In a heartfelt and emotional interview conducted shortly after the explosive March 4, 2026, One Chicago crossover event “The Reckoning,” Chicago P.D. veteran Jason Beghe got candid about his deep bond with former co-star Jesse Lee Soffer, admitting, “I miss him.” The remarks, shared amid renewed fan excitement following Soffer’s guest return as Jay Halstead, highlight the lasting impact of their on- and off-screen partnership that spanned nearly a decade.
Beghe, who has portrayed the gruff, uncompromising Sgt. Hank Voight since the series debuted in 2014, rarely shows vulnerability in public. Yet in this recent conversation—timed with Chicago P.D. resuming its Season 13 run post-crossover and Olympics hiatus—he opened up about the void left by Soffer’s 2022 departure. “Jesse was more than a co-star; he was like a brother,” Beghe said, his signature raspy voice cracking slightly. “We pushed each other every day on set. He brought this energy, this fire, that balanced me out. When he left, it felt like losing a piece of the unit. I miss him—plain and simple.”
Soffer’s exit after Season 10 came after Halstead took a high-risk Army assignment in Bolivia to dismantle drug cartels, a storyline that allowed for an emotional farewell while leaving the door ajar for returns. The character’s arc had been central to P.D.: from a brash Afghanistan vet partnering with Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush) to evolving into a loyal, principled detective who married Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) before their off-screen divorce and his relocation. Fans mourned the loss, with “Upstead” shippers particularly vocal, but the show adapted by elevating newer ensemble members like Hailey (before her 2024 exit) and focusing on Voight’s mentorship of the team.
The March 2026 crossover—“The Reckoning”—brought a surge of nostalgia. Airing across Chicago Fire, Med, and P.D., the three-hour event centered on a passenger jet crisis spiraling into a deadly conspiracy. Soffer and Spiridakos reprised their roles—Halstead now in U.S. Army drug interdiction, Upton with the FBI—delivering powerful scenes alongside Beghe’s Voight. Their chemistry reignited old dynamics: tense trust issues, shared history, and unspoken loyalty. Beghe praised the reunion, noting how seeing Halstead and Upton view the evolved Intelligence unit “hit hard.” “It was gratifying,” he reflected. “Jesse slipped right back in. Watching him work with the new kids, seeing how much we’ve all changed—it reminded me why this show matters.”
Off-screen, their friendship endured. Beghe previously championed Soffer’s directorial efforts, calling him “a spectacularly good actor” with “world-class” potential behind the camera. Soffer has directed multiple P.D. episodes, including in Seasons 11–13, maintaining close ties with the cast. Beghe described their bond as built on “intimacy” and “trust,” saying, “We’re very close. There’s no intimidation factor—he just gets me.” The recent crossover allowed them to reconnect professionally, with Beghe admitting the experience stirred emotions. “Having him back, even for a bit, made the set feel whole again. But when it wrapped, yeah…I miss him already.”
The comments arrive as Chicago P.D. navigates its post-crossover landscape. Season 13 has introduced fresh challenges for Voight and the team—new cases, internal tensions, and the ripple effects of the “Reckoning” mystery—while honoring legacy characters through subtle nods and potential guest spots. Soffer’s Army storyline keeps Halstead’s future flexible; fans speculate about more returns, perhaps in arcs involving federal crossovers or personal reckonings with Voight. Beghe remains the anchor, but his words underscore how departures reshape the show’s soul.
For One Chicago loyalists, Beghe’s admission captures the franchise’s emotional core: these aren’t just roles; they’re relationships that linger long after the credits roll. As P.D. pushes forward—next up with episodes tackling fallout from the jet crisis—Beghe’s raw honesty reminds viewers why Voight and Halstead’s dynamic endures. “Jesse changed the game for me,” he concluded. “I’ll always miss having him in the room.”