Barton Fitzpatrick Of ‘The Chi’ On Reg’s Return, Musical Aspirations

Barton Fitzpatrick has made a jaw-dropping return to The Chi, reprising his role as Reginald “Reg” Taylor in a twist that has left fans buzzing.

A Chicago native both on-and off-screen, Fitzpatrick’s character Reg was last seen in Season 2, seemingly killed in an ambush of gunfire. However, the absence of any definitive death scene or funeral left the door open for speculation—and now, those long-held fan theories have finally come true.

In the most recent episode of the show’s seventh season, Reg reemerged from the shadows, marking his return after a four-season absence.

A high-ranking member of the 63rd Street Mob, Reg’s presence instantly shakes up the show’s dynamic, especially with his younger brother, Jake, still finding his way in a city gripped by violence and loyalty.

Reg’s return couldn’t come at a more pivotal time, as a power vacuum threatens the very fabric of the South Side’s underworld following the death of Otis “Douda” Perry.

With Fitzpatrick’s Reg now back in the mix, he’s prepared to face off with anyone—including his older brother Victor “Trig” Taylor, played by Luke James.

With the streets of The Chi in turmoil, Reg’s comeback sets the stage for high-stakes drama and shifting allegiances. One thing’s clear: the 63rd Street Mob—and the show—just got a lot more dangerous.

Fitzpatrick spoke with VIBE about his “life-changing” return to The Chi, what he’s been up to in the interim, and what we can expect next from Reg as he fights for street king status in Chicago.

VIBE: You recently rose from the dead in the latest episode of The Chi, which was a shocking and a pleasant surprise to many viewers. How did it feel being on the set again as Reg and getting back into the fold?

Barton Fitzpatrick: Man, it was truly a surreal experience. It was something I’ve been praying on for years and years and years. Just like the fans, we never saw a body, this and that. It was like I was in agreement with a lot of things [the fans said] so I’m just like, ‘Man, I just really really hope one day they can bring him back.’ To just get that opportunity, it just was life changing, you know.

Was Reggie’s return planned from way back or was that something spur of the moment?

I was actually in Los Angeles trying to figure it out with the actors strike. Work was slow, I had no idea and then, boom, get a call and here we are.

When exactly did you get the call?

Last year around this time, actually, which is crazy. Around the time when they begin filming season seven. Yeah, it was early on.

What was your reaction to getting that news?

Oh man, I fainted, bro. I really did. I truly did. It was just [that] I’ve never seen nothing like this before. It was something that I prayed on, but also one of those things where I just never assumed it to ever happen again. So you can only imagine when I got the call. Yeah, I fainted.

Being that Reg was one of the most popular and charismatic characters on the show, what was the reaction like when people thought that you were dead and gone? To see that outpouring of positivity and people being kind of sad that they weren’t going to be able to see you again?

Absolutely. First of all, I appreciate you saying that. It was like they always have said, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. That’s one thing, but for the fans to show the love that they did because they really made this possible.

For years and years and years, they’ve always just [said] ‘We missed our favorite character, we missed Reg. We missed the gangster, you know, bring back Reg, this and that.’ And I’m just glad that the writers and the powers to be just took a chance and made that possible. But yeah, it was just always a blessing.

Like even now, getting stopped on the street, all of my fans and the supporters, they’ve always just shown love and and embraced me. And just made it their business to let me know how much I’ve been missed. So, you know, it’s crazy.

So much has happened with your brother Jake and the 63rd Street Mob over the last couple seasons. What would you say are some things that may have been changed or altered as far as Jake or the 63rd Street Mob storyline if Reg was around during the past couple seasons?

A lot of people was afraid of Douda, but I feel like Red was always just the most vicious character that that the show had ever seen. So now that he’s back, things are about to heat back up and get even hotter than they always were.

It was incredible to be able to see a character like Jake, how he was able to go through life without Reg and then you’re able to see the oldest brother Victor/Trigg come in and hold things down, but I like to really say that Reg is back and things are about to heat up.

Right. Speaking of Luke James, a lot of people took it that he was the replacement or the stand-in for Reg. Being that you’re going to be working with Luke James as Trig and you as Reg, what is that dynamic going to be like?

Like I said, watching both of those characters grow and develop without Reg, I always felt in my heart it would be incredible to just see all three of the brothers onscreen together. So it was truly an honor and a joy to work with Luke James for the first time, who I’ve been a fan of forever. And, of course, to be back with my little bro. You know Reg and Jake and now Reg, Jake and Trigg, it’s amazing. It’s something that I don’t think the world going to be ready for.

