Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (2024)

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Related Story Christian Stolte Stars In Chicago Fire — Is The Actor Married In Real Life? Why Is Herrmann Not Chief in Chicago Fire Season 13 After Boden’s Exit? Most Popular Welcome Back: Former S.W.A.T. Character Confirmed to Appear in Season 8 Monumental All My Children Crossover Cancelled at the Last Minute Is General Hospital Sending Carly to Prison for Sonny’s Crimes? — Plus, Is This the Beginning of the End for ‘Jagger'? Plenty of actors have come and gone on Chicago Fire since the series first debuted in 2012. While we’re still mourning the exits of some of our favorite firefighters and paramedics, there are plenty of other shows the stars can be seen on. Keep reading to see <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/chicago-fire-cast-then-now/" target="_blank">where the alums of Chicago Fire are now</a>.Created by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, with <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/law-order/" target="_blank">Law & Order</a> producer Dick Wolf, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/chicago-fire/" target="_blank">Chicago Fire</a> is NBC’s long-running procedural that follows the professional and personal lives of emergency responders at the fictional Firehouse 51 of the Chicago Fire Department. The series is one of leading primetime dramas and has spawned several spin-offs, including <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/chicago-pd/" target="_blank">Chicago P.D.</a>, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/chicago-med/" target="_blank">Chicago Med</a>, and the <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/673768/why-chicago-justice-cancelled/" target="_blank">now-cancelled Chicago Justice</a>.In the years since Chicago Fire premiered, several of the show’s stars have left the series — from long-standing fan-favorites to characters who were killed off too soon. Although their time on the hit drama may have ended, the actors have not slowed down since and several of them even found their way back to network TV.Below, see what the Chicago Fire stars who left the show have been up since they took their final bow. Jesse Spencer left the series during Season 10, but reprised his role as Captain Matthew Casey in several Season 11 guest appearances. He is also set to return to the show in an upcoming episode of Season 12.When he’s not stepping back into the Chicago Fire world, the Australian actor is busy at work in his home country. In 2022, he guest starred in Neighbors, the Australian soap opera that started his career, and reprised his role as Billy Kennedy. He is also set to star in the upcoming Australian Western series Last Days of the Space Age. Monica Raymund starred as paramedic Gabriella Dawson for seasons 1-6. Raymund left the show shortly after Dawson got divorced from Matthew Casey, and fans are still not over their breakup.Since exiting, Raymund has found success in both television and film. She appeared in the 2022 comedy Bros and the 2023 legal drama The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. Raymund currently stars on the hit Starz series Hightown. Lauren German starred as paramedic Leslie Shay for the first two seasons before her character was killed off in one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the show’s history. During the Season 2 finale, Shay tragically died in a fire that was started by an arsonist who was stalking her. Unlike Spencer and Raymund, it <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/666176/leslie-shay-leave-chicago-fire/" target="_blank">was not German’s decision to leave</a> the show and her character was written off intentionally.Former executive producer Matt Olmstead told <a href="https://tvline.com/interviews/lauren-german-leaving-chicago-fire-shay-killed-off-549958/" target="_blank">TVLine</a> at the time that they had to kill off Shay, who was a central character, because it packed a bigger punch. “We knew if we were going to do it, it had to be someone who was going to give us a big impact, as opposed to going for a lesser-known character, which would equate to a pulled punch,” he explained. “So, as opposed to approaching it with timidity, we thought we’d go for it.”German quickly bounced back, however, and landed a role on the Fox series Lucifer. She starred on the show for its entire six-season run, including its Netflix resurrection after it was canceled by Fox. Charlie Barnett also didn’t leave by choice and his character, rookie firefighter Peter Mills, was written off the show during Season 3. His final episode featured Mills moving to North Carolina to open a restaurant with his family. During an interview with the <a href="http://ticket.heraldtribune.com/2015/05/07/chicago-fire-star-focuses-on-new-challenges-in-leaving-hit-show/" target="_blank">Sarasota Herald-Tribune</a>, Barnett revealed that it was “a normal day of filming” when he was informed that Mills was going to be written off. “I hadn’t heard anything about it and then they pulled me into a room, sat me down and apologized,” he said. “They expressed that it wasn’t about me or myself as an actor or my personality … But they felt that Peter had reached a plateau and the writers didn’t know where to take him because he’s done so much already.”Barnett went on to star in Netflix’s Russian Doll as Alan Zaveri and the short-lived NBC series Ordinary Joe as Eric Payne. He also appeared on You, Arrow, Secrets and Lies, Code Black, Orange Is the New Black and Valor. Brian “Otis” Zvonecek’s death is another death that fans are still reeling from. Played by Yuriy Sardarov, Otis was the beloved driver of Truck 81 and he died a hero during the Season 8 premiere. After an explosion in a mattress factory, Otis risked his life to save his team and the factory workers. Sardarov later told<a href="https://telltaletv.com/2019/09/yuriy-sardarov-opens-up-about-that-devastating-chicago-fire-season-8-premiere-and-why-it-was-necessary-exclusive-interview/" target="_blank"> Tell Tale TV</a> that his dramatic exit was a combination of him feeling ready to move on and the writers wanting to kick off the season in a big way. “I think those two things met at the perfect time,” he said, noting that Otis’ death was “necessary.”These days, Sardarov is still dabbling in primetime. He has guest starred on ABC’s The Rookie and CBS’ FBI: International, the latter of which is also a Dick Wolf-created show. Dora Madison’s Jessica “Chili” Chilton briefly replaced Peter Mills as a paramedic during seasons 3 and 4, but she was ultimately fired for drinking on the job. In real life, Madison is an accomplished actress with tons of post-show credits. After leaving the series, the Friday Night Lights alum went on to star in the films Everybody Wants Some!!, Night of the Babysitter, Big Boys and Christmas Bloody Christmas. She also appeared in the TV shows Into the Dark, Dark/Web and What Would Diplo Do? Teri Reeves had a brief run on Chicago Fire during Season 1, but her time on the screen was impactful nonetheless. She starred as Doctor Hallie Thomas, the former fiancée of Matthew Casey. The pair were in an on-off relationship for eight years and had just reconciled before Thomas was found dead inside the locked security cage at the hospital after a fire broke out.The actress has kept very busy since exiting the series; she’s guest starred on countless network TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Castle, Scandal, Once Upon a Time, 9-1-1 and even her former co-star’s show, Lucifer. Alberto Rosende, the most recent cast member to exit the show, left during the Season 12 premiere. His character, rookie firefighter Blake Gallo, learned that he had long lost family members in Michigan and moved away to get to know them. Prior to his departure, the Shadowhunters alum revealed that the decision to leave “wasn’t easy,” but according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/11/chicago-fire-alberto-rosende-exit-season-12-1235643344/" target="_blank">Deadline</a>, his exit was “fully amicable.”Rosende has yet to work on any new projects since leaving the show, but he has been busy planning his wedding to his fiancée and former Shadowhunters co-star Tessa Mossey. FAQs

