Jason Beghe | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Beghe in May 2008 | |
| Born | (1960-03-12)March 12, 1960 (age 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Collegiate School |
| Alma mater | Pomona College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | PlayingHank Voight inChicago P.D. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Charles S. Deneen (great-grandfather) Bina Deneen (great-grandmother) |
Jason Deneen Beghe (/bəˈɡeɪ/; born March 12, 1960) is an American actor. Since 2014, he has starred in theNBC TV seriesChicago P.D. as SergeantHank Voight. He is also known for starring in the 1988George A. Romero filmMonkey Shines, playingDemi Moore's love interest inG.I. Jane, appearing as a police officer in the filmThelma & Louise, starring oppositeMoira Kelly in the television seriesTo Have & to Hold, and having recurring roles onPicket Fences,Melrose Place,Chicago Hope,American Dreams,Cane, andCalifornication.
Beghe is a formerScientologist. He began taking Scientology courses in 1994 and later appeared in aChurch of Scientology advertising campaign and inpromotional videos. Beghe left the church in 2007 and has publiclycriticized Scientology since then.
Beghe, who is of Italian, German, English, and French Canadian heritage, was born March 12, 1960, in New York City,[1] the son of tax court judgeRenato Beghe,[2] and has three siblings.[3] He attended theCollegiate School, a privatepreparatory school for boys located in New York City.[4] While there, he became best friends withJohn F. Kennedy Jr. and actorDavid Duchovny;[4][5] another classmate was dancerChristopher d'Amboise.[6] Kennedy and Beghe often spent time together outside theMetropolitan Museum of Art and inCentral Park, while being monitored by Kennedy'sSecret Service detail.[7] Beghe later persuaded Duchovny to pursue work in acting.[8]
He attendedPomona College, graduating in 1982.[9]
Prior to his acting career, Beghe worked as a model in Europe.[10] He had his feature film debut in the1985 filmCompromising Positions, starringSusan Sarandon, and in 1986 had his first recurring role on television on theHBO situation comedy series1st & Ten.[1] He starred alongsideO. J. Simpson andSam J. Jones in HBO's sequel to1st & Ten titledTraining Camp: The Bulls Are Back, and John Voorhees ofThe Seattle Times wrote: "The cast, which includes O.J. Simpson, Sam Jones and newcomer Jason Beghe, is first-rate."[11]
In 1988, he starred in the filmMonkey Shines: An Experiment In Fear, directed byGeorge A. Romero.[12] He portrayed Allan Mann, a law student madequadriplegic when hit by a truck in the opening credits of the film.[13]The Philadelphia Inquirer gave a positive review of Beghe's performance inMonkey Shines: "Acting only with his face and voice, Jason Beghe is terrific at conveying the mounting anger and rage of an active man made passive".[14] David Foil ofThe Advocate described Beghe's performance as "remarkable simply for meeting the demands of the character".[15]
Beghe played an ice hockey star in thePerry MasonTV filmThe Case of the All-Star Assassin, anNBC-TV telefeature broadcast November 19, 1989.[16] In 1991, he played aState Trooper in the filmThelma & Louise (reuniting him with Sarandon, with whom he'd appeared inCompromising Positions),[17] and wasDemi Moore's love interest in the 1997 filmG.I. Jane.[18] He had recurring roles onPicket Fences andMelrose Place, and became a cast member ofChicago Hope in 1997, portraying electrician Danny Blaines opposite romantic interest Dr. Austin played byChristine Lahti.[19] In a 1997 interview inThe Boston Herald, Beghe spoke about his respect for his fellow cast members inChicago Hope: "I think it's the best cast assembled that I've ever seen. One for one, they're incredible. And to work with Christine Lahti? I'd drop a lot of things for that. She's so good and smart and dedicated. I've become a better actor just for working with her."[19] He commented on his character onMelrose Place, acloseted military officer who had feelings for Matt, played byDoug Savant: "I thought we should kiss, but it was too much. TV is a very specific medium, and you're naive if you think that everything is just based on artistic decisions. If it prevents them from selling some products, that's a major consideration. But I'm an actor. I'll do whatever it takes."[19] In 1993, Beghe played Lt. Pat Rudledge in the television drama seriesMatlock.
