David Eigenberg (Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire)

Summary

One Chicago Podcast: David Eigenberg (Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire)

Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Brian Lucci
Guest: David Eigenberg

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Episode Overview

This episode of the One Chicago Podcast features David Eigenberg, who has played the beloved Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire for thirteen years. Host Brian Lucci, a former Chicago cop and producer, sits down with David for a deep and candid conversation. Together, they dive into David's journey from Sex and the City to the firehouse, the real-life inspirations behind Herrmann, the physical and emotional realities of shooting the series, and the vibrant, often hilarious camaraderie among cast and crew. Lighthearted banter, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and heartfelt reflections on public service define this entertaining and insightful episode.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Landing Herrmann: From Washed-Up to Heart of the Show

• [05:28] David opens up about his career lull after Sex and the City. Feeling "dead in the water," he returned to contractor work before landing the audition for Chicago Fire.
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 05:28):
    “I was dead. And then I bumped into a guy that I knew, and he said, what's going on with you? I said, I'm dead. I'm over. I washed up… And then I was on the phone, and I nodded, and my wife was like, did you get it? ...And I said, OK, thank you. Yeah, close the deal. Whatever they offer me, whatever they're giving me, don't change it. Take it before they take it back.”
• The producers first imagined Herrmann as a “larger than life” Little John type—David’s audition defied that, yet immediately captured the showrunners, who called him “the heart” of Chicago Fire.
• [07:14] David’s initial nerves:
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 07:14):
    "So I've never been happy because I never know. Your head's on the block. Every day you walk into work..."

Making Herrmann Real: Personal Experience and Character Depth

• [07:29] David connected with the role from the start through real-life friendships with firefighters and construction buddies who had experienced trauma, including 9/11.
• He reflects on how much of his own personality—namely, a passionate “rage” rooted in love—seeps into Herrmann.
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 08:16):
    "Sometimes they write the anger. I'm kind of an angry guy... It comes from a deep passion of love for people, that the hatred grows out of wanting the world to be a better place."
• Herrmann is easier for David than Steve from Sex and the City; he identifies with the “rage, you know, the fireman.”
• Marine Corps background and blue-collar upbringing add authenticity.

The Heart versus the Hustle: Herrmann’s Many Schemes

• [12:41] Brian asks why Herrmann always chases side businesses (limo service, bartending at Molly’s, etc.)
  • David explains it stems from Herrmann being a “bad listener” who struggles to see his own limitations, inspired by the lovable TV character Ralph Kramden.
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 12:51):
    “He doesn't really... can't read the writing on the wall, so he doesn't know what his limitations are.”
• The crossover scenes often find Herrmann behind the bar at Molly’s—an in-joke on set.

Defining Herrmann: Signature Emotional Moments

• [14:17] Asked for a defining moment, David highlights an episode where Herrmann’s wife battles lung cancer and he tries to comfort his son while privately breaking down.
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 14:43):
    “He gets a call from his son...and he just responds to him and says 'everything’s gonna be okay.' And he's lying to the kid because he doesn't know. But he's trying to make the best of a horrible situation and being there for his family..."
• He relates this back to the nature of first responders—being there for others at their worst moments.

Behind the Scenes and the Physical Toll

• [16:04] Discussion of the intense, one-shot “My Lucky Day” episode with Herrmann and Cruz trapped in an elevator.
  • David’s theater roots made him savor it:
    • Quote (David Eigenberg, 16:22):
      “We did a 23 minute long take...Because one thing led into another and led into another, and it was a lot of fun.”
• [17:58] The show’s physicality is real. David notes he’s dealt with a snapped Achilles, hernia, and back surgery—all while wearing 65-70 pounds of gear.
  • The on-set stunt team operates as a tight, long-term squad covering Herrmann.

Authenticity and Firefighter Culture

• [19:07] Technical Advisor Steve Chickarodis (“Chick”)—a retired fire chief—keeps things accurate, even disagreeing on set.
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 19:24):
    “He’s really smart. We argue about stuff...and then he just trashes me and buries me...but I never want to be wrong.”
• Cast train annually at the Illinois Fire Service Institute with real firefighters, valuing the mutual respect and camaraderie.
  • David emphasizes how much he appreciates and admires real first responders.
    • Quote (David Eigenberg, 20:48):
      “First responders don’t get thanked enough in my experience...The 99.9% deserve [focus]. You always focus on the bad...I'm tired of that. Let's focus on the 99.”

The Changing Nature of Service

• [22:08] Reflects somberly on declining interest in public service jobs, urging a return to “service-minded” values.
  • Quote (David Eigenberg, 22:08):
    “We need to get back to a service minded society taking care of each other...The service element has been taking a beating for some reason...But there's just a bit of focus and there'll be a realignment and it'll come back around.”

On Set Antics and Camaraderie

• [29:37] David gives a revealing, comic glimpse into the cast’s actual dynamic—lots of horseplay, “physically aggressive” bonding, and low-grade humor, especially in bunker gear.
• Miranda’s (likely Miranda Rae Mayo) initiation by wrestling David to the ground is told with pride and laughter.

Looking Back and Forward: Herrmann’s Arc and Hopes

• [30:25] Season 13 saw Herrmann try out for chief; David appreciates portraying someone who isn’t always winning or ascending, but just “gets on with it”—resilient, like real firefighters.
  • “Sometimes it’s about just getting on with it when that’s what firefighters and PD are about.”
• [31:44] Brian asks about hopes for Season 14:
  • David trusts the writers but loves Herrmann’s complexity, getting to be “mean, soft, gentle... a cornucopia of things.”
• Favorite and hardest scenes? Loves common room scenes; dreads long monologues.

