The *Real* Reason Boden Is Mysteriously Missing From Chicago Fire — and Whether He’s Gone For Good

Chicago Fire returned from its three-week hiatus with a new episode on May 1, but one key cast member was noticeably missing. What happened to Chief Wallace Boden on Chicago Fire? Read on to see if Eamonn Walker left the show.

NBC’s Chicago Fire is a hit procedural that follows the professional and personal lives of the firefighters, rescue personnel, and paramedics at the Chicago Fire Department’s fictional Firehouse 51. Produced by Dick Wolf, the series is the first installment of the One Chicago franchise, which includes the spinoffs Chicago P.D., Chicago Med and the now-canceled Chicago Justice. It first premiered in 2012 and is currently on its 12th season.

Season 12 has been a season of change, as several fan-favorite characters have exited the series, including Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) and Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende). Viewers are now worried that Firehouse 51’s leader, Chief Wallace Boden (played by Eamonn Walker), might be next. Keep reading for everything we know about Chief Wallace Boden’s future on Chicago Fire.

What happened to Chief Wallace Boden on Chicago Fire?

Fans were concerned when Chief Wallace Boden was MIA in Episode 10, and rightfully so. With so much turnover this season, viewers couldn’t help but wonder if Boden would be the next character to leave.

Boden, who has been a mainstay on the show since day one, has had a busy season so far — both personally and professionally. He is up for a new job as Deputy Fire Commissioner and his stepson has also come back into his life, though not under the best circumstances. In Episode 4, Boden’s ex-wife Shonda ended up in jail on a drug-related charge. Her son James sought Boden out for help, but there was nothing the latter could do to get Shonda out of jail. In “Something About Her,” Boden learned that James was having financial struggles as a result of his mom’s imprisonment. Despite offering him a administrative job at Firehouse 51 to make ends meet, James still faced foreclosure his mother’s house in Michigan.

Not wanting James to deal with the house on his own, Boden decided to take a leave of absence from work and travel to Michigan to help his former stepson out. “I’m going to be gone a few shifts,” Boden told Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), who responded: “Don’t worry … We’ve got you covered.”

When the show picked up three weeks later, Boden was still out on leave, though his absence was not addressed. It’s unclear when Boden will return, but with only three episodes left of Season 12, it will likely be soon. The chief’s long-term future on the show is still uncertain, though. Boden was placed on the short-list for the Deputy Fire Commissioner job and is competing against Paramedic Field Chief Robinson (Laura Allen). If he gets the position, it could possibly pull him away from Firehouse 51, as he would be overseeing all the districts within the Chicago Fire Department. While a promotion would definitely shift his job responsibilities, it might not affect his role on the show and overall involvement with Firehouse 51. After all, Boden was promoted from Battalion Chief of Firehouse 51 to Deputy District Chief of District 4 in Season 1o and he contained to remain a fixture on the show.

Chicago Fire returned from its three-week hiatus with a new episode on May 1, but one key cast member was noticeably missing. What happened to Chief Wallace Boden on Chicago Fire? Read on to see if Eamonn Walker left the show. NBC’s Chicago Fire is a hit procedural that follows the professional and personal lives…