Chicago Fire is more than just a thrilling drama about heroic firefighters; it also captivates audiences with the chemistry and connections among its beloved characters. Created as part of Dick Wolf’s One Chicago franchise, Chicago Fire follows the lives of firefighters at Firehouse 51, showing both the intense challenges they face on the job and their personal relationships. While the show’s fictional romances and friendships are fan-favorites, many viewers are also curious about the off-screen lives of the cast, especially their real-life partners.
Here’s a look into the lives and relationships of Chicago Fire cast members David Eigenberg, Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, Joe Minoso, and Kara Killmer.
David Eigenberg’s Real-Life Love Story
David Eigenberg, known for his role as firefighter Christopher Herrmann, met his wife Chrysti Kotik in a surprising setting. Eigenberg, who also starred on Sex and the City, met Kotik when he was on a meet-and-greet tour on a U.S. Army base, where Kotik was stationed. Despite the height of his Sex and the City fame, she had never seen the show and wasn’t familiar with his work. Eigenberg recalls being smitten with Kotik in her Army beret, and after a friend helped him arrange a date, they quickly clicked. Three months later, Eigenberg proposed, and they married in 2002. Now living in Chicago, the couple has two children, and Chrysti has been a source of support through Eigenberg’s move to Chicago Fire.
Jesse Spencer’s Academic Soulmate
Australian actor Jesse Spencer, who portrays firefighter Matthew Casey, met his now-wife Kali Woodruff in Chicago at a music festival in 2014. Woodruff, a Ph.D. candidate specializing in auditory neuroscience, and Spencer got engaged in 2019 during a trip to the Andes and tied the knot in June 2020. The couple chose their wedding date to honor Woodruff’s grandparents, and despite a chaotic wedding due to COVID-19, Spencer considers himself lucky to have such a bright, grounded partner. Working in Chicago aligns well with Woodruff’s studies at Northwestern, allowing the couple to balance their demanding careers and build a life together.
Taylor Kinney’s High-Profile Past
Taylor Kinney, who plays Kelly Severide, previously dated pop superstar Lady Gaga. The two met on the set of Gaga’s 2011 music video “Yoü and I,” where Kinney, playing her love interest, spontaneously kissed her, sparking a real-life romance. They got engaged in 2015 but ultimately split the following year. While their relationship ended, Gaga has publicly spoken of her enduring support and admiration for Kinney, even after they parted ways. Since then, Kinney has kept a lower profile regarding his personal life, although he’s been linked to other relationships, including dating a radiologist from Philadelphia in 2016.
Joe Minoso’s On-Set Romance
Joe Minoso, who plays Joe Cruz, found love on the Chicago Fire set with Caitlin Murphy Miles, a makeup artist for the show. The couple married in 2016, celebrating in true Chicago style with a vintage 1920s-themed wedding that featured nods to speakeasies and an iconic firehouse photo-op. Minoso has expressed his gratitude for meeting his wife through the show, which brought them both to Chicago, making the city a significant part of their love story.
Kara Killmer’s Cinematic Match
Kara Killmer, who plays paramedic Sylvie Brett, met her husband Andrew Cheney on the set of the 2015 action-romance Beyond the Mask. After nearly missing the audition, Killmer landed the role and quickly bonded with Cheney. The two actors’ chemistry blossomed off-screen, leading to their marriage in 2016. Their close collaboration on set brought them together, and they now share a supportive, faith-centered relationship.
