This beloved Chicago Fire alum made his TV debut on Blue Bloods

Chicago Fire and Blue Bloods have a lot in common. Both shows have been on the air for almost a decade and a half. They are pillars of their respective networks, NBC and CBS. Blue Bloods is coming to an end, however, so being a One Chicago based website, we decided to draw an unlikely parallel between the two shows.

While Chicago PD and Blue Bloods may have more in common on the service, there's actually an actor who bridges Chicago Fire and the procedural drama. Alberto Rosende, the man who played Blake Gallo for several seasons on Fire, actually made his first appearance on an episode of Blue Bloods in 2015.

Rosende starred in a 2015 Blue Bloods episode

“Past Is Present” – Danny reunites with a troublesome teenager from a past case when the youth finds herself in danger. Also, Frank faces a difficult personnel decision close to home; Jamie grows suspicious when Henry is asked to be interviewed for an investigative Web series; and Erin and Anthony investigate when Erin is the alleged target of a shooting, on BLUE BLOODS, Friday, March 15 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for /

The episode in question is "Sins of the Father." Rosende plays a character named Carlos Santiago, in a story about Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) teaming up with an old partner to take down a serial killer. It's a small role, but it was a notable gig for Rosende, as it marked his first ever appearance on a major network.

Rosende clearly popped, as he was able to nab a supporting role in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit a few months later. This probably served as a crucial stepping stone in getting a starring role on Chicago Fire, given that both shows are created by Dick Wolf, and Wolf likes to utilize the same actors.

The actor joined Chicago Fire a year later

CHICAGO FIRE -- "Red Waterfall" Episode 1122 -- Pictured: (l-r) Christian Stolte as Randy “Mouch” McHolland, Alberto Rosende as Blake Gallo -- (Photo by: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC) /

A year after making his Blue Bloods debut, Alberto Rosende appeared on Chicago Fire. The actor went on to appear in 79 episodes, in addition to guest star appearances on Chicago PD and Med. Rosende ultimately departed the One Chicago franchise in 2024.

The actor told Deadline how much Chicago Fire meant to him and his career. He didn't offer a reason as to why he was leaving, but admitted that it was a difficult decision. “When I decided to end my time with Chicago, it wasn’t easy," he explained. "The people I’ve met were truly special, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime, and the story I got to tell was one that made me proud."

We will continue to hold out hope for a possible Gallo comeback, given that the character is still alive and well. He simply left the Windy City in order to be with his surviving family members.

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