Rapid Fire (and Playful) Q&A

• Who from another Wolf show would he bring to Chicago Fire?
  • Maggie Lockwood ("Marlene") from Chicago Med—“I love charge nurses. They’re mean. I actually love it.”
• Funniest moment? Accidentally setting off a horn while filming—“I think I called you an idiot...”
• Who would he marry on the show? Violet.
• Who would he fight his last fire with? Mouch—because he’s hilarious.
• Who would he blast with a firehose? Taylor—he’d love it.
  • “He’s a game. Take the beating.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Landing Herrmann:
  “Within seconds, they knew that that was our guy...they found their heart of their show.” – Brian Lucci [04:56]
• Personal connection:
  “I get firefighters because they've been my friends...I get that.” – David Eigenberg [07:29]
• Herrmann’s Motivations:
  “My father was from the Bronx. He was a Jewish Ralph Kramden… that’s kind of an inspiration in a lot of ways…” – David Eigenberg [12:51]
• Defining Scene:
  “You’re seeing people on the worst day of their lives in the real realm, and gotta be a voice of sanity, a moment of humanity for those people...I get young actors, they kind of don’t have a gravity about them yet. And I go, ah, they gotta live.” – David Eigenberg [14:43]
• Physical toll:
  “I snapped my Achilles this year right after I had a hernia operation. And then before that, I had back surgery a couple of years ago.” – David Eigenberg [17:58]
• On laughs and camaraderie:
  “We are physically aggressive with each other, male and female. Not all the time, but we roll around… get in bunker gear. You want to wrestle?” – David Eigenberg [29:37]

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Stunt Team Segment ([39:04])

Featuring Rick LeFever Sr. & Jr., Stunt Coordinators

• Rick Sr. and Jr. detail spectacular stunts: full underwater scenes, multi-floor explosions, and full-body burns.
• [39:36] On a daunting water tank sequence:
  “We had the whole cast underwater. All were actually underwater in a tank with a sunken boat, which was a very big challenge. And all the actors nailed it.”
• [40:48] On full burns for Chicago Med:
  “He was fully engulfed in flames, head to toe...runs into a counter. Then he was tackled by me. So that was one I was really proud that we set up.”

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Notable, Light-hearted Banter

• [10:41 & 10:55] Recurring jokes about David’s dad stealing money (“He’s dead. He’s passed. I love him dearly. So they can’t get him anymore.”)
• [13:39] Herrmann as “the best paid bartender in all of Chicago.”
• [35:13] David’s Bronx/Naperville connection with Joe Minoso.
• [36:58] “If it was a nipple, you were on it. That's for sure.” (On fire engine mishaps)

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Conclusion

This episode is a heartfelt, humorous, and revealing look into the Chicago Fire family—on screen and off. David Eigenberg’s affection for the character of Herrmann is matched only by his gratitude for the real firefighters and public servants who inspire the show. Between war stories, physical struggles, and plenty of horsing around, you get a full portrait of both David and Herrmann: passionate, flawed, funny, and always trying to do right by others.

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For More Behind the Scenes:
Follow @OneChicago on Instagram and check out the series on YouTube and NBC.

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End of summary.

Transcript

[David Eigenberg]

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[Rick LeFever Jr.]

They've got the best gifts.

[David Eigenberg]

My holiday shopping hack. Join the NordicLub. Get an extra 5% off every rack purchase with your Nordstrom credit card. Plus, buy it online and pick it up in store the same day for free. Big gifts, big perks. That's why you wreck. My dad should have been, you know, clinked up probably. He stole some money. His dad, he's passed. I love him dearly.

[Brian Lucci]

So they can't get him anymore.

[David Eigenberg]

They can't get him now. Although some people that he took money from, I bumped into here in Chicago.

[Brian Lucci]

Did they want money?

[David Eigenberg]

They didn't ask for it, but I didn't bring it up. Action.

[Brian Lucci]

Hey, I'm Brian Lucci, and this is the official One Chicago podcast. On today's episode, I got a certain somebody from Chicago Fire Nazi. It's brother Herman, played by David Eitenberg, who just might be one of my favorite characters in all the wolf world. Whether he's pouring water on a fire or pouring cocktails at Molly's, he's always wearing those feelings on his sleeve.

[David Eigenberg]

Chief, I say this out of love. That's your pride talking.

[Brian Lucci]

Before the Chicago Fire show came along, David was best known for his role as Steve Brady. No, I'm not talking about some cousin to some kind of famous quarterback or the Brady Bunch. I'm talking much bigger than that. Talking to Steve Brady, who played Miranda's sensitive boyfriend on HBO Sex and the City. Today you'll learn how he left that lovely character behind and transformed into the first responding firefighting Herman that we all love. And later, we're going to tap into a little father and son family business. The business is setting yourself on fire, jumping off a building, crashing vehicles, and all kinds of crazy stuff. They are our stunt coordinators for Chicago Fire and Chicago Med, and thank goodness they're still alive and kicking to share these stories with us.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

Many stunt people now with such incredible talent, it's probably the hardest ever to get into stunts than it's ever been.

[Brian Lucci]

All of that coming right up after the break.

[David Eigenberg]

Cut.

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[Brian Lucci]

Welcome to One Chicago Podcast. My name is Brian Lucci. Today I'm lucky enough to be with my buddy David Eitenberg, who plays Herman on the hit show Chicago Fire. He's been with us for 13 years. So first of all, I want to thank you very much. And also I want to tell you that I don't know if you know this, but the first time I laid eyes on you.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

It was in the first season. Yeah. Of Chicago Fire.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah. Things you never felt before. I. Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Tingly feels. There's all kinds of stuff that was dancing through. Anyways, you were on set. I was there training a couple coppers. It was a big scene. Matt Olmstead, Derek Hoskins, showrunners, co creators for the show.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And I remember watching you screwing around. You're bouncing around, messing with this guy. Mess with that guy. And I walked over to Derek Hos. I'm like, derek, who is that guy? Who's that ball of fire? His words to me was, that was a ball of fire that shouldn't have been.

[David Eigenberg]

That's right.

[Brian Lucci]

And I'm like, what? What do you mean by that? Derek? He goes, well, in my mind, when I created the person who was going to be Herman, he said he had a whole different person. He was thinking Someone larger than life. Like from Little John, from Robin Hood.

[David Eigenberg]

How did you know?

[Brian Lucci]

You're like a migraine. From Ryman, who he thought it would be.

[David Eigenberg]

I know.

[Brian Lucci]

So he said that what happened was, is you came into an audition, and within seconds, they knew that that was our guy, that David Eitanberg was going to be their Herman. They found their Herman. And what was more important than that, they said that they found their heart of their show.

[David Eigenberg]

The heart.

[Brian Lucci]

The heart.

[David Eigenberg]

And my father said the first. After seeing me the first couple of seconds, that's a fireball that shouldn't have been. That's what my pop said.

[Brian Lucci]

If we could go back to day one when you found out that you landed the role of Herman.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

What do you rem.

