Torrey DeVitto Loved Returning toChicago Medfor Nick Gehlfuss' Farewell: 'I Wanted Them to End Up Together' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Nick Gehlfuss (L) and Torrey DeVitto (R) onChicago Med.Photo:Elizabeth Sisson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyTorrey DeVitto’s appearance in theChicago Medseason 8 finale was all about giving Dr. Will Halstead — a.k.a.Nick Gehlfuss— the sendoff he deserved.On Saturday, DeVitto, 39, spoke with PEOPLE at Epic Cons Chicago about why she decided to scrub in as Dr. Natalie Manning again for her former costar Gehlfuss' final episode of the hit NBC drama. For thePretty Little Liarsalum, the answer was simple — she wanted Will and Natalie (and their fans) to have a happy ending.“Honestly, it was all about Nick for me,” DeVitto said. “I had no intentions of going back to the show. I feel like I had done my time and I loved so many people there and had such a great experience, but there was nothing in my head that was like, ‘Oh, I hope to come back.’ “But a chance to rectify the sad ending to Will and Natalie’s romance was too tantalizing to resist.Nick Gehlfuss (L) and Torrey DeVitto (R) onChicago Med.George Burns Jr/NBC via GettyDeVitto continued, “I did not feel like Natalie and Will got the ending that they deserved at all.“ThePretty Little Liarsactress went on to add that she “was such an advocate for them,” and she was “bummed” when her character began a relationship with Crockett (Dominic Rains). “I was like, no,” she said of the pairing.However, when Gehlfuss, 39, decided to exitChicago Medat the end of season 8, DeVitto was happy to return if it meant seeing her character ride off into the sunset with Will.“I wanted them to end up together so badly, and Nick became a brother to me,” she shared. “I love that dude so much. And so it was because he was leaving, I was just like, we need to give this to all of the Manstead fans out there.“She added of her return, “I loved it.“Inthe season 8 finale, Will quit his job at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center after the hospital went for-profit, and headed to Seattle to reunite with Natalie and her son, Owen (Ari Morgan).Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Nick Gehlfuss (L), Ari Morgan (C) and Torrey DeVitto (R).George Burns Jr/NBC via GettyLast May, Gehlfuss told PEOPLE he was happy with how the writers chose to end his character’s story.“It was really just a terrific moment and one that I hope brings some closure to fans,” he said at the time.Gehlfuss added that he was pleased to see it wasn’t just a couple that reunited in his final episode, but also a family, thanks to the inclusion of Owen.“The relationship for Will and Natalie comes full circle and it was a beautiful moment with Natalie,” he shared. “And it’s not just Dr. Manning that shows up, it’s Owen. I really always admired that about Will’s character, that he was willing and open to being a stepfather. So there’s this family at the end, not just a couple, that’s really reunited.“Chicago Medairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Nick Gehlfuss (L) and Torrey DeVitto (R) onChicago Med.Photo:Elizabeth Sisson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Elizabeth Sisson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Torrey DeVitto’s appearance in theChicago Medseason 8 finale was all about giving Dr. Will Halstead — a.k.a.Nick Gehlfuss— the sendoff he deserved.On Saturday, DeVitto, 39, spoke with PEOPLE at Epic Cons Chicago about why she decided to scrub in as Dr. Natalie Manning again for her former costar Gehlfuss' final episode of the hit NBC drama. For thePretty Little Liarsalum, the answer was simple — she wanted Will and Natalie (and their fans) to have a happy ending.“Honestly, it was all about Nick for me,” DeVitto said. “I had no intentions of going back to the show. I feel like I had done my time and I loved so many people there and had such a great experience, but there was nothing in my head that was like, ‘Oh, I hope to come back.’ “But a chance to rectify the sad ending to Will and Natalie’s romance was too tantalizing to resist.Nick Gehlfuss (L) and Torrey DeVitto (R) onChicago Med.George Burns Jr/NBC via GettyDeVitto continued, “I did not feel like Natalie and Will got the ending that they deserved at all.“ThePretty Little Liarsactress went on to add that she “was such an advocate for them,” and she was “bummed” when her character began a relationship with Crockett (Dominic Rains). “I was like, no,” she said of the pairing.However, when Gehlfuss, 39, decided to exitChicago Medat the end of season 8, DeVitto was happy to return if it meant seeing her character ride off into the sunset with Will.“I wanted them to end up together so badly, and Nick became a brother to me,” she shared. “I love that dude so much. And so it was because he was leaving, I was just like, we need to give this to all of the Manstead fans out there.“She added of her return, “I loved it.“Inthe season 8 finale, Will quit his job at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center after the hospital went for-profit, and headed to Seattle to reunite with Natalie and her son, Owen (Ari Morgan).Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Nick Gehlfuss (L), Ari Morgan (C) and Torrey DeVitto (R).George Burns Jr/NBC via GettyLast May, Gehlfuss told PEOPLE he was happy with how the writers chose to end his character’s story.“It was really just a terrific moment and one that I hope brings some closure to fans,” he said at the time.Gehlfuss added that he was pleased to see it wasn’t just a couple that reunited in his final episode, but also a family, thanks to the inclusion of Owen.“The relationship for Will and Natalie comes full circle and it was a beautiful moment with Natalie,” he shared. “And it’s not just Dr. Manning that shows up, it’s Owen. I really always admired that about Will’s character, that he was willing and open to being a stepfather. So there’s this family at the end, not just a couple, that’s really reunited.“Chicago Medairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Torrey DeVitto’s appearance in theChicago Medseason 8 finale was all about giving Dr. Will Halstead — a.k.a.Nick Gehlfuss— the sendoff he deserved.

