If you’ve ever spent a Wednesday night glued to the TV, watching a gravel-voiced detective break every rule in the book to save his city, you’ve probably asked yourself about the man behind the badge. Jason Beghe is the powerhouse actor who plays Hank Voight on Chicago P.D., and honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in those boots. He doesn’t just play the role; he basically inhabits it.
He’s been the face of the Intelligence Unit since the show spun off from Chicago Fire back in 2014. But Beghe wasn't always the morally grey Sergeant Voight. His journey to becoming the centerpiece of Dick Wolf’s Windy City franchise is actually kinda wild, involving everything from high-profile Hollywood friendships to a near-fatal accident that literally changed the sound of his voice.
The Voice That Defined a Character
You know that voice. It sounds like he just finished swallowing a bucket of gravel or spent forty years screaming into a storm. Most fans assume it’s a choice—a bit of character acting to make Voight seem tougher. It’s not.
In 1999, Beghe was in a massive car accident. It was bad. He broke his neck, back, several ribs, and both lungs were compromised. He was intubated for a long time, and in a moment of panic or discomfort, he actually pulled the tube out while it was still inflated. This caused permanent scarring to his vocal cords.
He survived, obviously, but he came out of it with that signature rasp. It’s one of those rare instances where a personal tragedy ended up providing the perfect tool for a professional role. When you hear Voight growl a threat at a suspect in the "cage," that’s the real deal. It’s authentic. It gives the character a level of weariness and grit that you just can’t teach in acting school.
Why Beghe Fits the Intelligence Unit So Well
Acting is usually about transformation, but there’s a specific overlap between Jason Beghe’s intensity and Hank Voight’s leadership style. Beghe has been vocal in interviews about his "all-in" approach. He doesn’t just show up, say the lines, and go to his trailer. He’s known for being deeply involved in the tone of the show.
Think about the first time we saw him. He was a villain on Chicago Fire, trying to cover up his son's drunk driving by harassing Matt Casey. He was despicable. Most actors would have played that as a one-note bad guy, but Beghe brought a weirdly relatable "family first" desperation to it. It worked so well that NBC decided to build an entire show around him. That’s the power of the guy who plays Hank Voight on Chicago PD. He turned a guest-spot antagonist into the hero of a decade-long series.
A Career Before the Badge
Before he was the king of Chicago’s 21st District, Beghe was everywhere. If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s cinema, you’ve seen him, even if you didn't realize it at the time.
👉 See also: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
- He played a State Trooper in the iconic Thelma & Louise (1991).
- He starred in the cult horror classic Monkey Shines (1988), playing a quadriplegic man with a very dangerous helper monkey.
- He had a recurring role on Californication as Richard Bates.
He’s also famously childhood friends with David Duchovny. In fact, Beghe is often credited with being the one who convinced Duchovny to give acting a shot in the first place. Imagine a world without Fox Mulder just because Jason Beghe didn't give his buddy a nudge.
The Evolution of the Character
Voight has changed. A lot. In the early seasons, he was borderline "dirty." He had the money stashed in the floorboards, he was burying bodies in the silos, and he was working with the mob. But as the seasons progressed—and as the real-world conversation around policing changed—the character had to evolve too.
Beghe handled this transition with a lot of nuance. He shifted Voight from a man who broke the law for profit or power to a man who breaks the law because he genuinely believes the system is too broken to protect the victims. It’s a fine line to walk. If the actor isn't likable, the audience turns on the character. But Beghe has this soulful, tired look in his eyes that makes you root for him, even when he’s doing something objectively terrible.
The Reality of Filming in Chicago
One thing that makes Chicago P.D. feel different from other procedurals like Law & Order is the location. They don't film on a backlot in Los Angeles. They are in the city. The snow you see on screen? Real. The breath fogging up in the air during a night shoot? Real.