[David Eigenberg]

I walked in and I was, like, dead in the water. Seven years after the Sex in the City, whatever contortions that I did over there. And I had no career. I went back to contracting. I got my GC license in California. We left New York, and I gone to a job at a copper smelter plant. Sounds like I'm making crap up right now out in Salt Lake City. And I was dead. And then I bumped into a guy that I knew, and he said, what's going on with you? I said, I'm dead. I'm over. I washed up. And so he got me an audition for this thing, and I was like, you know, I was pretty much done. But I walked in to get back to that point. Dick was sitting very close to the front.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, wow.

[David Eigenberg]

He was right there. Dick Wolf. Mr. Dick Wolf. He responded to me. He went, where are you from?

[Brian Lucci]

Who?

[David Eigenberg]

Eigenberg? What are you? And I said, what do you mean? What's your family from? And I. And he was like, dot, all right, there you go. And he responded very strongly to the Irish Catholic, Protestant side. My mother and. But my humor was from my father, and I just did the thing. He goes, do your thing. Whatever. We caught up a couple of times, and I bounced the ball bag with him, and I said to my wife, I said, I don't know what happened there, but I know that Dick responded to me, because if they don't respond to you, you can't win them. And then I was on the phone, and I nodded, and my wife was like, did you get it? And I was like, I gave her a thumbs up, and I said, okay, thank you. Yeah, close the deal. Whatever they offer me, whatever they're giving me, don't change it. Take it before they take it back. And, oh, what about Billy? What about trailers? You work for me, close the deal. I would have done it for half of what they were gonna give me. And it was good, but. So she said, why aren't you excited? Because I said, I can get fired tomorrow just because somebody up the ladder. I can go to Chicago. They don't like me. I'm not big enough. I'm not. What do they call it? Little John, Little Bear?

[Brian Lucci]

Little John. Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah. I'm not Little John.

[Brian Lucci]

You're not. What was in his mind?

[David Eigenberg]

They wanted a big Little John, not a little Little John.

[Brian Lucci]

Right.

[David Eigenberg]

So I've never been happy because I never know. Your head's on the block. Every day you walk into work, I feel the.

[Brian Lucci]

When was the first time that you really felt like you understood who Herman was as a character?

[David Eigenberg]

No, I got him from the beginning because I get firefighters because they've been my friends. Back in the day. 83, when I moved to New York City, I lived in the Sloan House, ymca and sro. He was not retired, but he had been on Chicago Fire Department for nine years or something. And we became best friends, not because of that, but because he was a great soul. And then my best buddy I did construction with in New York, got on the job in New York, and he lived through 9, 11. They lost seven guys in their house.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

And. And then the guy also lost his house. The guy came to get the keys, the repossessor, whatever they call him, and he chucks them across the street. And I went, oh, yeah, I get that.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

So screw you.

[Brian Lucci]

How much of David Eitenberg lives inside of Herman? Or how much of Herman lives inside of David?

[David Eigenberg]

Sometimes they write the anger. I'm kind of an angry guy. You're. See, you and me, we laugh a lot because underneath there's.

[Brian Lucci]

We want to kill somebody.

[David Eigenberg]

When I want to take them out quickly. But it's. It comes, and I think it's because of you. Comes from a deep passion of love for people, that the hatred grows out of wanting the world to be a better place. But there are problems with morons in the world, and then we want to really react to it, and we don't, because that's not a productive thing. But there's a rage inside of us, and we let it out. Sometimes I don't. I've never seen you mad, but I know that. I know by talking, in the way you laugh.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, well, I love everybody. I mean, I know you do.

[David Eigenberg]

I'm not putting words in your mouth.

[Brian Lucci]

That's the David inside of you.

[David Eigenberg]

That's the David inside of me. That's the Luch. That's.

[Brian Lucci]

And the Herman that they created, which pretty much you created so much of. Does he come out in you?

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Everyone's always like, oh, the Steve thing from the Sex in the City. Because they go, oh, he's so nice to. They have no idea how hard that character was. That seems Herman is easier for me to do because I live in that rage, you know, the fireman.

[Brian Lucci]

You were a Marine?

[David Eigenberg]

Marine Corps reservist four years.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, for four years.

[David Eigenberg]

So I made lance corporal a couple of times. You know what I'm saying?

[Brian Lucci]

That all thanks for your service. You were a father. Thank you for your service. You come from a big family. It seems like they all kind of run into a fireman, you know, like a blue collar guy.

[David Eigenberg]

I mean, that's my background. I mean.

[Brian Lucci]

And that's why you.

[David Eigenberg]

My wife grew up in Jersey and they call it bridge and tunnel in New York City. They make fun of people from other places. And she was bridging tunnel, and I love her. And she goes, what do they have in Chicago? And I said, naperville. And she said, no, we got a rip. Which is where I'm from. I mean, I went to junior high and high school there, but I grew up when it was a working class town. And it's. That wasn't. The fancy downtown was dead.

[Brian Lucci]

Where'd you get this accent? That's not a Naperville accent.

[David Eigenberg]

My father was from the Bronx. I lived in New York for 25 years. And so I got. People always think I'm from Boston.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

But that's. That the hard A's and the hard Rs of the Midwest, not necessarily Chicago, because I never say I'm from Chicago. I'm from the burbs because I respect Chicago. I love Chicago people. I wish I was one, but I'm not.

[Brian Lucci]

So you're born in. You're born in Illinois, right?

[David Eigenberg]

No, I wasn't. I was born in Queens. I was four years old. We moved here to Evanston, then to Northbrook and then to Aurora, then to Loud.

[Brian Lucci]

I was reading the books.

[David Eigenberg]

I'm not finished yet. I thought they were stand down. And then we moved to Naperville. My dad got fired a lot. And we. We moved to another town.

[Brian Lucci]

That works.

[David Eigenberg]

My dad. My dad should have been, you know, clinked up probably. He stole some money. He's dead. He's passed. I love him dearly.

[Brian Lucci]

So they can't get him anymore.

[David Eigenberg]

They can't get him now. Although some people that he took money from, I bumped into here in Chicago.

[Brian Lucci]

Did they want money?

[David Eigenberg]

I. They didn't ask for it, but I didn't bring it up.

[Brian Lucci]

Before Herman.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

You were probably best known as Steve from Sex in the City. How much of that character lives in Herman right now? Or how much is he not?

[David Eigenberg]

How much does Steve leaving live in? Steve live in Herman?

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. Does he at all, or did you choose for him not to be in there?

