Anthony “Tony” Ferraris, retired firefighter and Chicago Fire actor has been named Firefighters’ Marshal of the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® by Jeremy Luttrell, Festival President.
Anthony (“Tony”) Ferraris is a seasoned firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), serving on Rescue Squad 2 at Firehouse 91 in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood for 25 years and often contributing as an instructor at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute.
In 2012, Tony had the incredible opportunity to join the cast of NBC's "Chicago Fire” and play the character of “Tony” on Squad 3, a role very similar to his real-life work.
Tony is from Chicago and had a lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter. He never imagined he might also play one on TV but when the CFD put out a call out in search of real firefighters as extras for the show he was picked.
Initially cast as an extra, Tony's expertise and authentic alignment with the character led to a recurring role, and he has since appeared in over 200 episodes.
Beyond acting, Tony contributes to the show's realism by sharing his firsthand firefighting experiences with the production team. As a member of one of the few Rescue Squad teams within Chicago’s fire department, Tony has been a first responder to several incidents including fires, car accidents, scuba rescue, and many other emergency situations.
Chicago Fire is one of three Chicago based shows on NBC, creating a powerful line up of primetime entertainment focused on the professional and personal lives of firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel who sometimes interact in crossover episodes.
Tony’s retirement from the Chicago Fire Department in 2023 was a day of mixed emotions. Many came out to honor Tony and one of the highlights for him and his family was that his youngest son, also a firefighter in Chicago, was able to join in giving Tony his final salute.
Tony lives in Chicago today with his wife and their three children.
Ferraris will lead the Hang 10 Firefighters’ Parade, which steps off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening, May 2, 2025. He will also make several Friday appearances including the New Horizons Professional ABA Services Fire Truck Rodeo located at Millbrook High School at 10:00 a.m., Coronation of Queen Shenandoah located at Handley High School at 1:30 p.m., the White House Foods First Responders Recognition Banquet located at Millwood Banquet Hall, and Marshal the Heros Division during the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 3 which begins at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets to Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events