It’s something that they really, really want, but I don’t think y’all ready for how it’s about to go down. Like it’s really Taylor Gang, for real, for real. It’s about to get out of control.

In what ways would you say that Barton and Reg are most similar and in what ways is Barton and Reg most different?

Well, I would say we’re most different because I’ve never in my life ever been a street guy on any level, definitely not a street captain or a gang leader. But as far as I believe, acting is just being yourself, your truthful self, in imaginary circumstances.

So, it’s a lot of people who, when they watch me, it’s just like ‘He laughs just like that, he talks just like that, he sounds just like that,’ but I’m nothing like that character in real life. I mean, I’m from, born and raised, Chicago, on the west side. Grew up on the south side. So I get the best the best of both worlds from Chicago. So it’s nothing to be able to provide that authenticity and bring that natural flavor to that character, which is what I feel like the fans have always loved in Chicago and outside of Chicago.

There was also a lot of speculation behind why you left the show with rumors and everything like that. Did you hear about any of that? And how did you react or respond to those rumors and the speculation?

Yeah, you know, it’s always going to be stuff like that, but I just always have focused on the work. It was always, ‘Thank you for my time being on the show,’ and just focusing on the next job. So now that Reg is back, that’s just the main focus you know. That’s always what it’s been. I just wish I could be able to see the character come to life again and that’s always been the thing.

Being that you’re a native of the Chi, how does it feel to see a show really grip the culture and show the reality and different aspects of life in your hometown?

You know, you can call me biased because I’m from Chicago, but I feel like Chicago is the greatest city in the world. To see a drama like this on this level, this this type of platform is something that I feel like the world was waiting for for so, so long.

Yeah, there’s a lot of films that have been shot in Chicago, a lot of series has been shot in Chicago, but this is literally the first drama that I think that the world has ever been able to see. So, to see it grow and to continue on the way it did and the way it’s doing, it’s just life changing.

As an actor, I always wanted a show about my city, so to be able to portray a character like Reg, which is the epitome of when you think about Chicago. Everything has been dark and of course the streets of Chicago and the violence, Chirac, all of that stuff. So yeah, I had a lot to portray.

I had a lot of weight on my shoulders and there’s a lot of people depending on me to to portray that character in an authentic way. So that’s truly a blessing and an honor.

What was it like to see the actors themselves behind the characters evolve in their skills and in their craft?

It’s just.. it’s incredible. It’s a full circle moment. I think Michael Epps, who plays the character Jake when he’s like 11 or 12 years old and now coming back to work with him, he’s 19 years old. So that’s another thing too, just always feeling like ‘Man,’ because I put so much into the character into the show.

The fans sometimes struggle to separate the actors from the characters and even actors ourselves struggle with that because I’m really the youngest child in my family. I always wanted a little brother. So when I was able to work with Mikey and able to portray that type of story line, it was so authentic because it’s something that I really always wanted my whole life. So, seeing him season after season, now his dreads getting longer, all the way down to the floor. He’s taller than me now.

I was just like, ‘Oh, man, that’s my little brother. I just wish I could be able to see that, be a part of that.’ But it was amazing to see every last one of the children grow and now they’re adults, young adults and still shining bright. It’s It’s incredible. It really is.

Aside from Reg, who is your personal favorite character on The Chi?

I would say the children, all of the children. I would say because that’s what I love, the aspect of the show being a coming of age story, but always told through the lens of the children. So, yeah, always I would say that the children are my favorite. It’s always been about the youth in life. It should always be about the youth.

Well, for those out of the loop, what have you been up to other than The Chi? What are some things that you’ve been in or people may want to check out if they wanted to see another side of Barton?

Absolutely, I was able to showcase my musical side. I actually do R&B. Preparing to drop a single that’s called “Back to Life,” no pun intended. But yeah, I was able to work on Empire, Power Force, a lot of other shows that have come to my city, pretty much.

I was able to work on all of those shows, but nothing is like Showtime and Paramount bringing The Chi to this city and giving me this platform, whatsoever. But check me out on Tubi, I got like seven films on Tubi right now. It’s a lot, you know, but Reg is back right now and that’s the main thing. I’m going to take over the R&B side. That’s coming of course and yeah, Reg is back.

What’s next for Barton Fitzpatrick moving forward?

Moving forward, I’m just excited to just enjoy this season, season seven. And I’m praying, hoping that the show continues on and I get the call to come back season eight.