In the world of Chicago Fire, Christopher Herrmann is the ultimate family man—a devoted husband to Cindy and a father of five who balances the chaos of Firehouse 51 with the heart of a blue-collar hero. But for actor David Eigenberg, the man behind the mustache, the real-life love story fueling his performance is even more poignant. For over 22 years, Eigenberg has maintained a “zero-drama” marriage with his wife, Chrysti, a relationship that stands as a rare beacon of stability in Hollywood.

A Whirlwind Romance Rooted in Service

The couple’s origin story feels like something out of a screenplay. They met in late 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. At the time, Eigenberg was a rising star on Sex and the City, while Chrysti was an Army specialist serving in homeland security in Virginia.

For Eigenberg, it was love at first sight—a feeling he describes as hitting him “at the core.” Despite his burgeoning fame as Steve Brady, Chrysti was unimpressed by his Hollywood credentials; in fact, she hadn’t even seen the show. This grounded nature was exactly what Eigenberg needed. The connection was so immediate that the couple married in 2002 after only three months of dating. Eigenberg later admitted to CosmoTV that he just “knew she was the girl,” and they didn’t want to wait.

Weathering the Storms Together

While their marriage is often described as “quiet,” Eigenberg is the first to admit it hasn’t always been easy. He has been vocal about the “real work” required to maintain a long-term partnership. Early in their marriage, they faced the typical growing pains of any young couple, including a year of frequent arguments as they learned to communicate.

More significantly, they navigated profound personal tragedies together, including a heartbreaking miscarriage at 16 weeks. Eigenberg credits Chrysti’s strength and perspective—reminding him that children are a gift, no matter how briefly they are in your life—with helping them heal. They later welcomed two children: a son, Louie Steven (born in 2009), and a daughter, Myrna Belle (born in 2014).

Bringing Real Life to Firehouse 51

The stability of Eigenberg’s personal life has clearly influenced his portrayal of Herrmann on Chicago Fire. Just as Eigenberg and Chrysti have faced health scares and financial hurdles, Herrmann and his on-screen wife, Cindy (played by Robyn Coffin), have endured a lung cancer battle and, more recently, the devastating loss of their family home in a fire.

Eigenberg even integrated his own health into the show. When he began suffering from real-life hearing loss, he asked the writers to incorporate it into Herrmann’s storyline, noting humorously that wearing hearing aids in real life actually cut his arguments with Chrysti by 50% because he could finally hear what she was saying.

After two decades of marriage, David Eigenberg’s story isn’t one of tabloid headlines or red-carpet scandals. It is a testament to the power of showing up, forgiveness, and finding a partner who keeps you grounded when the cameras stop rolling. Much like Christopher Herrmann, Eigenberg knows that at the end of a long shift, the most important fire to keep burning is the one at home.