Eamonn Walker Opens Up About His Emotional Return to Chicago Fire
After more than a year away from the blaze, Eamonn Walker is finally stepping back into the world of Chicago Fire — and for the man behind Wallace Boden, it feels like coming home in the truest sense. Sitting down with reporters, Walker’s trademark calm and sincerity colored every word as he reflected on the moment he walked back onto the Firehouse 51 set.
“It was amazing to go back. It was amazing to put the uniform on,” Walker shared softly. “I’d missed everybody terribly.”
For over a decade, Walker’s portrayal of Boden anchored Chicago Fire with moral gravity and quiet strength. His exit in Season 12 was written as a victory — Boden’s promotion to Deputy Commissioner — but for both the cast and the actor, it was also a heartfelt goodbye. When the time came to leave, Walker admits, it felt unfinished. “You can never really leave something that’s been part of your life for that long,” he said. “Boden lives inside me.”
Returning after that emotional farewell, Walker described being overwhelmed by the warmth of the reunion. “I walked onto the lot and the entire cast and crew just stopped. There was this round of applause, this feeling that I was walking back into a family that never forgot me,” he recalled. “It hit me — I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed that energy, that heartbeat.”
When asked about Boden’s evolution, Walker hinted that this isn’t the same firehouse chief fans once knew. “He’s changed. He’s seen the bigger picture now,” he explained. “But at his core, he’s still the man who believes in his people — who fights for them. That will never go away.”
Though his character now holds the title of Deputy Commissioner, Walker confessed that stepping back into Boden’s shoes felt instantly natural. “The jacket may have changed, but the weight of responsibility is still there. Boden doesn’t chase authority — he carries it. And that’s what I love about him.”
The actor also expressed deep gratitude toward fans who have flooded social media with messages under the hashtag #BodenBack. “I’ve read so many of the comments,” he smiled. “To feel that kind of love after all these years — it’s humbling. It reminds me why this show matters.”
As for whether this return is a brief visit or the start of a new chapter, Walker remains coy. “If they write it, I’ll always come back,” he said with a grin. “Because Chicago Fire isn’t just a job — it’s family. And like Boden says, once you’re part of 51, you carry it with you.”
After more than a decade of leading with heart and honor, Eamonn Walker’s return isn’t just a television comeback — it’s a rekindling of the flame that keeps Chicago Fire burning.
