# Barton Fitzpatrick
**Barton Fitzpatrick** is an American actor, producer, and singer from Chicago, Illinois, best known for playing the street captain Reg Taylor on the Showtime drama *The Chi*. Born in 1995 and raised on the city's west side, he has appeared in a string of Chicago-set television productions, including *Chicago P.D.*, *Chicago Justice*, *Chicago Med*, and *Empire*, and played Blaxton in the first season of Starz's *[Power Book IV: Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/power-book-iv-force)*, a role written specifically for him.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, west side of Chicago, Illinois[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/) |
| Signature role | Reg Taylor on Showtime's *The Chi*, 36 episodes from 2018 to 2026[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/) |
| Break from *The Chi* | The character was shot at the end of season 2 and confirmed dead in season 3; Fitzpatrick returned in season 7 after sitting out four seasons[2](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/) |
| *Power* role | Blaxton, in the final four episodes of the 10-episode first season of *Power Book IV: Force* (2022); written for him by the show-runner[3](https://www.nickiswift.com/794689/barton-fitzpatrick-talks-power-book-iv-force-white-people-money-and-more-exclusive-interview/) |
| Training | Illinois finalist in the 2013 August Wilson Monologue Competition; scholarship to the University of Illinois at Chicago BFA Acting Program[4](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/barton-fitzpatrick) |
| Producing credits | Associate producer and producer on *Everything Is Both* (2023); executive producer on the short film *Jagskull* (2019)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/) |
| Other work | Singer and musician; guest roles on *Chicago P.D.*, *Chicago Justice*, *Chicago Med*, and *Empire*[5](https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2022/03/29/how-chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-rose-to-power) |
## Early life and training
Fitzpatrick was born in 1995 on the west side of Chicago and grew up in the city, attending Beasley and Kenwood High School.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/) • [6](https://chicagodefender.com/chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-on-his-role-in-power-book-iv-force/) He knew he wanted to act from an early age and competed in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, where he was the Illinois finalist in 2013.[6](https://chicagodefender.com/chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-on-his-role-in-power-book-iv-force/) He then received a scholarship from the University of Illinois at Chicago for its BFA Acting Program.[4](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/barton-fitzpatrick)
**Stage work** preceded his screen career. Fitzpatrick appeared in the plays *IN DE BEGINNING* at ETA Creative Arts Foundation, and in *IVANOV* and *THE PIANO LESSON* at UIC Theatre.[4](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/barton-fitzpatrick)
## The Chi and Reg Taylor
Fitzpatrick rose to prominence portraying Reginald "Reg" Taylor, a Chicago street captain, on the critically acclaimed Showtime series *The Chi*, which premiered in 2018.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/) He appeared in the show's first season and its second, and the character was ultimately shot at the end of season 2; viewers did not learn until season 3 that the shooting was fatal, removing the character from the series.[2](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/) Across the show's run he is credited with 36 episodes, from 2018 to 2026.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/)
After sitting out four seasons, Fitzpatrick returned to *The Chi* to reprise the role in the show's seventh season, which premiered in the summer of 2025.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/) • [7](https://abc7chicago.com/post/wls-890-am-radio-host-ray-stevens-chi-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-join-windy-city-weekend/17615582/) Interviewed about the return, he discussed the reasons behind the character's comeback as well as his own upbringing in Chicago.[7](https://abc7chicago.com/post/wls-890-am-radio-host-ray-stevens-chi-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-join-windy-city-weekend/17615582/)
## Power Book IV: Force
In March 2022 Fitzpatrick made his midseason debut on *Power Book IV: Force*, the third spinoff of the hit Starz series *[Power](https://www.edgepedia.org/power-tv-series)*, playing Blaxton in the final four episodes of the show's ten-episode first season.[5](https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2022/03/29/how-chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-rose-to-power) • [3](https://www.nickiswift.com/794689/barton-fitzpatrick-talks-power-book-iv-force-white-people-money-and-more-exclusive-interview/) The part came about through an existing relationship: Fitzpatrick and *Force* star Kris D. Lofton were close friends who had once auditioned for the same role, and the season 1 show-runner, seeing how close the two were, wrote Blaxton specifically for Fitzpatrick; in the series, their characters are best friends as well.[3](https://www.nickiswift.com/794689/barton-fitzpatrick-talks-power-book-iv-force-white-people-money-and-more-exclusive-interview/) Fitzpatrick said that Lofton first reached out after seeing his work on *The Chi*, telling him, "You have to be from Chicago. Your portrayal is too authentic."[2](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/)
