Who Is Anthony Ferraris? Chicago Fire’s Real-Life Firefighter Star

Viewers know Tony as the quiet engineer who keeps Squad 3’s rig rolling at Firehouse 51. What many don’t realize is that the man behind him spent 25 years doing that job for real. A new TVLine profile this week put Anthony Ferraris back in the spotlight, noting that he now has more than 250 appearances on Chicago Fire, and he never planned to act at all.

Anthony Ferraris at a Glance

Detail	What We Know
Role	Tony Ferraris, Squad 3 engineer
Real job	Chicago Fire Department firefighter, 25 years
Last assignment	Engineer, Rescue Squad 2, Firehouse 91 (Avondale)
Retired	2023
TV start	2012, as an extra
Appearances	250+ on Chicago Fire, plus Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med

Which Chicago Fire Actor Is a Real Firefighter?

Ferraris is the answer. He grew up in Chicago and always wanted to fight fires, so he joined the department and built a quarter-century career there. According to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, he also taught as an instructor at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute.

His on-screen job nearly matches his real one. Tony drives and maintains the squad vehicle, and Ferraris did the same thing in real life.

How Did Anthony Ferraris Get Cast on Chicago Fire?

By accident. A friend heard that the firefighters’ union was passing along a call for extras, and he asked Ferraris to come with him to the audition. Producers liked Ferraris, and Wolf Entertainment’s profile says he started on the show as a background player.

Then came the break. On the first day of filming, the crew realized nobody in the cast could drive a fire engine. Technical advisor Steve Chikerotis, an old acquaintance, asked Ferraris to take the wheel, and TVLine notes he was the only cast member who could do it at the time.

“I was never an actor,” he told Wolf Entertainment. Even so, the role grew. Over the years, he picked up lines, then a name and eventually a fan following.

Is Tony From Chicago Fire Still a Firefighter?

The real Tony has retired. Ferraris left the Chicago Fire Department in 2023, and the festival’s announcement says his youngest son, also a Chicago firefighter, gave him his final salute. In addition, the family traveled to Virginia in 2025 when the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival named him its Firefighters’ Marshal.

On screen, Tony remains part of the Firehouse 51 family. TVLine says he has played the character for more than 14 years, so the retirement did not end the acting job.

Why Does Ferraris Matter to the Show?

His presence goes beyond a fun trivia fact. He also shares real firehouse habits with the production team, according to the festival’s profile, which helps scenes feel less staged. NBC says the show works with local firefighter unions to use real firefighters as extras, so Ferraris is the best-known result of that policy.

That authenticity is arguably part of why Chicago Fire has lasted since 2012. Many procedurals fake the hardware, but this one puts a veteran in the driver’s seat. Meanwhile, Ferraris’ career shows how an odd casting break can last for over a decade.

What Is Confirmed and What Is Not?

Confirmed: Ferraris spent 25 years with the Chicago Fire Department, retired in 2023, started as an extra and now has more than 250 appearances, per TVLine. He is also a celebrated name in the firefighter community.

Unconfirmed: his future plans on the show. Nobody has announced an exit, and no outlet I found has reported one.

In Short you can read about Chicago Fire Real Life Firefighter Tony Ferraris

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Chicago Fire actor is a real firefighter?

Anthony Ferraris, who plays Tony, served as a Chicago Fire Department firefighter for 25 years before he retired in 2023.

Are any of the actors on Chicago Fire actual firefighters?

Ferraris is the best-known case. Also, NBC says the series uses real firefighters as extras in rescue scenes through local unions, but the main cast otherwise consists of professional actors.

Is David Eigenberg deaf in real life?

No, but he does have hearing loss. Eigenberg told The Hollywood Reporter that years of injuries left his hearing “shot,” and he wears hearing aids. As a result, the writers gave his character Herrmann a similar storyline in season 12.

Is Tony from Chicago Fire still a firefighter?

Ferraris retired from the department in 2023. His character, however, still appears on the show.

What’s Next for Anthony Ferraris?

For now, he keeps showing up at Firehouse 51 and at fire-service events. A man who never wanted to act has spent over a decade proving that the best casting sometimes comes from the real thing.