In a deeply personal and reflective new interview, Nick Gehlfuss—best known for his nine-season run as Dr. Will Halstead on NBC’s Chicago Med—opened up about the profound, lasting impact the role had on his personal and professional life. Speaking to NBC Insider in late March 2026, Gehlfuss described portraying the brilliant but emotionally turbulent ED doctor as “one of the most transformative experiences of my entire life,” crediting the character with reshaping his worldview, deepening his empathy, and even influencing major life decisions off-screen.
Gehlfuss joined Chicago Med for its 2015 premiere, quickly establishing Will as a fan-favorite: a driven, rule-bending physician whose storylines tackled addiction recovery, ethical dilemmas, high-stakes medicine, and a turbulent romance with Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto). Over nearly 200 episodes, Will faced personal demons—including opioid dependency, family estrangement, and moral gray areas in patient care—arcs that forced Gehlfuss to confront vulnerability in ways few previous roles had required.
“The character demanded I look inward in a way I hadn’t before,” Gehlfuss explained. “Playing someone who’s brilliant at saving lives but struggles to save himself… it taught me a tremendous amount about grace, forgiveness, and how pain can coexist with purpose.” He highlighted Will’s addiction storyline in Seasons 5–6 as particularly life-altering. “That arc changed how I see people who are fighting invisible battles. I carry more compassion now, more patience. It’s not just acting—it rewired parts of me.”
The role also influenced Gehlfuss’s real-life priorities. He spoke about balancing the intense Chicago filming schedule with family life, noting that Will’s journey toward healing helped him become “a more present husband and father.” In quieter moments, the actor reflected on how portraying a character who repeatedly questioned his worth forced him to affirm his own value beyond work. “There were nights after filming heavy scenes where I’d sit and think, ‘If Will can keep going, so can I.’ It sounds simple, but it was profound.”
Fans have long connected with Gehlfuss’s portrayal of Will’s complexity—his passion for medicine clashing with personal flaws—and many credit the character with raising awareness about addiction and mental health in the medical community. Gehlfuss expressed gratitude for those responses: “Hearing from doctors, nurses, or people in recovery who said the show helped them feel seen… that’s the real gift. The show gave me a platform, but it gave others something too.”
Though Will Halstead exited Chicago Med in Season 8 (2022) after relocating to Seattle, Gehlfuss has returned for guest appearances, including a Season 11 cameo that tied into ongoing storylines. He remains open to future visits, but his reflections focus more on legacy than comeback: “Will Halstead will always be part of me. He changed how I listen, how I love, how I show up. That’s forever.”
As Chicago Med Season 11 continues Wednesdays on NBC and Peacock—post the March 4 “Reckoning” crossover and amid hospital crises and personal evolutions—Gehlfuss’s words serve as a poignant reminder of how deeply fictional characters can resonate in real lives. For the actor who brought Will to life, the transformation wasn’t just on screen—it was lifelong.