Nick Gehlfuss plays Dr. Will Halstead with authority—but fans are shocked to learn he was almost a doctor in real life.
Before pursuing acting, Gehlfuss was a biology major with a pre-med track. “I took the MCAT,” he confessed in a recent interview. “I was this close to applying to med school.”
So what changed?
One elective theater class.
“I walked onto a stage and never looked back,” he said.
But those years studying anatomy and physiology now serve him well. Med consultants on set often turn to Gehlfuss when something feels off. “He catches things no one else does,” said a crew member. “He’s basically a part-time advisor.”
Off-camera, Gehlfuss is also deeply involved in mental health advocacy—especially for healthcare workers post-COVID.
“I never wore a real lab coat,” he said. “But playing one taught me how real the pressure is.”