Beghe co-starred withMoira Kelly in the 1998CBS television drama seriesTo Have & to Hold, where he played police officer Sean McGrail.[20] Mike Duffy of theDetroit Free Press wrote: "There is an affectionate romantic sizzle between the ruggedly handsome Beghe and the dark-haired, unconventionally attractive Kelly."[21] Kinney Littlefield of theOrange County Register said that "Beghe and Kelly have charm."[22]
Beghe appeared in acting roles onNumb3rs,CSI: NY,Everwood,Criminal Minds,Veronica Mars,JAG andCane.[23][24][25] Beghe portrayedexorcist Ray Purvis in the 2008 horror filmOne Missed Call.[26][27] In 2009, Beghe had a guest-starring role on the television showCalifornication.[28] He played the character novelist Richard Bates, a friend of characterHank Moody (played by David Duchovny).[28] "Bates, played by Jason Beghe, made for an interesting character and the fact that he didn't get as much screen time as some of the other characters is a shame," wrote Danny Gallagher ofTV Squad.[29] Beghe was in the 2010 filmThe Next Three Days, directed byPaul Haggis and starringElizabeth Banks,Russell Crowe,Brian Dennehy, andOlivia Wilde.
Since 2014, Beghe has starred onChicago P.D.; the show is a spin-off ofChicago Fire, on which Beghe played a recurring role.Chicago P.D. follows the detectives of theChicago Police Department's Intelligence Unit that combats the city's major offenses, including organized crime, drug trafficking, and high-profile murders.[30] Beghe plays the role of Sgt. Hank Voight, a "tough cop" who heads the Intelligence Unit.[31] On November 21, 2017,Deadline Hollywood reported that Beghe was investigated for behavior that was considered overly aggressive and possibly sexual harassment while filmingChicago P.D. in 2016. Claims of inappropriate behavior were reportedly made by his former co-star,Sophia Bush. Beghe released a statement in which he acknowledged having anger problems, stated that he was working on them,[32] admitted to engaging in aggressive behavior on set, and apologized.[33]
In 1994, while taking an acting class taught by ScientologistMilton Katselas, Beghe decided to take someScientology courses.[34][35] Fellow acting studentBodhi Elfman gave him a book about Scientology.[34] In 1999, Beghe helped promote a "What is Scientology?" exhibition as part of a Church of Scientology television advertising campaign in the United Kingdom.[36] He appeared in Scientology promotional videos in 2005.[35] Beghe estimated that he gave the Church of ScientologyUS$1 million over a 12-year period.[34]
In 2007, Beghe decided to leave Scientology.[37] One of the first people he went to see after his departure was his friendDavid Duchovny.[38] During the years of his involvement in Scientology, his relationship with Duchovny had suffered; Duchovny was referred to as a "Suppressive Person",[38] a term used by Scientologists for those believed to be working against the Church of Scientology.[39]
Beghe began to publicly criticize the Church of Scientology in April 2008.[37] He participated in an interview about his experiences as a Scientologist;[34] a clip of that interview was published online by Scientology criticMark Bunker[40] in mid-April 2008.[41] In the video, Beghe asserted that Scientology was "very dangerous for your spiritual, psychological, mental, emotional health and evolution".[42] The clip ended with Beghe stating, "I don't have an agenda. I'm just trying to help. [...] I have the luxury of having gotten into Scientology and after having been in it, been out. And that's a perspective that people who are still in and not out do not have."[43]Marina Hyde ofThe Guardian has called Beghe aScientology celebritywhistleblower.[44]
On April 28, 2008, Beghe posted online a letter to Church leader David Miscavige. In the letter, he requested the confidential confessional files that Scientology compiles during Auditing sessions.[45][46] Beghe toldThe Village Voice that these confidential files are kept on actorTom Cruise and other celebrity Scientologists.[45]
Beghe has asserted that Scientology's practice ofdisconnection was still in place as of 2008. In an interview withTony Ortega ofThe Village Voice, Beghe stated that the expulsion of his four-year-old son from a Scientology school was an example of disconnection.[47] Beghe has turned down opportunities to speak about his experiences with Scientology on television; he says, "I just wanted to make sure that the story isn't about me. It's not about me. It's about helping others who are still lost in the cult, or toying with the idea of getting involved."[45]
