For years, Jason Beghe has embodied the unbreakable Sergeant Hank Voight — the gravel-voiced, relentless force at the heart of Chicago P.D. But behind that steel stare and the command presence that defines the Intelligence Unit, Beghe reveals there’s been another story unfolding — one he’s kept buried behind the badge.
In a rare, brutally honest interview, Beghe opened up about the toll the series has taken on his body and mind. “I’ve been hurt more times than I can count,” he admitted quietly. “I’ve broken things, torn things, and kept working through pain that should’ve benched me months at a time.”
Fans who’ve followed his career know the actor’s signature rasp isn’t just a performance choice — it’s the result of a devastating car accident years before Chicago P.D. ever existed, one that left him with permanent injuries and a voice forever changed. But until now, few knew how much those lingering effects have followed him into the role that made him a household name.
Beghe revealed that during filming, he’s dealt with chronic back and shoulder injuries — many caused or worsened by the physical intensity of playing Voight. “We do a lot of real stunts,” he said. “Sometimes we shoot for 12, 14 hours a day, in freezing weather, wearing forty pounds of gear. It looks cool on TV, but your body keeps the score.”
The actor described moments between takes when he could barely stand upright. “There were days I’d walk off set and just sit in my car for half an hour before driving home. I didn’t want the crew to see me like that. Voight doesn’t show pain — and I guess I didn’t want to either.”
Production insiders confirm that Beghe has refused to use a stunt double for most of his action scenes — a choice that’s earned him respect from colleagues, but concern from doctors. “He’s tough, but he’s human,” one crew member shared. “Sometimes you could tell he was hurting, but he’d wave it off and say, ‘Let’s go again.’”
In recent years, as Chicago P.D. continues into its 13th season, Beghe has learned to slow down — at least a little. “I used to think taking a break meant I was weak,” he said. “Now I realize it’s the only reason I’m still here.”
He also admitted that the emotional strain of playing Voight — a man constantly haunted by guilt, loss, and rage — has affected him more deeply than fans might imagine. “There were storylines that got under my skin,” Beghe confessed. “You do this for over a decade, you start carrying your character’s grief. You go home and you still feel it.”
Co-stars have described Beghe as the anchor of the cast — tough, direct, but fiercely loyal. Tracy Spiridakos once said, “Jason gives 200% every single day. You can tell he’s in pain sometimes, but he never lets it stop him. He’s Voight — on and off set.”
When asked why he chose to speak about his health now, Beghe paused. “Because fans deserve the truth,” he said. “They see Voight as this indestructible guy, and I love that. But I’m not indestructible. None of us are. We all break sometimes.”
He smiled then, that familiar half-grin fans know so well. “Pain reminds you you’re still alive. And as long as I can move, as long as I can talk, I’ll keep doing this. Voight’s not done — and neither am I.”
Still, Beghe admits that his doctors have been warning him to take better care. “They told me to cut down on the stunts,” he said, chuckling. “I told them — tell that to Voight.”
Rumors had swirled that his reduced screen time in early episodes of Season 13 might have been health-related, and while Beghe didn’t confirm specifics, he didn’t deny them either. “Sometimes the body tells you to rest,” he said. “I finally started listening.”
Fans online have flooded social media with messages of support since the interview, many calling him “the toughest man on television.” Others are simply grateful for his honesty. “Knowing he’s been fighting through pain all this time makes me respect him even more,” one viewer posted.
As for how long he plans to keep going, Beghe laughed. “Until they drag me off the set,” he joked. “Or until Voight gets a desk job. Whichever comes first.”
But beneath the humor was something real — a quiet sense of pride and vulnerability that only comes from years of pushing through. “This show means something to people,” he said softly. “And that means something to me. If my body hurts a little for it — so be it.”
Jason Beghe may not be indestructible. But he’s as close to it as Chicago P.D. has ever seen.
And this time, fans finally know the truth about the man behind the badge — the one who’s been fighting his own battles long before the cameras ever rolled.
