Fans know David Eigenberg as the quick-witted, big-hearted Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire, and longtime viewers of Sex and the City will never forget him as the lovable bartender-turned-husband Steve Brady. But off-screen, Eigenberg has been living his greatest role for more than two decades: husband and father.
For 22 years, the actor has been married to Chrysti Eigenberg, an Army veteran whose own story is as remarkable as her husband’s career. Together, the couple has built a life in Chicago that is as grounded and real as it is heartwarming.
Love at First Sight, in Unlikely Times
Eigenberg met Chrysti in 2001, in the shadow of one of America’s darkest moments. She had been activated from Army Reserve duty after 9/11 and was working in homeland security in Virginia.
“We met right after 9/11,” Eigenberg told The Day in 2021. “She’d been activated … and I met her; it just hit me. That had never happened to me before. It just hit me at the core. Meeting my wife was something that I never anticipated.”
By 2002, the couple had tied the knot. For Eigenberg, there was never a doubt. “We got married real quick, not because she was pregnant or anything, but because I knew she was the girl,” he told CosmoTV with a laugh back in 2013.
The Secret to a Lasting Marriage
Two decades later, the couple still shares an unshakable bond — even if, like all marriages, it comes with its challenges.
“The only way that relationships go forward is that they have gravity, and that only comes with seeing through the hardship,” Eigenberg once reflected. “I fight with my wife, we fight for things, but I think everybody wants to be heard.”
It’s a refreshingly candid take on marriage, one that reflects the actor’s grounded nature. Much like Herrmann on Chicago Fire, Eigenberg isn’t afraid to show that strength comes from perseverance, laughter, and love in equal measure.
A Proud Dad of Two
Beyond his marriage, Eigenberg’s greatest joy comes from his two children: son Louie Steven, born in 2009, and daughter Myrna Belle, born in 2014.
“My children are the gift that I never dreamed of happening,” he shared in a rare interview, a sentiment that resonates deeply with fans who admire the family man behind the television star.
In May, when Eigenberg turned 60, his family surprised him with a gift that spoke to both nostalgia and love: a vintage Cuddly Dudley puppet, a cherished children’s TV character from his Chicago childhood. He posted a heartfelt thank-you on Instagram, writing, “Well I hit 60 and my beautiful daughter and son and wife tracked this guy down for my old sentimental heart … I truly am [blessed by] my family and my friends.”
Why Fans Love His Off-Screen Story
While Chicago Fire fans adore Herrmann’s wisdom and humor, knowing that Eigenberg’s real life is anchored by the same values makes his performance even more poignant. His 22-year marriage to Chrysti, his devotion to his kids, and his gratitude for the city of Chicago mirror the authenticity he brings to every role.
In a world of Hollywood breakups and fleeting romances, David and Chrysti’s love story feels like a rare gem — steady, enduring, and deeply moving.
