diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/javelin_ai_gateway.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/javelin_ai_gateway.py
index 6b7001b62604a..906c5ffbbdf08 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/javelin_ai_gateway.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/javelin_ai_gateway.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import logging
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.callbacks import (
     AsyncCallbackManagerForLLMRun,
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     ChatResult,
 )
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr
+from langchain_core.utils import extract_secret_value
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any):
             try:
                 self.client = JavelinClient(
                     base_url=self.gateway_uri,
-                    api_key=cast(SecretStr, self.javelin_api_key).get_secret_value(),
+                    api_key=extract_secret_value(self.javelin_api_key),
                 )
             except UnauthorizedError as e:
                 raise ValueError("Javelin: Incorrect API Key.") from e
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any):
     def _default_params(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         params: Dict[str, Any] = {
             "gateway_uri": self.gateway_uri,
-            "javelin_api_key": cast(SecretStr, self.javelin_api_key).get_secret_value(),
+            "javelin_api_key": extract_secret_value(self.javelin_api_key),
             "route": self.route,
             **(self.params.dict() if self.params else {}),
         }
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/jinachat.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/jinachat.py
index b234c1e01db92..21c8377a7d1ad 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/jinachat.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/chat_models/jinachat.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import Field, SecretStr, root_validator
 from langchain_core.utils import (
     convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
     get_from_dict_or_env,
     get_pydantic_field_names,
 )
@@ -397,8 +398,7 @@ async def _agenerate(
     def _invocation_params(self) -> Mapping[str, Any]:
         """Get the parameters used to invoke the model."""
         jinachat_creds: Dict[str, Any] = {
-            "api_key": self.jinachat_api_key
-            and self.jinachat_api_key.get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": extract_secret_value(self.jinachat_api_key),
             "api_base": "https://api.chat.jina.ai/v1",
             "model": "jinachat",
         }
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/javelin_ai_gateway.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/javelin_ai_gateway.py
index c91a003291d6b..d6d7356bfbc94 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/javelin_ai_gateway.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/javelin_ai_gateway.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Iterator, List, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.embeddings import Embeddings
-from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel
+from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, SecretStr
 
 
 def _chunk(texts: List[str], size: int) -> Iterator[List[str]]:
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class JavelinAIGatewayEmbeddings(Embeddings, BaseModel):
     gateway_uri: Optional[str] = None
     """The URI for the Javelin AI Gateway API."""
 
-    javelin_api_key: Optional[str] = None
+    javelin_api_key: Optional[SecretStr] = None
     """The API key for the Javelin AI Gateway API."""
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any):
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/voyageai.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/voyageai.py
index 93109d45c65b6..d6848722b836b 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/voyageai.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/embeddings/voyageai.py
@@ -10,13 +10,16 @@
     Optional,
     Tuple,
     Union,
-    cast,
 )
 
 import requests
 from langchain_core.embeddings import Embeddings
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 from tenacity import (
     before_sleep_log,
     retry,
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ def validate_environment(cls, values: Dict) -> Dict:
     def _invocation_params(
         self, input: List[str], input_type: Optional[str] = None
     ) -> Dict:
-        api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.voyage_api_key).get_secret_value()
+        api_key = extract_secret_value(self.voyage_api_key)
         params = {
             "url": self.voyage_api_base,
             "headers": {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"},
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/ai21.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/ai21.py
index dd86ba516aec8..9ba5dcb462768 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/ai21.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/ai21.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
 
 import requests
 from langchain_core.callbacks import CallbackManagerForLLMRun
 from langchain_core.language_models.llms import LLM
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 
 class AI21PenaltyData(BaseModel):
@@ -142,10 +146,12 @@ def _call(
             else:
                 base_url = "https://api.ai21.com/studio/v1"
         params = {**self._default_params, **kwargs}
-        self.ai21_api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.ai21_api_key)
+        self.ai21_api_key = convert_to_secret_str(self.ai21_api_key)
         response = requests.post(
             url=f"{base_url}/{self.model}/complete",
-            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {self.ai21_api_key.get_secret_value()}"},
+            headers={
+                "Authorization": f"Bearer {extract_secret_value(self.ai21_api_key)}"
+            },
             json={"prompt": prompt, "stopSequences": stop, **params},
         )
         if response.status_code != 200:
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/anyscale.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/anyscale.py
index b994c425ab9c5..7c717dbfb607d 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/anyscale.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/anyscale.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
     Optional,
     Set,
     Tuple,
-    cast,
 )
 
