Randall McHolland (also known as Randy or Mouch) is a veteran firefighter and an engineer with the Chicago Fire Department, a union rep, and is currently assigned as the driver of Truck 81 at Firehouse 51. He is portrayed by Christian Stolte.
Quick Answers
What is the significance of the nickname 'Mouch' for Randall McHolland?
What is the backstory of Randall McHolland's relationship with his daughter Lizzie?
Why does Randall McHolland treasure his father's postcards?
What is Randall McHolland's role in the Chicago Fire Department?
Who portrays the character of Randall McHolland in Chicago Fire?
Personal life[]
When McHolland was young, his father would always travel for work but always sent postcards. Randy has kept and treasured these postcards all of his life. He has a biological daughter himself - Lizzie - but she has almost no contact with Randy as he was just a sperm donor and not actually involved in any of her life. However they later made contact and it is implied that they may be on good terms now. Randall is married to Trudy Platt; a desk sergeant with the Chicago Police Department. They met at Boden's wedding and began dating not long after.[1]
His nickname "Mouch" comes from the firefighters he worked with, stating that he is always on the couch watching television so he is half-man and half-couch.
Career[]
McHolland has been a firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department for the majority of his adult life. He is also the President of the Firefighter's Union and a union representative so has responsibility to liaise with the Chicago Fire Department with any issues that their firefighters or paramedics have and he also accompanies and advises staff with disciplinary meetings.
Further info[]
Season 1[]
Mouch is seen taking Japanese lessons. He ends up meeting a woman by the name of Mari online. She is from Japan and comes to visit Mouch in A Hell of a Ride and leaves in A Problem House. Mouch says he will try to visit her, but this never happens and they end up breaking up.
Mouch tries to meet a lady via GoldenOldeez.com off of the advice of Leslie Shay, but his dates don't end up working out.
During Fireworks, he is dismayed that Shay and Dawson discover his past as a sperm donor. He explains to Shay of how his cousin and wife used artificial insemination to conceive a daughter while telling them his reason was for the cash.
Season 2[]
In Real Never Waits, Mouch meets Trudy Platt at Chief Boden's wedding, and they seem to hit it off.
Season 3[]
In Chopper, Mouch is approached by Herrmann, who informs him of Cruz being a zumba dance instructor. Despite Herrmann swearing him to secrecy, Mouch tells Capp and Newhouse before the secret is known to everyone in the house. Mouch and the others sign up for Cruz's class to see it for themselves and are amused to see Cruz surprised at seeing them. When Cruz nearly cancels, Casey encourages him before the class starts and the squad enjoy themselves.
During Red Rag the Bull, he is contacted by a sperm bank who tell him that because of a mishap some of his children may know his identity, Soon enough a young man, claiming that he is his son calls him. He is shocked and goes to meet with him, but backs out.
In Forgive You Anything, the young man Emmett goes to meet him at the house. However, Emmett reveals that he is not his child, but his sister Lizzie is and he only wanted to meet him so to get a read on him before introducing him. He explains that he sees him as a coward for not bothering to show up. After some coaxing from Trudy Platt, Boden, and Herrmann, he faces Emmett and begs him to let him meet Lizzie, with the latter giving him Lizzie's number. That night, Mouch meets his daughter and they share a tearful embrace.
Season 4[]
Trudy Platt and Mouch get married in On the Warpath.
Season 5[]
Towards the end of the season, Mouch considers retiring from the fire department. In the Season 5 finale, Mouch, trapped inside a burning factory, collapses after seemingly having a heart attack.
Season 6[]
In the season premiere, he survives the factory fire and delivers a moving speech about how close he came to "walking off of this job". He treasures the time that he has with his brothers and sisters at 51 after he realizes he has not had enough time with them and Trudy Platt. He hopes he will never have to look down that dark tunnel ever again. In wake of his heart attack, he strives to be fitter and so signs the whole second shift up for a Firefighter's Muster.
Season 8[]
Mouch and Trudy Platt buy Otis’s share of Molly’s, with Mouch asking if this entitles him to free beer.
In 51's Original Bell, Mouch is at the station when Violet comes to confront Gallo. He and the others eavesdrop on their conversation, knowing the drama would be funny. They watch surprised when Violet is taken aback by Gallo making an impromptu marriage proposal. After she leaves, he and the other firefighters question the embarrassed Gallo about what he was thinking. He is at Molly's when Severide and Casey bring Capp from the hospital, where he and Herrmann welcome him back by teasing him.
