Dermot Mulroney on the ‘most amazing thing’ about his new role on ‘Chicago Fire’
Dermot Mulroney’s new role on “Chicago Fire” is a full-circle moment for the actor.
The 60-year-old stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY on Oct. 21 to discuss his new role as the fire chief on the hit NBC show, and he took a moment to explain why Chicago holds a special place in his heart.
Mulroney spent plenty of time in Illinois as a Northwestern University student and returned to Chicago to film the 1997 movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Now, he’s back in the city to film “Chicago Fire.”
“Are you doing a memory tour?” TODAY’s Al Roker asked the star.
As he’s been filming “Chicago Fire” in his new role as Chief Dom Pascal, Mulroney has had the opportunity to interact with some familiar faces.
“That’s the most amazing thing. So I’m running into people that I worked with. But even more interestingly, I’m working with their kids now,” he said. “So Marissa, who does my hair, is the daughter of the set painter from ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding,’ for example.”
Mulroney co-starred alongside Julia Roberts in the popular ’90s movie.
“Of course, I right away took footage of the tour boat going under the bridge and sent that to my buddy Julia,” he explained, referencing a famous scene their characters shared in the film.
Mulroney went on to explain that Rick LeFevour, who worked as the stunt coordinator on “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and acted as Mulroney’s double in some scenes in the film, has also popped back into his life once again.
“Now I’m being doubled by his son, Rick Jr. So I think that means I’ll never get old in Chicago. No, they keep me young, especially from behind, right?” he said.
“Chicago Fire” is in its 13th season, and Mulroney said he was lucky to step into such a “well-run show.”
“It’s amazing. First of all, it’s nice to have a steady job for once. Thank you, NBC, for that. What took so long?” he joked. “And to be working with (an) incredible cast that are so close with each other.”
Mulroney noted that he’s learning a lot in his new job and is getting quite the workout while filming physically demanding scenes.
“It is an education every day on such a well-run show and great to join a popular series,” he said.
Mulroney is stepping into the shoes of Eamonn Walker, who portrayed Wallace Boden for 12 seasons. After serving as battalion chief of Firehouse 51, his character became deputy district chief in Season 10.
In May, fans learned that Walker would no longer be a series regular. At the time, Deadline reported that his character would not be killed off and would likely return in a recurring role.