 from langchain_core.callbacks import (
@@ -18,7 +17,11 @@
 )
 from langchain_core.outputs import Generation, GenerationChunk, LLMResult
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import Field, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 from langchain_community.llms.openai import (
     BaseOpenAI,
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ def _identifying_params(self) -> Mapping[str, Any]:
     def _invocation_params(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Get the parameters used to invoke the model."""
         openai_creds: Dict[str, Any] = {
-            "api_key": cast(SecretStr, self.anyscale_api_key).get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": extract_secret_value(self.anyscale_api_key),
             "api_base": self.anyscale_api_base,
         }
         return {**openai_creds, **{"model": self.model_name}, **super()._default_params}
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/arcee.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/arcee.py
index cab21c60e6811..1424b09542bc0 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/arcee.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/arcee.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 from langchain_core.callbacks import CallbackManagerForLLMRun
 from langchain_core.language_models.llms import LLM
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 from langchain_community.utilities.arcee import ArceeWrapper, DALMFilter
 
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ def __init__(self, **data: Any) -> None:
         """Initializes private fields."""
 
         super().__init__(**data)
-        api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.arcee_api_key)
+        api_key = extract_secret_value(self.arcee_api_key)
         self._client = ArceeWrapper(
             arcee_api_key=api_key,
             arcee_api_url=self.arcee_api_url,
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/cerebriumai.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/cerebriumai.py
index c9e219995ae1b..9ffc498a80769 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/cerebriumai.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/llms/cerebriumai.py
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 import logging
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional
 
 import requests
 from langchain_core.callbacks import CallbackManagerForLLMRun
 from langchain_core.language_models.llms import LLM
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import Extra, Field, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 from langchain_community.llms.utils import enforce_stop_tokens
 
@@ -92,9 +96,7 @@ def _call(
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> str:
         headers: Dict = {
-            "Authorization": cast(
-                SecretStr, self.cerebriumai_api_key
-            ).get_secret_value(),
+            "Authorization": extract_secret_value(self.cerebriumai_api_key),
             "Content-Type": "application/json",
         }
         params = self.model_kwargs or {}
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_finance.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_finance.py
index 95e5b0c2e1552..70d333ce9ac3d 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_finance.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_finance.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 """Util that calls Google Finance Search."""
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 
 class GoogleFinanceAPIWrapper(BaseModel):
@@ -52,10 +56,9 @@ def validate_environment(cls, values: Dict) -> Dict:
 
     def run(self, query: str) -> str:
         """Run query through Google Finance with Serpapi"""
-        serpapi_api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.serp_api_key)
         params = {
             "engine": "google_finance",
-            "api_key": serpapi_api_key.get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": extract_secret_value(self.serpapi_api_key),
             "q": query,
         }
 
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_jobs.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_jobs.py
index d532cbffd022b..7b1bc0e10f60a 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_jobs.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_jobs.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 """Util that calls Google Scholar Search."""
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 
 class GoogleJobsAPIWrapper(BaseModel):
@@ -54,10 +58,9 @@ def run(self, query: str) -> str:
         """Run query through Google Trends with Serpapi"""
 
         # set up query
-        serpapi_api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.serp_api_key)
         params = {
             "engine": "google_jobs",
-            "api_key": serpapi_api_key.get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": extract_secret_value(self.serpapi_api_key),
             "q": query,
         }
 