Season 9[]
In Smash Therapy, Mouch comes under fire when Casey is nearly injured due to the faulty mechanics of the aerial ladder that Mouch was operating. Casey gives him the cold shoulder as he attempts to find out what could’ve caused it, but Herrmann does his own investigation and finds out what really happened - there were supposed to be repairs done to the ladder, but Assistant Deputy Commissioner Jerry Gorsch (being an empty rank and thus severely unqualified for his job) never made the call. This reveals Mouch was not at fault and Casey apologizes to him. Mouch thanks Hermann for his actions.
During Funny What Things Remind Us, Truck 81 responds to a call and saves a woman. To his dismay, however, he is reunited with his rival Chuck Rutledge. This reignites their old feud with both playing pranks on the other, much to the amusement of both of their squads. However Chuck ultimately wins the prank war when he has his old friend ring donuts down from a helicopter in front of the 51 squad. Realizing that he cannot top that, Mouch accepts defeat.
Season 10[]
Mouch was able to convince PFC Evan Hawkins to get Brett a jumpstart on the Paramedicine program and has aided her in the endeavor.
Season 11[]
Season 12[]
Mouch survived a near fatal event after an extremist attack that nearly killed him. He made a full recovery after six months. Later on, in order to turn his life over and put away his old habits, Mouch denounced his nickname and requested everyone to call him by his name 'McHolland', however, Boden reminded him of his good deeds performed during his services in the CFD under that said nickname, so Mouch stuck with his moniker. After Boden was promoted to Deputy Commissioner, declaring his departure from 51 and endorsing Herrmann for the position of Battalion Chief, Mouch chose rather than to retire as per his usual plan, to take the Lieutenant's test.
Season 13[]
Mouch studying for the Lieutenant exam
Memorable Quotes[]
- “How far would you go for the ones you love? How far have you gone?”
Notes and Trivia[]
- He studied Japanese.[2]
- He has a personal vendetta against Canada, due to being made fun of after falling victim to an immigration scam.[2]
- He is the same age as Herrmann.
- It is unknown whether he and his daughter have connected.
- Besides Boden, Herrmann and Cruz, Mouch is one of the few firefighters to have a wife and child.
- He has an ongoing feud with fellow firefighter Chuck Rutledge, who refers to him by his last name.
- He apparently got a tattoo with his wife’s name on his buttock after losing a bet.
- He has been secretly storing his bagpipes at the firehouse in a locker with the name "Baggs" on it ever since he got married. (One Crazy Shift)
- He is a second-generation Scottish-American. (One Crazy Shift)
- His dream and self-claimed "birth right" is playing bagpipes in the band "Pipes and Drums". (One Crazy Shift)
- He accidentally sold Sylvie Brett's cat Veronicat at the firehouse yard sale, but she appreciated it. (What Comes Next)
- He, Herrmann and Boden are the three veterans at Firehouse 51.
- In Real Never Waits he tells Trudy that he has been on the job for 33 years
- So as of 2024/Season 12 he will have 41 years of service
- In Never Say Goodbye he tells Herrmann that he is going to take the Lieutenant exam
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
| Season 12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barely Gone | Call Me McHolland | Trapped | The Little Things | On the Hook |
| Port in the Storm | Red Flag | All the Dark | Something About Her | The Wrong Guy |
| Inside Man | Under Pressure | Never Say Goodbye | ||
| Season 13 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Monster in the Field | Ride the Blade | All Kinds of Crazy | Through the Skin | Down the Rabbit Hole |
| Birds of Prey | Untouchable | Quicksand | ||
Crossover Appearances[]
Chicago Med[]
- S1E5 Malignant
- S4E2 When to Let Go
Chicago PD[]
- S2E16 What Puts You on That Ledge
- S3E4 Debts of the Past
- S3E8 Forget My Name
- S3E11 Knocked the Family Right Out
- S4E3 All Cylinders Firing
- S4E9 Don't Bury This Case
- S4E14 Seven Indictments
- S5E16 Profiles
- S7E4 Infection, Part III
- S7E15 Burden of Truth
References[]
- ↑ Episode: Real Never Waits
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Episode: Leaving the Station