Beghe has talked about how the city itself is a character. The grit of the Chicago streets mirrors the grit of the character. When you’re filming outside in -10 degree weather for 14 hours a day, you don't have to act "tough." You just are. This environmental realism helps Beghe maintain that stoic, unbreakable exterior that Voight is known for.
Behind the Scenes and the Controversies
It hasn't always been smooth sailing. Back around 2017, there were reports regarding Beghe’s behavior on set. It was a big deal at the time. There were complaints about his temper and "volatile" behavior.
To his credit, Beghe didn't dodge the issue with a PR-heavy non-apology. He admitted he had anger issues and had been working with a coach to manage his intensity. He released a statement acknowledging that his passion for the work sometimes spilled over into anger and that he was committed to doing better.
✨ Don't miss: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
"I am deeply sorry and I apologize to my friends and colleagues for any upset and damage I’ve caused," Beghe said at the time.
This kind of honesty is rare in Hollywood. It also, quite frankly, sounds like something Voight would say after getting caught crossing a line. There’s a certain "what you see is what you get" energy with Beghe that clearly feeds into the performance.
The Chemistry with the Cast
A show doesn't last for 10+ seasons just because of one guy. The chemistry between the actor who plays Hank Voight on Chicago PD and the rest of the ensemble is the secret sauce.
The relationship between Voight and Erin Lindsay (played by Sophia Bush) was the emotional heart of the early seasons. It was a father-daughter bond forged in trauma. After Bush left, we saw Voight develop different, but equally complex, relationships with Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Upton (Tracy Spiridakos).
Beghe acts as a sort of mentor on set, much like Voight does in the squad room. He’s the veteran. He sets the tone. When a new actor joins the Intelligence Unit, they have to be able to stand toe-to-toe with Beghe’s intensity. If they can’t, the scene flops.
Is Hank Voight a Hero or a Villain?
This is the question that keeps the show alive. Beghe plays him as a man who has lost everything—his wife, his son, his best friends—and has nothing left but his city.
In Beghe's eyes, Voight is a "pro-social psychopath." He’s someone who uses his violent tendencies and lack of regard for rules to benefit society. Whether or not you agree with that depends on your own perspective on justice. But Beghe makes sure you understand why Voight does what he does. He never plays him as "evil" for the sake of being evil. It’s always about the "greater good," even if that good is covered in blood.
🔗 Read more: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
What’s Next for Jason Beghe?
As of 2026, Chicago P.D. remains a cornerstone of the NBC lineup. There’s no sign of Beghe slowing down. He’s become synonymous with the role in the same way Mariska Hargitay is Olivia Benson.
If you want to really understand the man who plays Hank Voight, you have to look past the badge. You have to look at a guy who survived a horrific accident, reinvented himself, and became the face of a television empire. He’s a survivor.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Actors:
- Study the Voice: If you’re an actor, watch how Beghe uses his physical limitations (his voice) as an asset rather than a hindrance. It’s a masterclass in leaning into what makes you unique.
- Watch the Prequels: To see the full arc, go back and watch the Season 1 episodes of Chicago Fire where Voight first appears. The transformation from a villain to a complex anti-hero is incredible to track.
- Follow the Crossovers: To get the full picture of Voight’s influence, you have to watch the crossover events with Chicago Med and Chicago Fire. Beghe often brings a different energy when he’s interacting with the "cleaner" heroes of the other shows.
- Respect the Craft: Beghe’s longevity in the industry is a testament to his work ethic. Even after decades, he still treats every scene like it's the most important one of the series.
Hank Voight might be a fictional character, but the man playing him is very real, very intense, and perfectly cast. Whether you love Voight or hate him, you can't look away when Jason Beghe is on the screen.
To stay updated on the latest casting news or to see where the Intelligence Unit is headed next, keep an eye on the official NBC press releases and the "One Chicago" social media channels. The show’s ability to stay relevant in a changing cultural landscape is largely due to Beghe’s willingness to let the character grow and fail.
Check out the most recent season to see how Voight is handling the new era of policing—it’s some of Beghe’s best work yet.