Happy birthday to Chicago Fire’s Eamonn Walker
Chicago Fire star Eamonn Walker celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, so we’re celebrating his character, the tireless Chief Wallace Boden.
Today we’re saying happy birthday to Chicago Fire‘s own Eamonn Walker, who plays the man in charge of Firehouse 51, Wallace Boden.
The last year has been hectic in Boden’s world, which has been tough for him—but great for all the Chicago Fire fans, who have gotten to watch some outstanding performances from Eamonn Walker.
Last season we saw Boden deal with the effects of being on the wrong side of a vengeful Deputy Chief Anderson and then end the season struggling with four of his subordinates being trapped in a massive fire.
This season seemed like it would be easier, but then Boden had the possibility of being promoted dangled in front of him by Chief Carl Grissom (recurring guest star Gary Cole) and then was locked in a battle with Grissom for the Fire Commissioner’s job.
More from One Chicago Center
- Chicago Med star on 2024 cast changes: ‘Nice to have new faces’
- Here’s the perfect Chicago Fire episode to watch on Thanksgiving
- Ranking the 8 NCIS Thanksgiving episodes from worst to best
- Mark Harmon does NOT have plans to reprise Gibbs on NCIS
- One Chicago stars tease new seasons on IG: ‘Here we come’
Along the way, we saw a different side to the relationship between Boden and Matthew Casey provided more scenes between Walker and Jesse Spencer.
So many supervisory characters on TV don’t get developed beyond that. They sit behind a desk or in the office, issue orders and/or express frustration with what’s happening, and the rest of the show’s cast gets to go out and have all the fun.
Wallace Boden isn’t like that, and we can’t help but feel like that’s the result of the casting of Eamonn Walker.
He’s someone we want to watch for more than a handful of scenes every episode, someone who’s more than believable in the line of fire (pun not intended), and someone who naturally commands the attention of the audience. When he says something, One Chicago fans listen.
While the last year has put Boden through the wringer, that conversely means it’s been a great season to appreciate Eamonn Walker’s talent. Whether it’s the scenes where Boden is giving his newly promoted Captain some advice about being a white shirt, or him contemplating what he’s wanting next out of his life and career, he’s had plenty of memorable moments.
It was particularly heartbreaking to see Boden end the season by rushing to inform the CFD of Grissom’s misconduct, only to find out they were too late. The shock and the pain of knowing that the Fire Commissioner spot should have been his, and that instead it went to a terrible person, was painful for us to see on Boden’s face.
But it also makes us more excited to see what Eamonn Walker will do next; how is his character going to rebound? Will this chip away at his already uncertain self-image? Is he ever going to get the chance to just haul off and punch Grissom in the face?
Watch One Chicago on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!
Perhaps the best news we can give Eamonn Walker fans today is that the actor will be back for the next season of Chicago Fire, having signed a contract extension to keep playing Wallace Boden in Chicago Fire season 7. Learn more by clicking the link below.
Next: Eamonn Walker returning for Chicago Fire season 7
Join us in wishing Eamonn Walker a happy birthday in the comments! For more Chicago Fire news and spoilers, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.