[David Eigenberg]

Both those characters have huge hearts and they care, but I think Herman is closer to where I live. Steve was the boyfriend that understood. He always. People don't understand what you play sometimes. And they go, ah. But. But what it was is he had compassion. Steve had compassion and understanding because he had lived. You don't have to keep putting yourself through this. You can quit. I'm a lawyer. That's who I am. Life's too short. Go someplace where they appreciate you. And until you find a better job, you can be home and help out around the house. And I think I lived enough. There's some great actors that could do anything from the time they fired out their first hot dog. But then there's other actors like me. The longer you live, the more you have to draw and the more you have compassion and understanding, and then you can. You can share that through your work. And I think Steve had a lot of compassion for Miranda because he understood he had lived. He had the. He had the drunk mom and Mira. And she was a. Another compassionate human being with a great sense of humor. And I love being around humor because it makes life easier. It's so much easier, and you can understand it. The harder you laugh. You find a hard laugh or you're going to find some.

[Brian Lucci]

I just seen something, too. The more you tease your friends, it's like a 300% more that you get along better with each other because you get ball busting or.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Busting chops.

[David Eigenberg]

Busting chops, yeah. Slicing heads, cutting off ears, putting them in your pocket.

[Brian Lucci]

Here's a weird question. Yeah. What do you think drives Herman to do all these side hustles like limo companies, day trade and Molly's? What. What makes that character do all that stuff?

[David Eigenberg]

Well, he's. He's a bad listener. He doesn't really. Can't read the writing on the wall, so he doesn't know what his limitations are. I think my father was from the Bronx. He was a Jewish Ralph Kramden. Ralph Kramden was one of the great characters in the landscape of Television he loved tremendously. He made constant mistakes. And I'm not making an allusion to myself, to Ralph Kramden or to Jackie Gleason, but that's kind of an inspiration in a lot of ways to me of like, you know, a guy who's got the. Who's got the. His head is in the right place, but he's just not listening. And he makes really terrible mistakes. So he's, you know. But they kind of stepped away from that kind of storyline with Herman and being the lovable loser. Kind of never get anything right. I got the bar right.

[Brian Lucci]

I think at one time we used to joke that you were the best paid bartender in all of Chicago. Because when they did all the crossovers.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Weren't you bartending like a lot of those? When we go to Molly's, it was like a. It was like a mandate. All the shows were, like, ending at Molly's. You were always there. And I'm like, I hope they're paying them good to be here.

[David Eigenberg]

I know it's been tough couple of shifts for everybody, but that is why this place is going to rock tonight, because we're gonna put aside our worries and we're just gonna have a good time. Amen. Amen. Amen. Tamales. Tamales. Does it sound like we're saying tamales?

[Brian Lucci]

If you had to pick one moment from the series that defines Herman as a character, what would it be? Just one moment. That's a tough one, too.

[David Eigenberg]

I don't know. Just here. You know, they did a really good thing. There was an episode a couple years ago. They had. Herman's wife had gotten lung cancer, and she is going through it, and then he gets. Herman gets a phone call. He's on the apparatus floor by the fire engine, and he gets a call from his son. You never hear the son say anything, and he just responds to him and says everything's gonna be okay. And he's lying to the kid because he doesn't know.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

But he's trying to make the best of a horrible situation and being there for his family, being there for his kid. And then he goes into the locker room, the bunker gear room, and he. And he. And he cries. But I think that that's the encapsulation of trying to take care of other people in the face of, you know, like for the PD and for the fire department. You're seeing people on the worst day of their lives in the real realm, and gotta be a voice of sanity, a moment of humanity for those people. When things are Going really, really bad. Because a lot of people aren't. Have never been through it and are not equipped to handle it. And then people that indicatively are really good at being a police officer or being a fireman, they understand that and they usually have lived a little bit too. Same thing with actors that have lived a little bit. I get young actors, they kind of don't have a gravity about them yet. And I go, ah, they gotta live.

[Brian Lucci]

Like a country songwriter, you know, I mean, someone who had no money did this. Was divorced.

[David Eigenberg]

The man who named me Sue.

[Brian Lucci]

There you go.

[David Eigenberg]

Michelle Silverstein wrote that song. Did you know that? I am a. So full of useless information.

[Brian Lucci]

But it's good. It's good. Good. All right, here we go.

[David Eigenberg]

Hire me another one.

[Brian Lucci]

This one you're. This one's very interesting that I know. I wanted to ask you about episode. There was an episode in season nine. It was a bottle episode.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Called My Lucky Day where Herman and Cruz were trapped in an elevator.

[David Eigenberg]

Oh, yeah, it was fun.

[Brian Lucci]

Okay. So what's cool about it was it was filmed like a oner. A oner is a continuous shot. But we never cut. Because of your theater background. Was it fun or was that a lot of pressure? Or was that like the kind of the way you like to do it?

[David Eigenberg]

You know, that was a really fun episode and it broke away from our. It broke our. Our program a little bit from what we normally do. We did that again this last season a couple of times. And I just really adore it when we kind of break form a little bit. Yeah, I love the theater. I love television better. We did a 23 minute long take. They didn't cut. They. They cut it down. You know, we never. It won't sustain. I'm really horrible with lines. It's what'll get me out of the business is having to learn stuff because I just don't retain it. And I have. I hate. I'm not gonna say the word people, but you know, when you can't remember, you can't think straight with a fly. Goes flying. My brain. Your brain goes very fast too. Yeah, I'm OCD because I know where everything is. I know where the camera is. I know where the boom guy. And that's all good. But I'm processing 400 pieces of information.

[Brian Lucci]

Why does her lipstick so red?

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, this is. And so I go up and I forget. But when we did the long answer to the thing, I did a 23 minute take. It was all boom, boom, boom, ba boom, ba boom, ba de boom. Because one thing led into another and led into another and led into another, and it was a lot of fun. Are we gonna die? No, ma', am, you're not gonna die. You can't be sure. I'm sure. I'm sure. Okay. You forget about my fortune cookie. Okay? Today is my lucky day.

[Brian Lucci]

Chicago Fire is incredibly intense with physical and emotional. Yeah, no, I'm going to start all over. Can I start again? Yeah, yeah. Chicago Fire.

[David Eigenberg]

I'm not letting you start again.

[Brian Lucci]

Is incredibly intense.

[David Eigenberg]

You're making this so emotional.

[Brian Lucci]

As an actor, how do you handle putting yourself through all of that? The emotional and the physical end of it?

[David Eigenberg]

Well, I'm broke. And you know me, I'm a unlike you. I'm like a buck and a quarter when I'm wet. About buck 45. And we carry about 65, 70 pounds worth of stuff. And then I snapped my Achilles this year right after I had a hernia operation. And then before that, I had back surgery a couple of years ago. You had the back, right, Right. I had.