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_lens.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_lens.py
index f8419bdb7585d..f3e60e78911b0 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_lens.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_lens.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 """Util that calls Google Lens Search."""
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 import requests
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 
 class GoogleLensAPIWrapper(BaseModel):
@@ -45,11 +49,9 @@ def validate_environment(cls, values: Dict) -> Dict:
 
     def run(self, query: str) -> str:
         """Run query through Google Trends with Serpapi"""
-        serpapi_api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.serp_api_key)
-
         params = {
             "engine": "google_lens",
-            "api_key": serpapi_api_key.get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": extract_secret_value(self.serpapi_api_key),
             "url": query,
         }
         queryURL = f"https://serpapi.com/search?engine={params['engine']}&api_key={params['api_key']}&url={params['url']}"
diff --git a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_trends.py b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_trends.py
index f0f15000c8a1c..f7ed40c52bf63 100644
--- a/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_trends.py
+++ b/libs/community/langchain_community/utilities/google_trends.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 """Util that calls Google Scholar Search."""
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import BaseModel, Extra, SecretStr, root_validator
-from langchain_core.utils import convert_to_secret_str, get_from_dict_or_env
+from langchain_core.utils import (
+    convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
+    get_from_dict_or_env,
+)
 
 
 class GoogleTrendsAPIWrapper(BaseModel):
@@ -56,10 +60,10 @@ def validate_environment(cls, values: Dict) -> Dict:
 
     def run(self, query: str) -> str:
         """Run query through Google Trends with Serpapi"""
-        serpapi_api_key = cast(SecretStr, self.serp_api_key)
+        api_key = extract_secret_value(self.serpapi_api_key)
         params = {
             "engine": "google_trends",
-            "api_key": serpapi_api_key.get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": api_key,
             "q": query,
         }
 
@@ -86,7 +90,7 @@ def run(self, query: str) -> str:
 
         params = {
             "engine": "google_trends",
-            "api_key": serpapi_api_key.get_secret_value(),
+            "api_key": api_key,
             "data_type": "RELATED_QUERIES",
             "q": query,
         }
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/chat_models/test_jinachat.py b/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/chat_models/test_jinachat.py
index 0d704ce386726..86ac3bd68f8ca 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/chat_models/test_jinachat.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/chat_models/test_jinachat.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 """Test JinaChat wrapper."""
 
-from typing import cast
-
 import pytest
 from langchain_core.callbacks import CallbackManager
 from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage, HumanMessage, SystemMessage
@@ -13,7 +11,7 @@
 from tests.unit_tests.callbacks.fake_callback_handler import FakeCallbackHandler
 
 
-def test_jinachat_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_jinachat_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = JinaChat(jinachat_api_key="secret-api-key")
     assert isinstance(llm.jinachat_api_key, SecretStr)
 
@@ -44,7 +42,7 @@ def test_jinachat_api_key_masked_when_passed_via_constructor(
 def test_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secretstr() -> None:
     """Test that actual secret is retrieved using `.get_secret_value()`."""
     llm = JinaChat(jinachat_api_key="secret-api-key")
-    assert cast(SecretStr, llm.jinachat_api_key).get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
+    assert llm.jinachat_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
 
 
 def test_jinachat() -> None:
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/llms/test_nlpcloud.py b/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/llms/test_nlpcloud.py
index 25aff55f7580f..c18b578ebdccd 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/llms/test_nlpcloud.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/integration_tests/llms/test_nlpcloud.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """Test NLPCloud API wrapper."""
 
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import cast
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import SecretStr
 from pytest import CaptureFixture, MonkeyPatch
@@ -34,8 +33,7 @@ def test_nlpcloud_api_key(monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch, capsys: CaptureFixture) -> N
     monkeypatch.setenv("NLPCLOUD_API_KEY", "secret-api-key")
     llm = NLPCloud()
     assert isinstance(llm.nlpcloud_api_key, SecretStr)
-
-    assert cast(SecretStr, llm.nlpcloud_api_key).get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
+    assert llm.nlpcloud_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
 
     print(llm.nlpcloud_api_key, end="")
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_azureml_endpoint.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_azureml_endpoint.py
index 0cbe2ab9b1749..2b651603ef1cb 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_azureml_endpoint.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_azureml_endpoint.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def api_passed_via_constructor_fixture() -> AzureMLChatOnlineEndpoint:
     ["api_passed_via_constructor_fixture", "api_passed_via_environment_fixture"],
 )
 class TestAzureMLChatOnlineEndpoint:
-    def test_api_key_is_secret_string(
+    def test_api_key_is_secretstr(
         self, fixture_name: str, request: FixtureRequest
     ) -> None:
         """Test that the API key is a SecretStr instance"""
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_baichuan.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_baichuan.py
index 6a4b4d2009cf4..e1c4a281135ac 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_baichuan.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_baichuan.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import cast
+"""Test ChatBaichuan wrapper."""
 
