The Chicago Fire star you didn’t know is a former Marine
Now in its 10th season, NBC’s “Chicago Fire” has established itself as the longest-running series in the “One Chicago” universe, which also includes “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med.” Produced by Dick Wolf of the “Law & Order” series, “Chicago Fire” chronicles both the personal and professional lives of a group of first responders at Chicago’s fictional Firehouse 51. According to Deadline, “Chicago Fire” has been renewed for an 11th season and is guaranteed to be on our screens until at least 2023. Its popularity is largely due to its chemistry between the recurring actors who play a close-knit working family on screen and its authenticity set.
“Chicago Fire” is dedicated to ensuring that the portrayal of firefighters is as realistic as possible, from hiring a former firefighter as the show’s technical advisor (via The AV Club), to setting the fire controlled instead of using CGI. “All the tools are real and a lot of it depends on (executive producer) Dick Wolf; he makes sure we have everything we can to make it happen – the tools, the trucks, equipment, all the people in the background are real firefighters,” revealed Charlie Barnett, who plays firefighter Peter Mills, in a 2013 interview with Independent.
One series regular, in particular, brings realism to his role through real-life military experiences, which he credits with helping him respectfully pay homage to the rescue profession fire.
David Eigenberg is a former Marine
One of the most beloved characters in “Chicago Fire” is Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann, a doting father of five played by David Eigenberg. Herrmann’s fatherly role extends to Firehouse 51, where he regularly mentors his greener employees along with other veteran firefighters, Deputy Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) and Randy “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte). In Herrmann’s own words, “My job as an old firefighter is to teach young firefighters how to be old people” (via Fandom).
Eigenberg starred in “Chicago Fire” in its first season and has remained a main cast member since 2012. But long before he began serving the Windy City as a fictional firefighter, he contributed devoted many of his early years to another branch of service — the Marine Corps (through the USO). Although he is no longer in the military, Eigenberg still has a positive connection to his past life. He has collaborated several times with the United Services Organization (USO), a charitable organization that provides live entertainment, social connections, and other resources to the United States Armed Forces.
He also met his wife, another veteran, through his involvement with the USO after 9/11, and during a 2019 USO tour to Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois, he was said to went out of its way to offer a special “thank you” to the fire department (via the USO website). “They [firefighters] understand that you understand the service,” said Eigenberg, who along with other actors in “Chicago Fire,” regularly consulted with real firefighters on set to ensuring that his characters are sensitive and true to life.