[Brian Lucci]

No, not my back, but leg.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, yeah. You get beat up a lot, you know, and then PD guys got to run. I know some people probably don't run anymore, but I still try to do my running. I still do the stunts that don't look like they're gonna hurt that bad. And then also you let Brian Peters, he let him hop on there and he's the stunt guy. That covers Herman. I've had Joe DeVito, he plays you. I mean, he's a stunt guy. And then Joe DeVito's been the stand in for her. I mean, we're a three man team. From 13 years we've all been together, we're the only originals. And Joe DeVito and Brian Peters and myself playing Herman, we just took a picture of the other day, went on a couple months ago.

[Brian Lucci]

But anyway, Brick Fever is the stunt coordinator guy for you because we have Tom Low and they got some amazing people for us.

[David Eigenberg]

They're great.

[Brian Lucci]

When you guys were crawling through the tunnels, Chickarodis, who's the technical advisor for Chicago Fire.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Is he there for most of the time when you guys are, like, fighting the battles or. No?

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, he's there most of the time. Yeah, he's old school. He's always yelling at me like, I used to never wear my balaclava, my hoodie. And he'd be like, you're making us look like a bunch of jerks.

[Brian Lucci]

He is kind of a pain in the ass.

[Shopify Advertiser]

But.

[Brian Lucci]

But I was like, he's smart.

[David Eigenberg]

But, yeah, but he's really smart. We argue about stuff. We are. We argue about different pieces of equipment. And I act like I know what I'm talking about. And then he just trashes me and buries me. He'll get, like, some, you know, retired chief or current chief or lieutenant or firefighter for 40 years and go, like, which is better, this or that? And they'll go like, oh, this? And then he goes, see? And I'm wrong. And I. But I never want to be wrong.

[Brian Lucci]

But don't you go to some trainings? Don't you? I do. I do.

[David Eigenberg]

We go down to Illinois Fire Service Institute every year. I've been, I think, 12 years. Tony Ferraris, who's a retired firefighter, one of my dearest friends here in Chicago, train with them. Yeah, we put them first. We kind of. We never want to take away from their training. The young firefighters love seeing us. It's kind of like. It's bizarre to me. Cause I grew up watching Emergency 51 with John Gage, you know, and Dead Lavoie, whatever the other guy's name was. And we loved them. And they're kind of like, having that experience also, which is weird. Doesn't seem real to me, because I'm no John Gage.

[Brian Lucci]

Right, right.

[David Eigenberg]

You know, in my mind. But they really get a kick out of it. So we. I thank them. It's. I go down there to do some training. But we also. I said. I tell them, they go, thank you so much. I said, I came down here because first responders. I don't know if you know this from being on the job. How many are you? 28 years.

[Brian Lucci]

27.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, 27. Almost 28. Wish he got 28.

[Brian Lucci]

My alderman went to jail. I couldn't stay longer.

[David Eigenberg]

Things happen, but first responders don't get thanked enough. They don't get thanked enough in my experience. And number one, stepping up. Number two, being there. Number three, having the training, the intelligence, and the heart to be there when people need them. It may not be the most beautiful presentation that somebody does, but every single first responder, maybe 0.1%, don't. But the 99.9 deserve. It's not focus. You always focus on the bad.

[Brian Lucci]

On the one. One bad guy.

[David Eigenberg]

Screw that. I'm tired of that. Let's focus on the 99. Because if, like, if I live my life, I do. If I'm mean to somebody out there.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

I could be nice to 10,000 people. Guess what story you're gonna hear about.

[Brian Lucci]

Right, right, right.

[David Eigenberg]

And I told him I slapped grandma. You slapped one grandmother?

[Brian Lucci]

I, I was talking to a kid who took the Chicago fire test. Yeah. Got on the number, was going to get hired as a big deal.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

12 of his friends failed. He was the only guy that was going to do it. And I asked him, so are you going to do it? He goes, no, I just took the test. I said, why not? He goes, I don't know those people I'm going to save. He was honest. I go, you're just not wired for it.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, he's not.

[Brian Lucci]

Because those 40 other guys that missed out on the opportunity don't care who that person is behind that burning door.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

They're going in, they're going, you know.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And it's just, that's how they are, you know.

[David Eigenberg]

But we need to get back to a service minded society taking care of each other because there's a weird. There's, you know, there used to be a thousand people signing up for the TFD or the pd. Now there's like they could barely fill a class or not.

[Brian Lucci]

They got people out there trying to get you to come in.

[David Eigenberg]

Exactly. And then in suburbs too. I mean, it's not just Chicago. It's all the, the service element has been taken a beating for some reason and there's a, there's a self infatuation or something, I don't know. But a wonderful generation. I don't want to disown generations because I hate that stuff. But there's just a bit of focus and there'll be a realignment and it'll come back around. Everything comes around. Everything that goes around comes around. Right? That means the good thing. We always say the bad thing, but the good things come back around too.

[Brian Lucci]

Well, lucky for us, this interview's coming back around too. More David Eitanberg right after this quick break. This episode is brought to you by Jack Daniels. Jack Daniels and music are made for each other. They share a rhythm and the craft of making something timeless while being a part of legendary nights. From backyard jams to sold out arenas, there's a song in every toast. Please drink responsibly. Responsibility.org, jack Daniels and Old Number 7 are registered trademarks. Tennessee Whiskey, 40% alcohol by volume. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. Upgrade your laundry routine with a durable and reliable Maytag laundry pair at Lowes. Like the new Maytag washer and dryer with performance enhanced stain fighting power designed to cut through serious dirt and grime. And what's great is this laundry pair is in stock and ready for delivery when you need it the most. Don't miss out. Shop Maytag in store or online today at Lowe's.

[David Eigenberg]

Hello, Finney. Did you think our story was over, Mr. Crabber? This Friday, you're dead.

[Brian Lucci]

Dead is just a word.

[David Eigenberg]

Critics are saying Ethan Hawk is pure nightmare fuel. Discover the secret behind the mask.

[Brian Lucci]

What do you think happens? What?

[David Eigenberg]

You die? It's time to find out. Black Phone 2. Only in theaters Friday. Rated R. Under 17. Not admitted with our parent.

