Chicago Fire Star Anthony Ferraris Was Real Extra

Anthony Ferraris is a retired Chicago Fire Department firefighter who originally appeared on "Chicago Fire" as an unscripted extra in Season 1. Despite having no prior acting experience and initially playing only small roles, showrunner Derek Haas promoted his character to a speaking role after he became popular with fans. Ferraris currently holds the seventh-most appearances of any cast member across all fifteen seasons of NBC's series.

Ferraris was hired specifically for his ability to drive a fire engine, making him one of few real firefighters on the show at that time. He stated in an interview that he never wanted to act and simply tried to stay comfortable while performing normal firefighter duties during incidents. His character Tony has appeared across all fifteen seasons released so far.

Fans may also recognize Ferraris as Tony in spin-off series "Chicago P.D." and "Chicago Med" over the past twelve years. This is his only acting career experience, which he describes as enjoyable.