Whether he’s slinging pints or putting out fires, the veteran firefighter is where Chicago Fire’s heart is.
When in the throes of an emergency, Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) is the guy you want to show up to save the day.
Between his ceaseless passion and comedic charisma, Herrmann maintains his status as a Chicago Fire O.G. with 12 seasons under his belt. He has attended every One Chicago wedding, been on countless harrowing rescue calls, and seen a compelling rotation of first responders grace Firehouse 51 within his sprawling tenure. Plus, as Molly’s bartender, Herrmann knows the ins and outs of 51 better than anyone.
Herrmann truly has it all — he’s gritty, compassionate, and dedicated. It’s no wonder he has scaled the ranks of the CFD as skillfully as he has, ending Season 12 as the presumptive new chief of 51.
Who is Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire?
Herrmann is a veteran, seasoned first responder, bar owner, and dependable friend around Firehouse 51 — and has been since the series’ debut.
As a old timer at Firehouse 51, it’s often Herrmann who correctly judges whether or not a CFD candidate has what it takes to join the station’s unique ranks.
When he isn’t extinguishing fires, he’s likely connecting with locals as the co-owner of Molly’s Pub, the One Chicago watering hole. (The other is Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte), his best friend.)
At the end of Season 12, he was asked to take over as the chief of 51.
In addition to his 12 seasons of Chicago Fire (and counting), Herrmann has made several appearances in Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and even Chicago Justice.
How many kids does Christopher Herrmann have on Chicago Fire?
Herrmann has five children on Chicago Fire.
At the start of Chicago Fire, Herrmann and his wife Cindy (Robyn Coffin) had four kids: Lee Henry (David Von Kampen), Luke (Lucas Von Kampen), Max (currently played by Keller Kennedy), and Annabelle (Amanda Calabrese).
After Cindy got pregnant in Season 1 of Chicago Fire, the couple welcomed their fifth kid, Kenny James (John William Adams III), in the Season 1 finale (“A Hell of a Ride”).
It was an action-packed birth because Cindy experienced birth complications while Herrmann was being held hostage by an inmate at the Cook County prison following a call. Luckily, he managed to escape the harrowing ordeal and make it to the hospital in time to meet his son for the first time.
Herrmann named the now-deceased Leslie Shay (Lauren German) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) as Kenny’s godparents.
In Season 2, Episode 16 (“A Rocket Blasting Off”), in honor of their 20th wedding anniversary, Herrmann got his wife what he called the “perfect surprise anniversary gift” — a vasectomy.
When did Christopher Herrmann open Molly’s on Chicago Fire?
In the debut season of Chicago Fire, Herrmann and Cindy were navigating a recent house foreclosure, which forced them to move in with Cindy’s parents along with their four children. He wanted more for his family, and had an idea: A bar close to the firehouse that caters to locals and first responders alike.
Herrmann pitched the idea to his 51 friends to join in on the investment, and Gabby Dawson (Monica Raymund) and Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov) stepped up, but ownership of the bar shifted after Dawson left Chicago and Otis tragically died in the line of duty.
Molly’s took its named from a heartwarming story that Herrmann heard after tracking down the owner of a military medal he found while originally renovating the space.
The bar has become a beloved spot for many One Chicago characters — so much so that, in Season 3, Herrmann explored the idea of turning Molly’s into a franchise and expanding the business to include the occasional food truck event.
After Otis’ Season 7 death, Herrmann was desperate for funds for the bar, but his BFF Mouch and his Chicago P.D. wife, Trudy Platt (Amy Morton), stepped up to the plate, becoming fellow owners of Molly’s in Season 8.
And when Herrmann personally isn’t taking care of patrons, he can rely on bar manager Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) to hold down the fort.