[Brian Lucci]

And we're back with David Eitenberg, otherwise known as Herman on Chicago Fire. Chatting, grinning and busting them chops. You guys do a lot of dangerous things. I mean, second floor, first floor, there's fires blast. I just watched something where you were holding a baby and you were hanging out there. You're hanging out and you handed the baby off to a ladder and stuff.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Is there times where you think there's an easier way and you argue with Chick, or is Chick in there saying that, like, this is the way you got to do it?

[David Eigenberg]

He will do it. Then when the camera rolls, I do whatever I want. And then he gets pissed off and he'll be like, yeah, we told you, like, they told me not to open up the hood of the car. It was early on. Don't open up the hood because the fire will burp out. And. And I did. And then fires cinched off half my eyebrows. It was great. I loved it. It was like, what I tell you? Don't do that. And you go ahead, you do it anyway. A couple of years ago, we had a tall kid I had to save out of a building. It was like six, three. And the ladder was on the second floor about maybe 20ft off the ground, maybe 18ft off the ground. And we had to get out the window and then really reach over to grab the ladder. I mean, like three feet over. And it was a real reach for me. And then they go, then you'll come out. But if you're not comfortable, don't worry about it. And then the young kid, like, he reached over to it. He was fine. And he went over it. And I went over and I reached over and I went, man, if I split my melon on this thing, that doesn't even matter. I went, I'm not doing it. And then Chick was there, and he goes, it took you 11 years to finally show you had half a brain. Thank you for not going, David. And he was really happy with me.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, yeah, that's wonderful.

[David Eigenberg]

He didn't admonish me. We broke for lunch and we were walking. There were two other veteran firefighters. And I go, you guys go on to lunch. And they go, yeah, but you're not walking with us. I said, why? He goes, cause you're pushed out.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, really? Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

So I got left behind by the real ones. See, there's always a price.

[Brian Lucci]

No, there's always a price. If you had to pick a moment from the series, all 270 plus or 274 episodes. Yeah. That captured what's so special about the show, what would you pick? What makes this show so special? If out of all the episodes, can you pick one where it was like, man, we got it right.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, but we got it. We get it right a lot.

[Brian Lucci]

A lot.

[David Eigenberg]

We got. We got it right once when, when they didn't show it in the show. We do this thing, you know, we spend long days outside in. And the snow. Somebody, I don't remember in the first season had an empty water bottle. Somebody put our arms around each other, like three or four of us. And then we started kicking it and trying to get it through each other's legs. And we call it water bottle ball or something. It's stupid. We only play for about 30 seconds or a minute and a half. You know, it goes through a couple times. But when Jesse's character left the show, we were all supposed to go out and give a group hug. And we all walked out there and we put our arms around each other and the group hug, and then somebody dropped the water bottle in the middle and we started kicking it around and we loved it. And we like little tears and stuff like that, but it didn't belong in the show. But when the show gets it right, it's the humanhood, because we have brothers and sisters. Every day on a TV show is a serious thing because we got 12 hours to get something right. We got to get five, six pages right. And it's really hard to do. And then you get it done and you accomplish a little something and that's gonna go home. People are gonna watch it and they're gonna forget about life for a minute and how hard their day was and they're gonna laugh for a minute and they're gonna cry for a minute. They're gonna empathize. But every day we go through something on a set of a TV show, you know it, you know it's a 12 hour day. People don't know it. They go, I think actors like that stupid. One story about actors getting green M M's in their bowls or something like that. I hear that stupid thing one more time. I'm so tired of it.

[Brian Lucci]

Because you killed the couch one. I love that couch one.

[David Eigenberg]

That was a good couch, dude. There you go. So you came.

[Brian Lucci]

So I don't get. I get the chills again. Every once in a while I'll get the chills and go, yeah. Okay, now we're doing it.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Tell me about the couch episode, I guess you'd call it.

[David Eigenberg]

What happened, you know, in real life, in the real world, they've been putting flame retardant stuff on couches for a long, long time, and it's bad for you. And also they've been making out of worse and worse material. So, like, if it's made out of cotton and wool, it burns at a normal rate.

[Brian Lucci]

Like.

[David Eigenberg]

Like fireplace. When you build it out of the fossil fuels, plastic, which is oil, the stuff pops up and ignites immediately. And cotton can be really dangerous. You see, like videos now. Light a couch, you can get 1200 degrees on the ceiling in about three or four minutes. So I go to the couch guy and I'm like, hey, make better couches. And he's like. And then I light a couch for him out on the street. This is your summer series model. It retails for $599. Listen, I understand you folks have some.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

Concerns about our products, but I don't.

[David Eigenberg]

Have time right now to talk to you about.

[Brian Lucci]

You see these movies where the guy's walking away from the fire.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

You lit that fire. That fire went up. Yeah. You're standing there while it's burning.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And it was beautiful. You know, it was like. That was a moment where I was like, okay, man, I love this. Here we go.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Fell in love with you.

[David Eigenberg]

You know, the fire gets hot. Fire's hot.

[Brian Lucci]

What do the fans not know about what happens behind the scenes that you wish they did?

[David Eigenberg]

Oh, that we. Oh, man, you can't say so much that we know we are mentally. I know we are. Have a low grade sense of humor. We are physically aggressive with each other, male and female. Not all the time, but we roll around. You get in bunker gear. You want to wrestle?

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. I don't know.

[David Eigenberg]

That's not a real thing, I think, for real firemen, but we go at it. Miranda, when she first showed up, man, she threw me to the ground and jumped on top of me and did some other stuff to me. And I looked up and everyone, we were laughing so hard. She started it, she buried me, and I went, I told everybody, she fits in.

[Brian Lucci]

Looking back on season 13, as a whole. Yeah. What did you appreciate most about Herman's journey that I.

[David Eigenberg]

It doesn't look like he can pull off the whole chief thing. I like that. They were like, you know, you want to be chief on this? I was like, whatever you guys want. I'm a hired gun. You know, Like, I do what I do. I don't have enough ego in the game, probably in my life, but. But I love people. I love being around. I want to. I want to stay for as long as I can. So, like, I. I enjoyed that kind of journey. I like, you know, everything's always about ascension. And sometimes, you know, there was a great book called the Knock Art Artist, and it was a. It was a book about a guy who was a great boxer, but he had a glass chin. And sometimes you're just born with a glass chin.

[Brian Lucci]

That's who you are.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, it's who you are. You can't change that.

[Brian Lucci]

No.

[David Eigenberg]

And for people who don't know what a glass chin is, like, if you're a boxer and you get tapped on.