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Lizzie Lanuza

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024

Credit: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC via Gett

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Chicago Fire Season 13 is going to look very different. It was to be expected, after Eamonn Walker’s departure as Chief Boden. But back when the news was announced, everyone expected Christopher Herrmann would somehow replace him as Chief – even if realistically, it made no sense. That, however, won’t be the case come Season 13. So why is Herrmann not Chief in Chicago Fire Season 13 after Boden’s exit?

Christian Stolte Stars In Chicago Fire — Is The Actor Married In Real Life?

Why Is Herrmann Not Chief in Chicago Fire Season 13 After Boden’s Exit?

When Chief Boden announced he was taking the job of Deputy Commissioner at the end of Chicago Fire Season 12, it was understood that someone would have to replace him. And though perhaps the obvious replacement would have been Severide, considering how uncomfortable Severide looked every time he was left in charge, that possibility was soon put to rest.

Very soon, however, Chicago Fire raised another possibility, in Christopher Herrmann. Not just that, it seemed like Boden wanted Herrmann to succeed him, even though Hermann himself didn’t seem too convinced, telling Herrmann that all he needed to be was the person “who looks out for people, who listens, who always leads with his heart.”

More: Which Chicago Fire alumn is heading to S.W.A.T?

But there were logistics problems from the beginning, ones fans hoped could just be handwaved away. Alas, that was not to be and soon after the Season 12 finale aired, it was confirmed Herrmann would not be replacing Boden as Chief.