On Saturday, DeVitto, 39, spoke with PEOPLE at Epic Cons Chicago about why she decided to scrub in as Dr. Natalie Manning again for her former costar Gehlfuss' final episode of the hit NBC drama. For thePretty Little Liarsalum, the answer was simple — she wanted Will and Natalie (and their fans) to have a happy ending.

“Honestly, it was all about Nick for me,” DeVitto said. “I had no intentions of going back to the show. I feel like I had done my time and I loved so many people there and had such a great experience, but there was nothing in my head that was like, ‘Oh, I hope to come back.’ "

But a chance to rectify the sad ending to Will and Natalie’s romance was too tantalizing to resist.

Nick Gehlfuss (L) and Torrey DeVitto (R) onChicago Med.George Burns Jr/NBC via Getty

George Burns Jr/NBC via Getty

DeVitto continued, “I did not feel like Natalie and Will got the ending that they deserved at all.”

ThePretty Little Liarsactress went on to add that she “was such an advocate for them,” and she was “bummed” when her character began a relationship with Crockett (Dominic Rains). “I was like, no,” she said of the pairing.

However, when Gehlfuss, 39, decided to exitChicago Medat the end of season 8, DeVitto was happy to return if it meant seeing her character ride off into the sunset with Will.

“I wanted them to end up together so badly, and Nick became a brother to me,” she shared. “I love that dude so much. And so it was because he was leaving, I was just like, we need to give this to all of the Manstead fans out there.”

She added of her return, “I loved it.”

Inthe season 8 finale, Will quit his job at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center after the hospital went for-profit, and headed to Seattle to reunite with Natalie and her son, Owen (Ari Morgan).

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Nick Gehlfuss (L), Ari Morgan (C) and Torrey DeVitto (R).George Burns Jr/NBC via Getty

Last May, Gehlfuss told PEOPLE he was happy with how the writers chose to end his character’s story.

“It was really just a terrific moment and one that I hope brings some closure to fans,” he said at the time.

Gehlfuss added that he was pleased to see it wasn’t just a couple that reunited in his final episode, but also a family, thanks to the inclusion of Owen.

“The relationship for Will and Natalie comes full circle and it was a beautiful moment with Natalie,” he shared. “And it’s not just Dr. Manning that shows up, it’s Owen. I really always admired that about Will’s character, that he was willing and open to being a stepfather. So there’s this family at the end, not just a couple, that’s really reunited.”

Chicago Medairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

source: people.com