[Brian Lucci]

The button, you go.

[David Eigenberg]

They go down. And it's not because they're not man enough. It's not because they're. They don't have enough heart.

[Brian Lucci]

It's not. Her jaws built, right.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

It's just it.

[David Eigenberg]

It's just it. And you. You got cut out for the wrong. For the wrong game. I like seeing that sometimes. It's not always about the ascension and making it home. It's not always about getting the golden goose. Sometimes it's about just getting on with it when that's what firefighters and PD are about. Did you lay down your bugles for me? Yeah, I did. I am not an officer anymore. I'm just a. A regular old firefighter who is about to work under one hell of a lieutenant.

[Brian Lucci]

What are your hopes for Herman going Forward into season 14? Do you have any?

[David Eigenberg]

I love my imagination. My imagination is not been hired to be a producer nor a writer on the show, so I usually limit myself. I daydream about every show, but I keep my mouth shut. What I love about the character Herman is that my experience, my viewpoint, he's a very interesting character because he gets to. He gets to laugh, he gets to cry, he gets to be mean, he gets to be soft, he gets to be gentle. He's a. There's a cornucopia of things, or sometimes some of the characters. I don't know, sometimes maybe choice what makes actors comfortable or the writers comfortable or that's just the way it is. Because some people are very monotone and very not interacting. But I mean, in their point of the world. But this is like that next plus X plus Y equals Z. And I'm, I'm like, X plus B was 37, baby. Let's go.

[Brian Lucci]

And you're evolving all the time with all this different crazy.

[David Eigenberg]

I like different combos.

[Brian Lucci]

What, what are the most fun scenes for you to play as Herman? Do you have one? And what are the hardest?

[David Eigenberg]

The hardest of them? The monologues. I hate those.

[Brian Lucci]

What would you consider to be in the funnest scenes to do? Do you have fun with? Is it.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, we love doing the fires. I, I, I love. Our common room scenes are.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, the common rooms are cool.

[David Eigenberg]

Common rooms are just fun. And we, we cut loose. Just some days you're just in it and you're loving each other. You're having fun, and the words are there and the story is there, and they're just great days. And it's a privilege and it's been a privilege, and I think everybody appreciates it to portray a first responder in a positive light and that they're human, they make mistakes. Because we don't want to play two dimensions.

[Brian Lucci]

David, if you were to bring any character from any wolf show, Law and Order, FBI, pd, Medicine, and the fire, who would you choose and why?

[David Eigenberg]

If I were to bring them.

[Brian Lucci]

If you could bring any character from any of the wolf shows, but bring.

[David Eigenberg]

Them over to the fire.

[Brian Lucci]

Anybody you like. Svu, FBI, Any of them.

[David Eigenberg]

Marlene.

[Brian Lucci]

Marlene.

[David Eigenberg]

Marlene.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, I do too. From.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, she's the charge nurse.

[Brian Lucci]

Yes.

[David Eigenberg]

I love, I love charge nurses. They're mean. I actually love it. I do too. So I, I, I, I want from Chicago men from Med. Yeah, I wanted. And when we did the pilot with them, people would never notice this, but I was, I had a scene with her in, in the circle thing, whatever they call that. I don't know, the dinosaur.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

The.

[David Eigenberg]

I was playing that. Herman and her had a thing back in the day before I met Cindy, because Cindy's younger than him, that he and Marlene or whatever. I forgot her character's name. They had a thing, and I played it real familiar with her, and they were like, why are you playing it like that? I said, because we had a thing. They were like, that's not gonna play in the, in the, in the crossover pilot.

[Brian Lucci]

Did it go? Didn't work.

[David Eigenberg]

It worked for me.

[Brian Lucci]

All right, this is supposed to be rapid fire. Which Chicago Fire character would you most want to run into a burning building with? And why well, and it can't be a real fire guy. Nobody gets.

[David Eigenberg]

Oh, yeah. I was gonna say, well, it wouldn't be Ferraris because he would just be making fun of me. He's a real fire guy. I would go in with, with. With Hanukkah, who plays. Because I want to see her scream. She would be like, ah, get me out. I would just drag her around. Anyway, I go, let's go. Come on. It mean, who knows what I would really do in a real fire. But I'd like to think I would.

[Brian Lucci]

Be like, let's roll.

[David Eigenberg]

Let's go.

[Brian Lucci]

Which Chicago Fire character would you most want to go on vacation with? And why?

[David Eigenberg]

Joe Mignoso, a character.

[Brian Lucci]

Joe Minoso. He don't even look fun. Really.

[David Eigenberg]

He's a heart of gold, man.

[Brian Lucci]

He's a good turn.

[David Eigenberg]

When he was 10 years old, he lived in the same neighborhood in the Bronx my Uncle Louie lived in. And I lived with Uncle Louie in the Bronx when I first got to New York when I moved from Naperville. But he would have been 10 years old. I would have been 20 something. And he's fun, and he's fun, but we have that connection. And I was in love with this. This girl that worked. A Spanish girl that worked up in the diner. Oh, God, was she beautiful. I still remember. I don't remember her name. She never would have given me.

[Brian Lucci]

Listen to this podcast, huh? Your wife may listen to this podcast.

[David Eigenberg]

I always say 30, 40 years ago.

[Brian Lucci]

All right, here's a little section the producers came up with. It's called a segment Mary fire or hoes. And I switched it around a little bit, so they're probably going to fire me, but I don't care. Mary, fire hose. You know the other thing.

[David Eigenberg]

Blank.

[Brian Lucci]

Mary kill. All right.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Who won the show? Would you marry?

[David Eigenberg]

Oh, on the show. Oh, again.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

Veronica. Violet. Violet. Violet.

[Brian Lucci]

Who on the show would you want to fight your last fire with?

[David Eigenberg]

Who would be fun? I want somebody.

[Brian Lucci]

Last fire.

[David Eigenberg]

Last fire. Mouch Mouth. Really? Yes, he's funny.

[Brian Lucci]

He's good, right? He's a funny, but he's funny, huh?

[David Eigenberg]

Oh, God, is he funny?

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[David Eigenberg]

Everybody on that show is funny. Yuri was funny. Charlie Barnett was funny. Christian's funny. As I'll get out. Jesse was funny. Taylor's funny. They that you got to be funny.