David Eigenberg, who plays Herrmann explained why to TV Insider at the Television Critics Association Summer 2024 Press Tour, saying: “The character can’t make a shift to a chief unless we were deep into TV falsehoods,” adding that, “I’m not going to let him do that. He has to become a captain, and then you got to go through a whole thing. I think that the character might be able to make the transition. I don’t know. Who knows? They may put me in chief and then fire me as a chief. We’ll see.”

More: Here’s when One Chicago will officially return

Since Chicago Fire is not promoting Herrmann to Chief, that means a new character will have to come in to fill that role. Deadline reported that the new character, potentially called Dom Pascal, began his career with the CFD, but spent the last decade in Miami. He’s described as “a cheerful person who works well under pressure, and whose leadership style differs from Boden’s.”

Though Walker departed as a series regular, he has plans to return in a recurring role in the future. The show will return to NBC this Fall.

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Plenty of actors have come and gone on Chicago Fire since the series first debuted in 2012. While we’re still mourning the exits of some of our favorite firefighters and paramedics, there are plenty of other shows the stars can be seen on. Keep reading to see <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/chicago-fire-cast-then-now/" target="_blank">where the alums of Chicago Fire are now</a>.Created by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, with <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/law-order/" target="_blank">Law & Order</a> producer Dick Wolf, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/chicago-fire/" target="_blank">Chicago Fire</a> is NBC’s long-running procedural that follows the professional and personal lives of emergency responders at the fictional Firehouse 51 of the Chicago Fire Department. The series is one of leading primetime dramas and has spawned several spin-offs, including <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/chicago-pd/" target="_blank">Chicago P.D.</a>, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/tag/chicago-med/" target="_blank">Chicago Med</a>, and the <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/673768/why-chicago-justice-cancelled/" target="_blank">now-cancelled Chicago Justice</a>.In the years since Chicago Fire premiered, several of the show’s stars have left the series — from long-standing fan-favorites to characters who were killed off too soon. Although their time on the hit drama may have ended, the actors have not slowed down since and several of them even found their way back to network TV.Below, see what the Chicago Fire stars who left the show have been up since they took their final bow.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (10)

Image: NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

2/9

Jesse Spencer left the series during Season 10, but reprised his role as Captain Matthew Casey in several Season 11 guest appearances. He is also set to return to the show in an upcoming episode of Season 12.When he’s not stepping back into the Chicago Fire world, the Australian actor is busy at work in his home country. In 2022, he guest starred in Neighbors, the Australian soap opera that started his career, and reprised his role as Billy Kennedy. He is also set to star in the upcoming Australian Western series Last Days of the Space Age.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (11)

Image: Getty Images

3/9

Monica Raymund starred as paramedic Gabriella Dawson for seasons 1-6. Raymund left the show shortly after Dawson got divorced from Matthew Casey, and fans are still not over their breakup.Since exiting, Raymund has found success in both television and film. She appeared in the 2022 comedy Bros and the 2023 legal drama The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. Raymund currently stars on the hit Starz series Hightown.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (12)

Image: Getty Images

4/9

Lauren German starred as paramedic Leslie Shay for the first two seasons before her character was killed off in one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the show’s history. During the Season 2 finale, Shay tragically died in a fire that was started by an arsonist who was stalking her. Unlike Spencer and Raymund, it <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/666176/leslie-shay-leave-chicago-fire/" target="_blank">was not German’s decision to leave</a> the show and her character was written off intentionally.Former executive producer Matt Olmstead told <a href="https://tvline.com/interviews/lauren-german-leaving-chicago-fire-shay-killed-off-549958/" target="_blank">TVLine</a> at the time that they had to kill off Shay, who was a central character, because it packed a bigger punch. “We knew if we were going to do it, it had to be someone who was going to give us a big impact, as opposed to going for a lesser-known character, which would equate to a pulled punch,” he explained. “So, as opposed to approaching it with timidity, we thought we’d go for it.”German quickly bounced back, however, and landed a role on the Fox series Lucifer. She starred on the show for its entire six-season run, including its Netflix resurrection after it was canceled by Fox.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (13)

