Among the most interesting curiosities tied to Chicago Fire, one concerns an actor who, before stepping in front of the screen, performed a completely different profession. We’re talking about Anthony Ferraris, one of the longest-serving faces of the successful series about the professional and personal lives of Chicago’s firefighters. His story is quite singular because, unlike most of his colleagues, Ferraris did not have to imagine a new vocation: being a firefighter was already his everyday reality.
Anthony Ferraris, the real firefighter who was initially meant to be only an extra
Ferraris joined the cast of Chicago Fire during the first season, initially in a simple cameo role. At the time, the production was seeking people who could contribute to the realism of the response scenes, and he possessed undeniably useful experience: he was a firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department and, among the cast, was the only one able to drive a fire engine. His character, Tony (on the left in the photo), was supposed to have a marginal presence, but his involvement grew from episode to episode.
The show’s principal contributor, Derek Haas, decided to transform him into a speaking character during that same season. For Ferraris, who had never acted and had never wished to pursue an acting career, it was necessary to learn how to move in front of the cameras. The crew’s simple advice was: behave exactly as you would during a real intervention. A strategy that allowed him to bring authentic gestures and behaviors to the screen, without having to build a professional identity from scratch.
Over the years, Tony became a familiar presence for the audience, accompanying the main characters through numerous emergencies and even appearing in several episodes of the spin-offs Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. Ferraris has surpassed 250 appearances on Chicago Fire, earning a prominent place in the series’ history. His experience demonstrates how the presence of real professionals can contribute to the credibility of a television production, especially when dangerous situations and rescue operations are depicted. His journey remains an exception in the acting world: Tony essentially represents his only acting experience.
Interviewed by Wolf Entertainment, Ferraris emphasized how the series manages to faithfully portray not only the danger of the trade but also the human relationships that develop within a firehouse. While on calls, the firefighters must be extremely united and focused, but during breaks they joke, tease each other, and share activities like golf. Spending so many hours together creates a bond similar to that of a second family, an aspect that Chicago Fire manages to reproduce with realism. Now retired from his previous job after 25 years of service to the people of Chicago, Ferraris carries with him professional experience longer than his own television adventure, which began about 14 years ago. “I had never even desired to act, so the main challenge for me was simply trying to feel comfortable among so many people,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do, but everyone told me to behave exactly as I do during interventions.”
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