Jason Beghe has one of those faces you recognize almost instantly.
For millions of television viewers, he’s Hank Voight, the tough, intimidating intelligence sergeant at the center of Chicago P.D. But Beghe’s career stretches far beyond one character. Before becoming synonymous with Voight, he built a long résumé across television, film, and stage work.
His career has included everything from dramatic television appearances to action movies, while his distinctive raspy voice has become one of his most recognizable features.
So, what do you actually know about the actor behind one of the most memorable characters in the One Chicago universe?
Let’s take a closer look at 25 facts about Jason Beghe, from his early life and acting career to his work as Hank Voight.
1. Jason Beghe Was Born in New York City
Jason Beghe was born on March 12, 1960, in New York City.
Growing up in New York gave him an early connection to a city known for producing generations of actors, artists, and performers.
Although his career would eventually take him to Hollywood and Chicago-based television productions, New York remained an important part of his background.
2. He Comes From a Prominent Family
Beghe was born into a notable family.
His father, René Beghe, was a prominent judge, while his mother, Bina, was involved in the arts and philanthropy.
His family background gave him exposure to different worlds from an early age.
Interestingly, his family connections included people from politics, law, and entertainment, giving Beghe a background quite different from the rough-and-tumble character he would eventually play on Chicago P.D.
3. He Attended the Collegiate School in Manhattan
Beghe attended The Collegiate School, a historic private school in Manhattan.
The school has a long history and is one of the oldest educational institutions in the United States.
His education was followed by an acting career that eventually took him from modeling into television and film.
4. Beghe Started His Career as a Model
Before becoming a professional actor, Beghe worked as a model.
This early experience put him in front of cameras and introduced him to the entertainment industry.
Modeling and acting require very different skills, but the experience likely helped Beghe become comfortable performing in front of an audience and camera.
Eventually, acting became his primary focus.
5. He Made His Film Debut in the 1980s
Beghe’s early acting career included film work during the 1980s.
One of his notable early appearances was in “Compromising Positions”, released in 1985.
From there, he continued building his résumé with appearances in movies and television.
It wasn’t an overnight rise to fame. Beghe gradually accumulated roles and experience over several decades.
6. He Has Appeared in Numerous Television Shows
Long before Chicago P.D., Beghe appeared in a wide variety of television productions.
His credits include roles in shows such as Melrose Place, Picket Fences, Numb3rs, Californication, and NCIS.
This kind of extensive television experience helped prepare him for the demanding schedule of a long-running series.
7. He Appeared on NCIS
Yes—Jason Beghe has appeared on NCIS.
He played Richard Littman in the series.
For fans who know him primarily as Hank Voight, seeing Beghe in another role can be a fun reminder of just how long he’s been working in television.
It’s also an amusing connection between two major police and investigative television franchises.
8. He Played Hank Voight
Of course, Beghe’s most famous television role is Sergeant Hank Voight.
Voight first appeared in Chicago Fire before becoming a central character in Chicago P.D.
The character is known for his aggressive investigative style, intimidating interrogation techniques, and willingness to bend—or sometimes break—the rules.
Beghe’s performance helped turn Voight into one of the defining characters of the One Chicago franchise.
9. Hank Voight Was Originally Introduced on Chicago Fire
Before Chicago P.D. became its own series, viewers first encountered Voight through Chicago Fire.
He wasn’t exactly presented as a lovable character.
Voight’s aggressive personality immediately created tension with the firefighters and other characters.
But that introduction helped establish the complicated personality that would later become central to Chicago P.D.
10. Voight Is a Complicated Character
One reason Beghe’s performance works so well is that Voight isn’t simply “good” or “bad.”
He’s complicated.
He can be ruthless and intimidating, yet he’s also fiercely protective of his team.
Voight has repeatedly demonstrated that he will go to extreme lengths to protect the people he considers family.
That moral ambiguity gives Beghe plenty of material to work with as an actor.
11. Beghe’s Voice Is Extremely Distinctive
If you’ve heard Jason Beghe speak, you’ve probably noticed his voice immediately.
His naturally raspy voice has become one of his most recognizable characteristics.
It also happens to work remarkably well for Hank Voight.
When Voight lowers his voice during an interrogation, the effect can be intimidating without requiring much physical action.
Sometimes a few quiet words are more threatening than shouting.
12. His Voice Changed After a Serious Accident
Beghe’s distinctive voice is connected to a serious car accident in 1999.