Image: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via

5/9

Charlie Barnett also didn’t leave by choice and his character, rookie firefighter Peter Mills, was written off the show during Season 3. His final episode featured Mills moving to North Carolina to open a restaurant with his family. During an interview with the <a href="http://ticket.heraldtribune.com/2015/05/07/chicago-fire-star-focuses-on-new-challenges-in-leaving-hit-show/" target="_blank">Sarasota Herald-Tribune</a>, Barnett revealed that it was “a normal day of filming” when he was informed that Mills was going to be written off. “I hadn’t heard anything about it and then they pulled me into a room, sat me down and apologized,” he said. “They expressed that it wasn’t about me or myself as an actor or my personality … But they felt that Peter had reached a plateau and the writers didn’t know where to take him because he’s done so much already.”Barnett went on to star in Netflix’s Russian Doll as Alan Zaveri and the short-lived NBC series Ordinary Joe as Eric Payne. He also appeared on You, Arrow, Secrets and Lies, Code Black, Orange Is the New Black and Valor.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (14)

Image: Getty

6/9

Brian “Otis” Zvonecek’s death is another death that fans are still reeling from. Played by Yuriy Sardarov, Otis was the beloved driver of Truck 81 and he died a hero during the Season 8 premiere. After an explosion in a mattress factory, Otis risked his life to save his team and the factory workers. Sardarov later told<a href="https://telltaletv.com/2019/09/yuriy-sardarov-opens-up-about-that-devastating-chicago-fire-season-8-premiere-and-why-it-was-necessary-exclusive-interview/" target="_blank"> Tell Tale TV</a> that his dramatic exit was a combination of him feeling ready to move on and the writers wanting to kick off the season in a big way. “I think those two things met at the perfect time,” he said, noting that Otis’ death was “necessary.”These days, Sardarov is still dabbling in primetime. He has guest starred on ABC’s The Rookie and CBS’ FBI: International, the latter of which is also a Dick Wolf-created show.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (15)

Image: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via

7/9

Dora Madison’s Jessica “Chili” Chilton briefly replaced Peter Mills as a paramedic during seasons 3 and 4, but she was ultimately fired for drinking on the job. In real life, Madison is an accomplished actress with tons of post-show credits. After leaving the series, the Friday Night Lights alum went on to star in the films Everybody Wants Some!!, Night of the Babysitter, Big Boys and Christmas Bloody Christmas. She also appeared in the TV shows Into the Dark, Dark/Web and What Would Diplo Do?

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (16)

Image: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via

8/9

Teri Reeves had a brief run on Chicago Fire during Season 1, but her time on the screen was impactful nonetheless. She starred as Doctor Hallie Thomas, the former fiancée of Matthew Casey. The pair were in an on-off relationship for eight years and had just reconciled before Thomas was found dead inside the locked security cage at the hospital after a fire broke out.The actress has kept very busy since exiting the series; she’s guest starred on countless network TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Castle, Scandal, Once Upon a Time, 9-1-1 and even her former co-star’s show, Lucifer.

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire (17)

Image: NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

9/9

Alberto Rosende, the most recent cast member to exit the show, left during the Season 12 premiere. His character, rookie firefighter Blake Gallo, learned that he had long lost family members in Michigan and moved away to get to know them. Prior to his departure, the Shadowhunters alum revealed that the decision to leave “wasn’t easy,” but according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/11/chicago-fire-alberto-rosende-exit-season-12-1235643344/" target="_blank">Deadline</a>, his exit was “fully amicable.”Rosende has yet to work on any new projects since leaving the show, but he has been busy planning his wedding to his fiancée and former Shadowhunters co-star Tessa Mossey.

FAQs

Who’s the New Chief? The Shocking Reason [Spoiler] Is Not Boden’s Successor on Chicago Fire? ›

Chicago Fire season 13 will see Dermot Mulroney join the cast as Chief Dom Pascal, Boden's replacement after he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department. Not much is known about the newcomer just yet, aside from being a friendly firefighter with years of experience in Miami.

View Details ›

Who replaces Boden as chief? ›

PEOPLE has learned Dermot Mulroney is set to join the cast of Chicago Fire as Chief Dom Pascal. The new chief will be returning to the Chicago Fire Department after a stint as a chief in Miami. He brings a different leadership style to Firehouse 51 than former chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker), according to TV Line.

Read On ›

Who is the new chief in Firehouse 51? ›

Dermot Mulroney will soon be turning up the heat in Firehouse 51. The actor has been cast as Chicago Fire's newest fire chief Dom Pascal ahead of the hit firefighting drama's upcoming 13th season.

