Chicago Fire Star Taylor Kinney Got His Acting Start On A Steamy Primetime Soap

Before suiting up for Firehouse 51 in "Chicago Fire," Taylor Kinney was a brooding soap opera lead in MyNetworkTV's "Fashion House." The primetime soap aired in 2006, and Kinney played Luke Gianni, the heir of a fashion firm who falls for Michelle, an emerging designer played by Natalie Martinez.

As the son of fashion matriarch Maria Gianni (Bo Derek), Luke faces a lot of pressure to uphold the family name. His mother doesn't approve of his budding relationship with Michelle, who works for House Gianni and is already married. Kinney's character is then faced with an impossible decision —either side with his mother or with the woman he loves.

In addition to focusing on the forbidden romance between Luke and Michelle, "Fashion House" also features a long-standing rivalry between Maria and Sophia Blakely (Morgan Fairchild). Maria had an affair with Sophia's husband, Charles Blakely, and their relationship was the catalyst for her family falling apart. Charles left his family for Maria and later died by suicide after she turned him down for a marriage that could further her aspirations in fashion.

"Fashion House" ran for a single season, but it is filled with all of the elaborate twists and turns (including mobsters, revenge schemes, and illicit affairs) that telenovelas are known for. The soap also laid the groundwork for Taylor Kinney's continued success on network TV following his performance as Luke. "That experience was pretty amazing," the actor shared in an interview hosted by Deepest Dream in 2017. "We shot, I think, 60 episodes in four months, and we'd do these 20-page days."

Kinney described the soap opera as an "acting camp," and his first major role. After that, he made guest appearances on popular TV shows like "What About Brian," "Bones," and "CSI: NY." He also starred in Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-nominated film, "Zero Dark Thirty." Yet, the actor is better known for playing werewolf Mason Lockwood in "The Vampire Diaries," rookie first responder Glenn Morrison in "Trauma," and firefighter Lieutenant Kelly Severide in "Chicago Fire."

"Chicago Fire" has been renewed for Season 15 at NBC, and the actor is set to return. Kinney will continue to play opposite Miranda Rae Mayo, who has been his co-star for over a decade. "Stellaride" is an iconic couple from the "One Chicago" franchise, and Kinney is glad their relationship will get further development in the upcoming season. "I just lucked out working with Miranda ... 10 years is a rarity, I think, in any line of work. But I think it's a testament to the longevity of the show," he said during a panel at Empire Conventions' Saving Lives Con 2 in June 2026.