 import pytest
 from langchain_core.messages import (
@@ -137,13 +137,10 @@ def test_baichuan_key_masked_when_passed_via_constructor(
     assert captured.out == "**********"
 
 
-def test_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secret_str() -> None:
+def test_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secretstr() -> None:
     """Test that actual secret is retrieved using `.get_secret_value()`."""
     chat = ChatBaichuan(
         baichuan_api_key="test-api-key", baichuan_secret_key="test-secret-key"
     )
-    assert cast(SecretStr, chat.baichuan_api_key).get_secret_value() == "test-api-key"
-    assert (
-        cast(SecretStr, chat.baichuan_secret_key).get_secret_value()
-        == "test-secret-key"
-    )
+    assert chat.baichuan_api_key.get_secret_value() == "test-api-key"
+    assert chat.baichuan_secret_key.get_secret_value() == "test-secret-key"
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_javelin_ai_gateway.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_javelin_ai_gateway.py
index 7c4500d340d5f..1a30c41ccfcb3 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_javelin_ai_gateway.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/chat_models/test_javelin_ai_gateway.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires("javelin_sdk")
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = ChatJavelinAIGateway(
         gateway_uri="<javelin-ai-gateway-uri>",
         route="<javelin-ai-gateway-chat-route>",
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_ai21.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_ai21.py
index 60146a973d20e..bfc8c139e70fd 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_ai21.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_ai21.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """Test AI21 llm"""
-from typing import cast
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import SecretStr
 from pytest import CaptureFixture, MonkeyPatch
@@ -7,7 +6,7 @@
 from langchain_community.llms.ai21 import AI21
 
 
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = AI21(ai21_api_key="secret-api-key")
     assert isinstance(llm.ai21_api_key, SecretStr)
 
@@ -38,4 +37,4 @@ def test_api_key_masked_when_passed_via_constructor(
 def test_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secretstr() -> None:
     """Test that actual secret is retrieved using `.get_secret_value()`."""
     llm = AI21(ai21_api_key="secret-api-key")
-    assert cast(SecretStr, llm.ai21_api_key).get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
+    assert llm.ai21_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_aleph_alpha.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_aleph_alpha.py
index c08d0e7292428..98afd7f53392f 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_aleph_alpha.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_aleph_alpha.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires("aleph_alpha_client")
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = AlephAlpha(aleph_alpha_api_key="secret-api-key")
     assert isinstance(llm.aleph_alpha_api_key, SecretStr)
 
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_anyscale.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_anyscale.py
index 9dc38b7c20d0e..2e4d981330f71 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_anyscale.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_anyscale.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires("openai")
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = Anyscale(
         anyscale_api_key="secret-api-key", anyscale_api_base="test", model_name="test"
     )
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_cerebriumai.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_cerebriumai.py
index ff9da5745f2a0..b9136419d8d40 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_cerebriumai.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_cerebriumai.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from langchain_community.llms.cerebriumai import CerebriumAI
 
 
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = CerebriumAI(cerebriumai_api_key="test-cerebriumai-api-key")
     assert isinstance(llm.cerebriumai_api_key, SecretStr)
 
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_forefrontai.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_forefrontai.py
index 567b78180c2ff..90fda587860ec 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_forefrontai.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_forefrontai.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """Test ForeFrontAI LLM"""
-from typing import cast
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import SecretStr
 from pytest import CaptureFixture, MonkeyPatch
@@ -7,7 +6,7 @@
 from langchain_community.llms.forefrontai import ForefrontAI
 