Learn More Now ›

Why is Boden's replacement not Hermann? ›

Christopher Hermann was chosen as Boden's replacement, but plans are changing as One Chicago moves away from the original idea. David Eigenberg explains that the reason why Hermann can't replace Boden is that it would be unrealistic for him to immediately climb the ladder in time for the new season of One Chicago.

Learn More ›

What happened to Chief Boden's wife on Chicago Fire? ›

Yes, Boden is still married. Donna is still his wife, and they have a son named Terrance.

Get More Info Here ›

Who is replacing Eamonn Walker on Chicago Fire? ›

Dermot Mulroney Is Replacing Eamonn Walker In Season 13

Mulroney is set to play Dom Pascal, the new chief in charge of Firehouse 51. Before accepting the new job in Chicago, Pascal worked as a chief at a fire department in Miami for a decade.

Who sets up Chief Boden? ›

This conversation puts Boden on to the possibility that Maddox is the one setting him up which is later confirmed when Boden confronts him.

Learn More ›

Who becomes fire chief? ›

Most often, fire chiefs are elected – which means they must campaign for the job – but a few are appointed directly to the position. Most often, they work in their departments for many years before achieving this top executive rank, gaining much of the necessary training along the way.

Get More Info ›

Who tries to shut down Firehouse 51? ›

All seems lost with firehouse 51 on the verge of closing its' doors, thanks in no small part to Gail McLeod , but Chief Boden and the rest of the house refuse to allow themselves to sit by and let it happen. An emergency call to an apartment structure fire tests everyone's limits and puts the squad in harm's way.

Who is new on Chicago Fire 2024? ›

For starters, it will feature Dermot Mulroney as 51's new fire chief, Dom Pascal, following Eammon Walker's bittersweet exit as a series regular. And that's just the tip of the iceberg of change coming to our favorite firefighters.

Who is the new actor on Chicago Fire? ›

Chicago Fire is bringing a new leader into Firehouse 51. Dermot Mulroney is joining the long-running NBC series for its upcoming 13th season, which is set to premiere on Sept. 25. He'll play Chief Dom Pascal in the series.

Keep Reading ›

Who will replace Casey in Chicago Fire? ›

Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will be recurring as Jason Pelham, the interim lieutenant filling Captain Matt Casey's (Jesse Spencer) spot on Chicago Fire, TVLine reports. His first episode airs on November 3.

Read The Full Story ›

Does Donna have Boden's baby? ›

Donna (Melissa Ponzio) first appeared in Chicago Fire Season 2. She dated Boden for a bit, he proposed that season, and they married in the Season 2 finale. Donna is also the mother to Boden's other son, Terrance. Since then, she has appeared in numerous episodes,...

What happens to Chief Boden's baby? ›

He was rushed to the NICU and is put on an ECMO machine while his lungs heal. His lung condition starts improving, but doctors are worried about brain damage from oxygen deprivation. At the end of Let Him Die, he is off the ECMO machine and his neurological tests are clear.

View Details ›

Does Herrmann become chief? ›

But fans probably shouldn't have been surprised when it was reported that Herrmann won't be taking over for Boden, as David Eigenberg told TV Insider at the Television Critics' Association Summer Press Tour. After all, it's not like Herrmann could have just become battalion chief; he's currently only a lieutenant.

Read On ›

Does Chief Boden get promoted to commissioner? ›

It was a bittersweet moment when the 51 firefighters received a text alert that the CFD had named its new Deputy Commissioner as Wallace Boden. In honor of his promotion, Boden's 51 family flocked to his office to congratulate him. “You made 51 a family, Chief," Cruz (Joe Miñoso) said. "And this firehouse a home."

Get More Info Here ›

Who set up Chief Boden in season 4? ›

But with the help of Kelly Severide's ex-girlfriend, attorney Jamie Killian, it is revealed that arsonist Roger Maddox - who was set to go to trial for his crimes, and who was being represented by Killian - had hired Holmes to accuse Boden to discredit him.

Discover More ›

Who does Chief Boden end up with? ›

Donna (Melissa Ponzio) first appeared in Chicago Fire Season 2. She dated Boden for a bit, he proposed that season, and they married in the Season 2 finale. Donna is also the mother to Boden's other son, Terrance.

Does Boden return to Firehouse 51? ›

With Boden coming back to the series in a recurring role, the show is likely to offer more insight into how his leadership position has impacted firefighting within the Chicago Fire Department.

Discover More Details ›