## Other television and film work
Alongside *The Chi*, Fitzpatrick built a resume of guest roles in Chicago-based productions. He appeared as Jamal Tate on *Chicago P.D.* (2018), as Chris Stackhouse on *Chicago Justice*, as a gunshot-wound patient on *Chicago Med*, and as Prophetic the Poet on *Empire* in 2019.[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/111206/barton-fitzpatrick)
His film work includes *White People Money* (2020, as Kareem), a Hulu original film whose reception went viral, *Ray Jr's Legit Paper* (2021), *Wayward* (2022, as Micah), and a cluster of 2023 and 2024 releases: *Primary Position* (as Chris Coles), *Everything Is Both* (as Scar), *Let Us Make Eve*, *A Haitian Wedding*, *My Valentine Wedding* (as Trayvon), and *Toxic Harmony* (as Tyree).[3](https://www.nickiswift.com/794689/barton-fitzpatrick-talks-power-book-iv-force-white-people-money-and-more-exclusive-interview/) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/barton_fitzpatrick) On television he also had a starring role as Victor "Vee" in three episodes of the BET+ mini-series *Legacy* (2023).[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/111206/barton-fitzpatrick)
**Producing** is a growing part of his portfolio. He is credited as associate producer and producer on *Everything Is Both* (2023) and as executive producer on the short film *Jagskull* (2019).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/)
Fitzpatrick is also a singer and musician, and he has discussed his music career alongside his acting in radio and podcast appearances.[5](https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2022/03/29/how-chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-rose-to-power) • [10](https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/df0c2d4f-82b3-4f59-9bc3-98377fdf3ad5/episodes/63d9561e-4c57-4eae-866c-599e04f8ed46/surrounded-by-idiots-barton-fitzpatrick-from-the-chi-to-hollywood-surrounded-by-idiots-060)
## Representing Chicago on screen
Most of Fitzpatrick's roles have been in series set in his native city, where he still lives and works.[2](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/) Asked whether shows like *The Chi* represent Chicago accurately, he credited the casting of actors from the city and the employment of writers who are actually from Chicago, while adding that the industry could always do a better job.[2](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/) "Chicago is the most gorgeous place in the world, in my opinion," he said in a 2022 interview. "So I owe everything to Chicago. I pay homage to Chicago, whatever I do."[2](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/)
## References
1. [Barton Fitzpatrick, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7890800/)
2. [The Chi's Barton Fitzpatrick On How Chicago Is Represented On Television, Nicki Swift](https://www.nickiswift.com/802135/the-chis-barton-fitzpatrick-on-how-chicago-is-represented-on-television-exclusive/)
3. [Barton Fitzpatrick Talks Power Book IV: Force, White People Money, And More, Nicki Swift](https://www.nickiswift.com/794689/barton-fitzpatrick-talks-power-book-iv-force-white-people-money-and-more-exclusive-interview/)
4. [Barton Fitzpatrick, Flickchart](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/barton-fitzpatrick)
5. [How Chicago actor Barton Fitzpatrick rose to 'Power', WBEZ Chicago](https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2022/03/29/how-chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-rose-to-power)
6. [Chicago Actor Barton Fitzpatrick on His Role in Power Book IV: Force, Chicago Defender](https://chicagodefender.com/chicago-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-on-his-role-in-power-book-iv-force/)
7. ['Windy City Weekend' with Barton Fitzpatrick, ABC7 Chicago](https://abc7chicago.com/post/wls-890-am-radio-host-ray-stevens-chi-actor-barton-fitzpatrick-join-windy-city-weekend/17615582/)
8. [Barton Fitzpatrick, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/111206/barton-fitzpatrick)
9. [Barton Fitzpatrick Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/barton_fitzpatrick)
10. [Barton Fitzpatrick: From The Chi to Hollywood, Surrounded By Idiots podcast](https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/df0c2d4f-82b3-4f59-9bc3-98377fdf3ad5/episodes/63d9561e-4c57-4eae-866c-599e04f8ed46/surrounded-by-idiots-barton-fitzpatrick-from-the-chi-to-hollywood-surrounded-by-idiots-060)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license