[Brian Lucci]

They were all in the rig one time and it was raining. I jumped in and you the horns on the floor.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

So I was just a regular guy background at the time. They knew. And I stepped on that Horn.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

But I thought it was the chair. Remember this? And I turned pale white because they were rolling.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And guys wouldn't help me.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

The horn and a fight. What do you call it? A r. I think.

[David Eigenberg]

I think I called you an idiot.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, you did call me an idiot.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah. Get the idiot out of there.

[Brian Lucci]

Get the idiot out here.

[David Eigenberg]

Cuz he's on. He's a real police officer and he's worthless as most real ones are.

[Brian Lucci]

Humble park, right?

[David Eigenberg]

Humble Park.

[Brian Lucci]

Humble park was in Humble Park.

[David Eigenberg]

I remember that day. I do. And I don't remember anything. Yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

I got in that fire truck and it's. It looks like a little nipple on the floor or something. I stepped on that thing.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah. If it was a nipple, you were on it. That's for sure.

[Brian Lucci]

I'm just saying.

[David Eigenberg]

All right.

[Brian Lucci]

So who would you marry? We figured it out.

[David Eigenberg]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Who'd you fight? You fight last fire. We figured out who in the show would you blast with a high powered hose to knock some sense into him.

[David Eigenberg]

I bless Taylor. I would like to send him sailing.

[Brian Lucci]

Wouldn't it be nice?

[David Eigenberg]

And he would love it. He wouldn't be like, what are you doing, man? Why'd you do that? Taylor is. He's a game.

[Brian Lucci]

Take the beating. I want to thank you so much for coming in. I want to thank you for your friendship for 13 years and always being there for everything. I'm not kidding. You got a heart of gold. And I'm glad that we could see it. You know, this whole podcast is about behind the scenes 360 view, like how we make the sausage. And this isn't the end of it. So hopefully I'm going to be able to come and play with you again when you guys are on set, if you'll have me. I think it's going to be open.

[David Eigenberg]

Up, see what we can do.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, we'll see what we can do.

[David Eigenberg]

We want to see what you can bring. What kind of gifts you got in your hands?

[Brian Lucci]

I got stuff.

[David Eigenberg]

All right, listen, I got cash. You haven't been going to church, but you're gonna have to come back with you to some. I'll go to frankincense or myrrh. You bring some mer, baby. We'll let you in.

[Brian Lucci]

Thank you very much. That was my good friend David Eitenberg, AKA Christopher Herman on Chicago Fire. A lot of actors want to do their own stunts, but sometimes we need to call in the professional professionals. And here in Chicago, we are lucky to have some of the best stuntmen in the World that includes the legendary Lafever family. The old man, Rick Lafever is the stunt coordinator on Chicago Fire. And his son Rick Jr. He does all the same things on Chicago Med. And they recently took a break from rolling cars and setting themselves on fire to give us a little peek into their world.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

When I was in, like, kindergarten, first grade, we had a family friend that used to pick me up for school, and they thought I was telling lies about what my dad did for work. I'd be like, my dad got blown up today, or he jumped out of building, or he was working with whomever at the time. She told my mom, he's great, but he just tells these massive stories.

[Brian Lucci]

They thought you were crying that I was lying.

[David Eigenberg]

So he.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

In first grade, he came to my class and did a whole. Had his resume play and showed fake blood and let me break a bottle over his head. And I was the coolest kid for, like, you know, two weeks.

[Rick LeFever Sr.]

Over the years, they gave us a lot of opportunities to do some really big stuff. We did one a few years ago where a boat sank in the lake. We had the whole cast underwater. All our were actually underwater in a tank with a sunken boat, which was a very big challenge. And all the actors nailed it. Last year when Ritter's character got blown out of a second story window. And we had on a. It's called a zipline ratchet with John Malinac, our special effects coordinator. We timed it with a fireball. It blew him out a window and shot him across the street. It was like. It was one of those big, wild moments, you know, Even for the stunt people, it was a big one.

[Brian Lucci]

And for the actor, too, right?

[Rick LeFever Sr.]

Yeah. Daniel did parts of it, but our double did the big part of it. Like I said, I've been lucky. We had Taylor Kinney, we had Jesse Spencer. They're all good athletes. We've had them in places like I have never had actors before. We're 90 foot up. In a letter, Jesse Spencer's hanging off a rung up like this. Taylor Kinney, same deal. I've been lucky. I've got good, athletic actors. And like you said, that looked awesome. And people aren't gonna believe you're really there. They're gonna think you're up against a green screen.

[David Eigenberg]

Right.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

I think for Med, the favorite one I set up up was quite a few seasons ago now, but we did a full burn on Med stages.

[Brian Lucci]

And when you say full burn, what that?

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

We had Eddie Fernandez Jr. Set up with me. He was fully engulfed in flames, head to toe. And he starts in one of the patient rooms and comes out into what we call the football, which is our main set.

[David Eigenberg]

Oh, my God. Fire. Fire. Oh, my God. Clear the way.

[Rick LeFever Jr.]

And comes through and runs into a counter. Then he was tackled by me. So that was one I was really proud that we set up because it was in a building on the stage. A stage that is at the time was not fireproofed in any way. Like when they go to the burn stage. And we made it work and it looked fantastic.

[Brian Lucci]

What these guys do always looks fantastic. And we're lucky to have again, that was veteran stunt coordinator Rick Lefever and his son, Rick LeFever Jr. You could see more of what happens behind the scenes by following OneChicago on Instagram and other social media platforms. The One Chicago Podcast is a production of Wolf Entertainment and USG Audio. The series is hosted by me, Brian Lucci. It's executive produced by Dick Wolf, Elliot Wolf and Steven Michael at Wolf Entertainment, Josh Block at USG Audio and John Yell Kastner at SpokMedia. Our showrunner is Derek John. Our producer is Maggie Debrizzi and our audio producer is Jason Mark. Video production by Bo Delmore. Coordinating production by Tess Ryan. Our producing assistant is Montserrat Rodriguez with engineering and mix by Evan Arnett and our original machine music by John o'. Hara. This series was produced by Spoke Media and distributed by Realm. Production support for USG Audio by Josh La Olagi. If you'd like to watch this interview, check out NBC One Chicago on YouTube for this conversation and others. Once Chicago airs Wednesday nights at 8, 7 Central on NBC and you could stream it on Peacock. I'm Brian Lucci. Thanks for listening and we'll see you soon. Cut Limu IMU and Doug.

[David Eigenberg]

Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating.

[Brian Lucci]

It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[David Eigenberg]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Brian Lucci]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[David Eigenberg]

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