He suffered severe injuries and was placed on life support. During his treatment, he was intubated, and the process caused significant damage to his vocal cords.
The resulting changes contributed to the gravelly voice audiences recognize today.
It’s a striking example of how a difficult experience can unexpectedly become part of an actor’s professional identity.
13. He Has Spoken Publicly About His Accident
Beghe has discussed his accident and recovery publicly over the years.
The experience had a profound impact on him.
Rather than allowing the accident to end his career, he eventually returned to acting.
His recovery became one of the more significant chapters of his personal story.
14. Beghe Has a Background in Scientology
Jason Beghe was once involved with Scientology.
He later became publicly critical of the organization and spoke openly about his experiences after leaving.
His decision to discuss the subject publicly attracted considerable attention.
It also demonstrated a willingness to talk about controversial and deeply personal experiences rather than avoiding difficult conversations.
15. He Became an outspoken Critic of Scientology
After leaving Scientology, Beghe became one of its more prominent former-member critics.
He gave interviews discussing his experiences and expressed strong criticism of the organization.
This chapter of his life is separate from his acting career, but it became a significant part of his public profile.
16. Beghe Has Worked With Many Major Actors
Over his long career, Beghe has shared screens with numerous well-known performers.
His résumé includes appearances alongside actors from major television dramas, action films, and procedural series.
That’s one advantage of a career spanning several decades: eventually, the list of people you’ve worked with becomes surprisingly extensive.
17. He Has Appeared in Both Film and Television
Beghe isn’t exclusively a television actor.
His résumé includes both film and television roles.
While television has ultimately become his most recognizable medium, his film work helped establish his career before Chicago P.D. turned him into a household name for crime-drama audiences.
18. He Is Known for Intense Characters
Beghe has frequently played characters with authority, toughness, or an intimidating presence.
That doesn’t mean every role has been identical.
However, his physical presence and distinctive voice make him particularly effective in roles involving law enforcement, military personnel, authority figures, or morally complicated characters.
Hank Voight may be his best-known example, but the pattern existed long before Chicago P.D.
19. Hank Voight Is a Mentor to His Team
Although Voight can be extremely hard on his officers, he often acts as a mentor.
He pushes his team to become better investigators and protects them when things go wrong.
His leadership style is unconventional.
It’s less “gentle encouragement” and more “throw them into the deep end and expect them to swim.”
But his officers understand that he has their backs.
20. Voight Has a Strong Bond With His Intelligence Unit
The Intelligence Unit is essentially Voight’s professional family.
Over the years, the group has gone through many changes, but Voight remains a central figure.
His relationships with detectives such as Jay Halstead, Kevin Atwater, Kim Burgess, and others have helped reveal different sides of his personality.
His leadership is often controversial, but his loyalty is rarely in doubt.
21. Beghe’s Performance Gives Voight Emotional Depth
It would have been easy for Hank Voight to become a stereotypical “tough cop.”
Beghe prevents that from happening.
He gives Voight moments of vulnerability, grief, anger, humor, and affection.
Those quieter moments matter because they remind viewers that underneath the intimidating exterior is a man who has experienced significant loss.
22. Voight’s Relationship With His Team Is Central to the Show
A huge part of Chicago P.D. revolves around the question of how far Voight will go to protect his people.
He often treats his team like family.
That creates both loyalty and conflict.
When Voight makes questionable decisions, his detectives may disagree with him—but they also know he is willing to put himself on the line for them.
23. Beghe Has Built a Career That Spans Decades
One of the most impressive facts about Jason Beghe is simply the length of his career.
He began acting professionally in the 1980s and continued working across film and television for decades.
Many actors become associated with one major role.
Beghe had already established a substantial career before becoming Hank Voight.
24. Hank Voight Became Beghe’s Signature Role
Despite his many previous credits, Hank Voight is undoubtedly the role most audiences associate with Jason Beghe.
The character became one of the central figures of Chicago P.D. and an important part of the wider One Chicago universe.
Beghe’s voice, physical presence, and intense performance helped make Voight instantly recognizable.
25. Jason Beghe and Hank Voight Are Not the Same Person
This might sound obvious, but it’s worth remembering.
Hank Voight is a fictional character.
Jason Beghe is an actor who has spent decades portraying many different personalities.
The actor’s real-life experiences, opinions, and personality shouldn’t automatically be attributed to the character he plays.
That’s part of what makes acting so fascinating.
A performer can spend years convincing us that they’re someone completely different.