 
-def test_forefrontai_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_forefrontai_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     """Test that the API key is stored as a SecretStr."""
     llm = ForefrontAI(forefrontai_api_key="secret-api-key", temperature=0.2)
     assert isinstance(llm.forefrontai_api_key, SecretStr)
@@ -45,6 +44,4 @@ def test_forefrontai_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secretstr() -> None:
         forefrontai_api_key="secret-api-key",
         temperature=0.2,
     )
-    assert (
-        cast(SecretStr, llm.forefrontai_api_key).get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
-    )
+    assert llm.forefrontai_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_gooseai.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_gooseai.py
index e87dd6f40d39c..4176bae655627 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_gooseai.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_gooseai.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def _openai_v1_installed() -> bool:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires("openai")
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = GooseAI(gooseai_api_key="secret-api-key")
     assert isinstance(llm.gooseai_api_key, SecretStr)
     assert llm.gooseai_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_minimax.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_minimax.py
index 24e7fa972c474..38d517bfb5ea9 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_minimax.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_minimax.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """Test Minimax llm"""
-from typing import cast
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import SecretStr
 from pytest import CaptureFixture, MonkeyPatch
@@ -7,7 +6,7 @@
 from langchain_community.llms.minimax import Minimax
 
 
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = Minimax(minimax_api_key="secret-api-key", minimax_group_id="group_id")
     assert isinstance(llm.minimax_api_key, SecretStr)
 
@@ -39,4 +38,4 @@ def test_api_key_masked_when_passed_via_constructor(
 def test_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secretstr() -> None:
     """Test that actual secret is retrieved using `.get_secret_value()`."""
     llm = Minimax(minimax_api_key="secret-api-key", minimax_group_id="group_id")
-    assert cast(SecretStr, llm.minimax_api_key).get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
+    assert llm.minimax_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_symblai_nebula.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_symblai_nebula.py
index fb75a6ad6998c..673036e49cbb6 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_symblai_nebula.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_symblai_nebula.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from langchain_community.llms.symblai_nebula import Nebula
 
 
-def test_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     llm = Nebula(nebula_api_key="secret-api-key")
     assert isinstance(llm.nebula_api_key, SecretStr)
     assert llm.nebula_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
diff --git a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_together.py b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_together.py
index 772cde4050ee2..3d52cd89300e8 100644
--- a/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_together.py
+++ b/libs/community/tests/unit_tests/llms/test_together.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """Test Together LLM"""
-from typing import cast
 
 from langchain_core.pydantic_v1 import SecretStr
 from pytest import CaptureFixture, MonkeyPatch
@@ -7,7 +6,7 @@
 from langchain_community.llms.together import Together
 
 
-def test_together_api_key_is_secret_string() -> None:
+def test_together_api_key_is_secretstr() -> None:
     """Test that the API key is stored as a SecretStr."""
     llm = Together(
         together_api_key="secret-api-key",
@@ -58,4 +57,4 @@ def test_together_uses_actual_secret_value_from_secretstr() -> None:
         temperature=0.2,
         max_tokens=250,
     )
-    assert cast(SecretStr, llm.together_api_key).get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
+    assert llm.together_api_key.get_secret_value() == "secret-api-key"
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/__init__.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/__init__.py
index 6491a85f17fb7..4ea744deedffe 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     build_extra_kwargs,
     check_package_version,
     convert_to_secret_str,
+    extract_secret_value,
     get_pydantic_field_names,
     guard_import,
     mock_now,
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
     "StrictFormatter",
     "check_package_version",
     "convert_to_secret_str",
+    "extract_secret_value",
     "formatter",
     "get_bolded_text",
     "get_color_mapping",
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/utils.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/utils.py
index 9b63ddf3ea63f..d00dc4f159c39 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/utils.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/utils.py
@@ -173,8 +173,13 @@ def build_extra_kwargs(
     return extra_kwargs
 
 
-def convert_to_secret_str(value: Union[SecretStr, str]) -> SecretStr:
+def convert_to_secret_str(value: Union[SecretStr, str, None]) -> SecretStr:
     """Convert a string to a SecretStr if needed."""
     if isinstance(value, SecretStr):
         return value
-    return SecretStr(value)
+    return SecretStr(str(value))
+
+
+def extract_secret_value(secret: Union[SecretStr, str, None]) -> str:
+    """Extract the SecretStr from all types."""
+    return convert_to_secret_str(secret).get_secret_value()
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_imports.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_imports.py
index ce56c02026f30..a1dfeb3a77fe4 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_imports.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_imports.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     "StrictFormatter",
     "check_package_version",
     "convert_to_secret_str",
+    "extract_secret_value",
     "formatter",
     "get_bolded_text",
     "get_color_mapping",