and some close friends to go there. As soon as I finished filming, a whole bunch of [people] packed the set. It was as if I heard a horn and a song. Everyone marched. It was very dope

You said that scene with Sarge was the last scene you shot. How did it feel when you shot the finale in the bar and everyone is telling Atwater, including his son Rosek (Patrick John Pfluger), half of Rosewater, how much did he mean to you?

That day was a doping day. I made sure to fill that scene with homie. That's what helped make it so real. I went from New York to Chicago, a big hostess, to be in the background of that scene. I had a great friend of mine, Raekwon [Neighbors], he owns the best daycares [Raekwon’s Scholastic Daycare Academy] in Cook County. I just filled it with friends. I had my niece in the scene because I wanted the real energy, camaraderie, togetherness, and family to end. This was not the last scene we shot. I think we may have shot the third or fourth day. So it didn't seem like it would be hard to try to embody that kind of last-minute energy, because it wasn't last-minute. I filled the space with loved ones. And that was the best part about that scene, seeing my family behind me. Seventy-five percent of them were actually friends, not just background extras.

I imagine knowing that scene was the final destination helped the other scenes because you knew where you were going.

Yeah even looking at the performance I can tell I'm a little more locked in and a lot more precise about where I'm going and coming from. The episode itself isn't the most dynamic, but it felt grounded and I was prepared, which is what I like about my final run. It was real. It wasn't high but I don't think anything will impress you. It felt very solid across the board.

I like it too. It felt logical. I felt like, well, my life has changed. I make different decisions and what I wanted before is not what I want now because I don't just think about myself. And because I live in Atlanta and I'm from Chicago, I was like, oh, it's crazy that he's coming to Atlanta. Especially when it used to be Miami.

It's crazy because I'm actually in Atlanta. It's so funny, but so true.

Social media reacted very well to the episode itself, with many people agreeing that it was beautiful. Some people shared that because Atwater is gone, so are they. That they will try the show next week to see what they do after Atwater. What do you think?

I have heard a lot about it too. And it's hard because I love the show. I am a fan of the show minus myself, but I am a part of the show because of myself. So there's a part of me that's like, yeah, you shouldn't watch that shit anymore. And then there's a part of me that wants the show to keep growing. It really confirms the fact that Atwater is a real setting [and] part of the fabric of the show that makes it good. You don't always know you're doing it.

It looks like there is potential for an Atwater show to start again in Atlanta. Other than Will Trent, there are no other cop or procedural shows in Atlanta.

Watching episodes of Celeste with Amanda Peyton, I found Atwater dirty. It didn't seem right to not tell him he was the police when a case came up involving him and his students. And then in other episodes, there were a lot of times where I didn't always agree with Atwater's actions, even if that was part of the job.

You said you didn't always agree with Atwater?

Yeah, I wasn't okay with a lot of his actions, especially going back through the episodes.