The Real Life of Joe Miñoso: Love, Friendship, and Passion Beyond Chicago Fire
Since 2012, Joe Miñoso has been a beloved fixture on Chicago Fire, portraying firefighter Joe Cruz with warmth, humor, and heart. But while fans know him best for his onscreen heroics at Firehouse 51, Miñoso’s real life away from the cameras is just as compelling—and in many ways, just as inspiring.
From discovering his love for acting to finding lasting friendship and even marrying the love of his life on set, Miñoso’s journey is a testament to fate, passion, and the unexpected magic that can happen when you follow your heart.
From the Audience to Center Stage
Miñoso’s acting journey began with a spark of curiosity that turned into a lifelong calling. As a teenager, he wasn’t onstage—he was in the audience. But during a high school production, something clicked.
“Literally at intermission of the first act, I went up to the people who were changing the set and was like, ‘Hey, do you need help with anything?’” he recalled in an interview. “I was so enamored with it… and I never looked back.”
That spontaneous backstage moment led Miñoso to pursue theater with laser focus. After graduating from high school, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Adelphi University, followed by a master’s degree in fine arts from Northern Illinois University. He honed his skills at Teatro Vista, the largest Latino theater company in the Midwest, where he found both a creative home and a cultural community.
It was that dedication to his craft that eventually landed him a life-changing role on Chicago Fire—a role that would not only define his career but change his life in deeply personal ways.
Finding Love on the Set of Chicago Fire
While many actors form tight bonds with their castmates, Miñoso’s connection to Chicago Fire went far beyond friendship. It was on the set of the NBC drama that he met Murphy Miles, a talented makeup artist who would eventually become his wife.
The couple’s love story began quietly, but blossomed behind the scenes. In 2015, Miñoso announced their engagement with a heartfelt message that revealed just how meaningful their relationship had become.
“They say you always fall in love when you least expect it,” he wrote at the time. “A little over two years ago, a makeup artist joined the team of Chicago Fire and quickly became the biggest part of my heart. Thank you, my angel, for showing me what love really is.”
The pair tied the knot in October 2016 in a uniquely personal ceremony. Their friend and co-star Christian Stolte, who plays Mouch on the show, served as their wedding officiant, and another castmate, Yuri Sardarov (aka Otis), was part of the wedding party. In a sweet tribute to the series that brought them together, the couple posed for photos outside a real Chicago firehouse.
“We had no idea what to expect of our own wedding,” Miñoso later joked during an appearance on The Jam TV Show, reflecting on the improvisational style of the ceremony. “We let Christian go wild with it, and it was perfect.”
Building a Life Together
Nearly a decade later, Joe and Murphy Miñoso are still going strong. As of 2025, they’re approaching their eighth wedding anniversary and continue to build a shared life rooted in love, creativity, and community.
They reside in Illinois, where Joe remains a vital part of Chicago Fire, both on screen and within its tight-knit cast. Off-screen, Murphy has carved her own path as a businesswoman and healer. She launched a wellness boutique and a paramedical tattoo studio, where she helps clients with scar camouflage and other confidence-restoring treatments.
Together, they’ve created a life that blends art, healing, and service—much like the themes Chicago Fire has championed since its debut.
Lifelong Bonds and Lasting Impact
Miñoso credits Chicago Fire not only for professional stability, but for introducing him to some of his closest friends, including Stolte and Sardarov. The cast’s off-screen camaraderie has long been one of the show’s most endearing traits, and Miñoso is at the heart of it.
Twelve seasons in, Joe Cruz remains a fan-favorite character, and Miñoso’s real-life journey mirrors that of his onscreen persona: steady, loyal, and full of heart. Whether he’s suited up to save lives in a burning building or celebrating milestones with loved ones, Joe Miñoso continues to prove that some of Chicago Fire’s best stories happen when the cameras stop rolling.
