Since Chicago Fire Season 13, Firehouse 51 has been under the leadership of Dom Pascal, played by Hollywood veteran Dermot Mulroney.
As new episodes of Chicago Fire draw near, here’s everything fans should know about Mulroney’s impressive acting career, from unforgettable guest spots in some of the most popular television shows of all time, to his iconic roles in major Hollywood films, the star has 158 credits to his name. Here are just a few.
Dermot Mulroney got his start in television
Like many actors, Mulroney broke into the industry with a few TV roles, with his first credit being Tim McGary in 1986’s made-for-TV movie Sin of Innocence. His performance led to more projects such as 1989’s Unconquered and 1993’s The Last Outlaw, in which Mulroney starred opposite Mickey Rourke.
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It wasn’t until 2003, however, that he became a household name thanks to a role still fondly remembered by fans today.
What are Dermot Mulroney’s most recognizable television roles?
Millions of viewers tuned in every week in Season 9 of Friends to witness the blink-and-you’d-miss-it whirlwind romance between Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel Green and Mulroney’s Gavin Mitchell. Although the sparks were short-lived, their chemistry added an intriguing wrinkle to Green’s character as the series quickly approached its finale. Mulroney wasn’t done making an impact in television, however.
He followed up his short-but-sweet role in Friends with Russell Schiller in New Girl, beginning in 2012, and Sean Pierce in Shameless, starting in 2015. In both, Mulroney played the older love interest of the female lead. The star also portrayed Dr. Walter Wallace in the medical drama Pure Genius from 2016-2017 and had a seven-episode arch in Arrested Development. Most recently, the 62-year-old appeared in the hit drama, The Hunting Wives.
What popular movies has Dermot Mulroney appeared in?
In addition to his impressive television resume, Mulroney also starred in many well-received films.
From starring opposite Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding to appearing in modern horror films like Scream VI and Insidious: Chapter 3, Mulroney has proven to be a versatile performer no matter what a role demands, appearing in dozens of movies over the years. Fans have also seen him in The Family Stone, The Wedding Date, Young Guns, August: Osage County, and
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Of course, in 2025, Mulroney is synonymous with Dom Pascal. In fact, it’s hard to remember a time when Firehouse 51 didn’t have him in charge.
Dermot Mulroney is an accomplished cellist
Here’s a piece of Mulroney trivia for you: the star is an expert cellist and has contributed to the score of movies like Jurassic World, Zootopia, and Incredibles 2, showing that sometimes, talent really does know no bounds.
As of Season 14, Mulroney hasn’t shown off his epic cello skills in an episode of Chicago Fire — yet.
Dermot Mulroney talks joining the Chicago Fire cast in 2024
Believe it or not, Mulroney’s addition to the Chicago Fire cast as Station Chief Dom Pascal ahead of Season 13 marked the first time in the actor’s storied career that he joined a show as a full-time cast member in the middle of its run. (His well-known role on New Girl, for example, was as a guest star.)
In a February 2024 interview with Forbes, Mulroney spoke about joining the One Chicago family as a relatively late addition in the franchise’s life cycle.
“Joining a show that’s already up-and-running and so many millions of fans follow and love and anticipate the next season is something I’ve never experienced,” he admitted. “A lot of this is new for me. I’m watching the character develop under my feet, and ultimately, as long as I’ve been doing this, this will be the character that I will reside in and depict for the longest amount of time. It’s been a thrill. It’s really exciting waiting for the next episode to drop. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. That’s very unusual for me as an actor. I usually know what happens on the last page.”
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So, what’s next for the 62-year-old? Well, he still has a bucket list of things he wants to accomplish.
“There’s a lot of things I still haven’t done as an actor — a Broadway musical, bring it on!” Mulroney revealed. “In the meantime, what I haven’t done either is a full season on network television, and here with established characters and these great actors to work with, it’s really an incredible, new experience for me. At this stage of my career, it’s really nice to do something new.”
Fans can catch Mulroney’s Dom Pascal and the rest of Firehouse 51 when Chicago Fire returns with new episodes beginning Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET — only on NBC.
