What’s Happened to Chief Wallace Boden on Chicago Fire?

Who knows where the Windy City would be without the power of Firehouse 51’s chief, played by Eamonn Walker.
very firehouse demands a fearless leader to call the shots and Chicago Fire fans will agree that Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) is a force with which to be reckoned, as well as the linchpin to hundreds of successful rescue missions.

For each action-packed season of Chicago Fire, Boden has been there to lead the way when the going gets tough — and has even made his way into Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med episodes. Every firefighter that enters 51 knows that Boden has their back, whether in a raging inferno or during a rough breakup.

Read on to relive Wallace Boden’s incredible Chicago Fire journey as Firehouse 51’s courageous leader.

When did Wallace Boden first appear on Chicago Fire?
Boden was introduced in the very first episode of Chicago Fire, and it was immediately clear he was the glue that held Firehouse 51 together.

A veteran first responder, Boden has always led from the front, never hesitating to run into a blazing inferno if his team needed assistance. It quickly became clear that he was fiercely loyal and endlessly driven to excellence — a far cry from some other commanders who would simply bark orders from their command towers during nail-biting calls.

Since his debut, he climbed the ranks from Captain to Battalion Chief and eventually to his Season 12 post as Deputy District Chief.

Along the way, fans learned that Boden had been good friends with Benny Severide (Treat WiWhat happened to Donna Robbins Boden, Chicago Fire Chief Wallace Boden’s wife?
At the start of the series, Boden was a decidedly single divorcé, but the tides began to turn for Boden in Season 2, Episode 12 (“Out with a Bang”). That’s when he helped out a civilian named Donna Robbins (Melissa Ponzio) after she voiced complaints about her neglectful landlord. After saying thanks to Boden with a homecooked meal, he learned Donna was a single school teacher, and their relationship soared from there.

Sadly, Boden’s relationship history initially held him back from exploring a deeper relationship with Donna and, in Season 2, Episode 14 (“Virgin Skin”), he broke things off. Fate, however, had other plans: Donna was already pregnant with Boden’s child, and he realized that being with Donna and having a family would be a good thing for all involved.

But he screwed up his proposal by telling her that he would be happy to support and provide for her and the kid, and she turned him down because she wanted more than a provider.

In Season 2, Episode 21 (“One More Shot”), after realizing a future with Donna was what he truly wanted, he got a family ring ready with a big question in mind. Driving the firetruck, Boden showed up to Donna’s school in full uniform to provide the heartfelt proposal she deserved. Donna happily accepted, much to an elated Boden’s delight.

The two got married in Season 2, Episode 22 (“Real Never Waits”) in a ceremony hosted at Firehouse 51, surrounded by Boden’s colleagues. The wedding was a fateful occasion for all: Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) proposed to Gabby Dawson (Monica Raymund), and Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte) met his future wife, Chicago P.D.’s Trudy Platt (Amy Morton), during the reception.
lliams), the father of 51’s Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney). Though Severide’s dad had failed to be much of a father figure to his son, Boden mentored the younger Severide, helping him navigate dozens of conundrums in and out of their line of duty.

Many a firefighter has climbed the ranks of the CFD thanks to Boden’s unparalleled advice — but almost as many foes have tried to go after Boden’s reputation and his job.

What happened between Wallace Boden and Finance Director Gail McLeod?
In Season 2 of Chicago Fire, Boden’s position at Firehouse 51 was jeopardized after Deputy Director of Finance Gail McLeod (Michelle Forbes) cut corners around the station, suggested closing it, and pressured Boden to resign. She eventually presented Boden with a deal: He could take a retirement package and thus save Firehouse 51. Boden contemplated the arrangement, strictly for the sake of those who served there and ultimately accepted the offer following a health scare.
But at the last minute, Boden changed his mind — a smart move considering it was eventually revealed McLeod was only defunding 51 to line her own pockets, and was forced to stop.

Who is Chicago Fire Chief Wallace Boden’s ex-wife, Shonda?

Boden’s ex-wife from prior to Chicago Fire was Shonda (Shanesia Davis). While the two were married, he helped raise his stepson, Jimmy (Juan Lozada), but Shonda objected to Boden continuing to see Jimmy following the divorce. (More on that below.)

She first appeared in Season 1 when Boden attempted to reconnect with Jimmy despite her objections, though he was not immediately able to maintain the relationship with his former stepson.

Shonda turned up in Boden’s life again in Season 5, when Jimmy — who had started going by James — sought help from the Bodens to escape his mother’s abusive boyfriend in Episode 7 (“Lift Each Other”). Shonda ultimately ended the relationship with the boyfriend once she learned of the abuse, and she and James went to live with her mother.

In Chicago Fire Season 12, Episode 4 (“The Little Things”), James came to tell Boden that Shonda had gotten arrested on drug trafficking changes and, on the advice of her public defender, was considering a plea in exchange for three to five years in prison. He asked for Boden’s help to hire a lawyer to beat the charges and Boden agreed.

But, when Boden visited Shonda in jail to tell her he was looking for help to fight the case, she confessed to being guilty of the crime and was adamant about taking the plea because she understood the severity of her actions. She did, however, not want him to tell James… which he did anyway.

In the end, it was clear Shonda was heading to federal prison and James was going to be spending more time with his ex-stepfather.