‘Unlike Any [Episode] We’ve Done Before’: Eamonn Walker Set for Return as Boden in Chicago Fire

Exciting news has been revealed for fans of Chicago Fire. Actor Eamonn Walker is set to make his return as the fan favorite character Boden, but the comeback will be short-lived.

Per Variety, Walker is set to reprise his role as Boden in an episode of Chicago Fire. This will mark the first time Walker has been seen as Boden since leaving the show at the end of Season 12 in 2024. He will appear in the episode titled “Post-Mortem,” which is set to premiere on April 16. In the episode, according to its official logline, Boden is hired by Commissioner Grissom (Gary Cole) to “run a post-incident analysis following a house fire that collapsed with a firefighter.”

In a statement, showrunner Andrew Newman said of Walker’s return as Boden, “We’re so excited to have our beloved Chief Boden back, and the episode, titled ‘Post-Mortem,’ is a thrill ride unlike any we’ve done before. Told with flashbacks and unique POVs, Chief Boden leads our team on a search to discover the how, who, and why of a fierce firefight that ended in disaster.”

Walker played Boden for the show’s first 12 seasons, long serving as a fan favorite for viewers of Chicago Fire. At the end of Season 12, it was revealed that Boden had accepted a new job as the Chicago Fire Department’s Deputy Commissioner, explaining his exit from the show as a series regular. Dermot Mulroney’s Chief Dom Pascal then took over to fill the void, though it was teased that there still may be appearances from Walker in new episodes of Chicago Fire.

“[In] storytelling and in terms of real life, 12 years is a long time and things need to change, just dynamic-wise. You want new characters and you want new dynamics,” Newman previously told TVLine about the show’s cast member exits. “Actor-wise, 12 years is a long [time]. Nobody expects in TV [that] they’re going to be anywhere for 12 years, I can say that for sure, from all sides.”

Eamonn Walker Has Been Missed On the Set

In a separate interview with Deadline, she also said of working with the actor, “Eamonn is the most big-hearted, passionate, hard-working and dedicated actor (and human) I know, and he is like a father to every cast member and crew member of this team. He is loved like no other. Any change in his position on Fire is going to be like an earthquake coming through. The vibe on set for the finale was just, hold onto Eamonn as tight as you can. Every minute with him is a gift.”