On May 29, 2008, Beghe attended a protest against the Church of Scientology held outside the Scientology building on East 46th Street in New York City.[48] In September 2008, Beghe traveled to Germany where he spoke with government officials inHamburg, about his experiences as a Scientologist.[49] Beghe suggested that governments put up warning signs about Scientology that are similar to warnings placed on packs of cigarettes; the next day, a member of Germany's Interior Department told him such a sign was placed outside a Church of Scientology building inBerlin.[49]
Beghe was a guest in May 2009 on theBBC World Service radio programWorld: Have Your Say, where he discussed his views on what he thought of Scientology when he first joined: "I thought that it was something that was going to deliver miracles, and that it was the most selfless group of people that were totally dedicated to helping mankind, and I wanted to be part of it."[50] He was also critical of Scientology leadership: "I think that there are probably things of Scientology that are valuable and that can help people – my main issue is not with Scientology per se, it is with Scientology the organization – it is a corrupt I believe and probably a criminal endeavor, and that has to do with people who are in charge of Scientology mainly David Miscavige..."[50]
In September 2010, Beghe took part in aBBC NewsPanorama documentary,The Secrets of Scientology, in which he spoke about his decision to leave the organization.[51] Beghe also appeared in the 2015HBO documentaryGoing Clear, based uponthe book of the same name byLawrence Wright.[52]
Beghe's sister, Francesca Beghe, is a singer-songwriter who released a self-titled album in 1991 withSBK Records.[3] His great-grandfather wasCharles S. Deneen, a two-termgovernor of Illinois and one-term U.S. Senator in the late 1920s.[53]
Beghe andDavid Duchovny are close friends; he wasbest man at Duchovny's wedding to actressTéa Leoni in 1997.[54][24]
Beghe is known for his signature "gravelly" voice owing to a car accident in 1999. He said, "I wasintubated, and I kept pulling this tube out of my throat."[55]
Beghe married Angie Janu in 2000.[56] The couple have two children.[57] He lives inNichols Canyon, Los Angeles, California.[58][59] In December 2017, Beghe filed for divorce,[57] which was granted in September 2020.[60]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Compromising Positions | Cupcake | Feature film debut[1] |
| 1987 | Maid to Order | Bret | |
| 1988 | Monkey Shines | Allan Mann | |
| 1991 | Thelma & Louise | State Trooper | |
| 1994 | Jimmy Hollywood | Detective | |
| 1997 | G.I. Jane | Royce | |
| 1998 | The X-Files | FBI Man at Bomb Site | Uncredited |
| 2002 | Home Alone 4 | Peter McCallister | |
| 2008 | One Missed Call | Ray Purvis | |
| 2010 | The Next Three Days | Detective Quinn | |
| Tall Justice | Moretti | ||
| 2011 | X-Men: First Class | XO | |
| 2012 | Atlas Shrugged: Part II | Henry Rearden | |
| 2013 | Superman: Unbound | Terrorist Leader | Voice |
| Phantom | Dr. Semak | ||
| 2015 | Safelight | Eric | |
| 2018 | Dawgtown | Mauler | Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Dress Gray | Hank Beaumont | TV mini-series, 2 episodes |
| 1986–1987 | 1st & Ten | Tom Yinessa | First recurring role on television[1]23 episodes |
| 1987 | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | Glen | Episode: "Here's Why Henry David Thoreau Chose the Pond" |
| 1989 | Alien Nation | Dr. Jim Trenner | Episode: "Fountain of Youth" |
| Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin | Bobby Spencer | Television film | |
| Christine Cromwell | Billy Peale | Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go" | |
| Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders | Sammy Turner | Television film | |
| 1989–1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Wayne Bennett/Steve Chambers | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | The Operation | John Kopiak | Television film |
| Mancuso, FBI | Charles Faxon | Episode: "Daryl Ross & the Supremes" | |
| Quantum Leap | Det. Sgt. Roger Skaggs | Episode: "M.I.A." | |
| Johnny Ryan | Peter Howard | Television film | |
| 1991 | Jake and the Fatman | Dennis Morgan | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Homefront | Paul | Episode: "Bad Connection" |
| Intruders | Ray Brooks | 2 episodes | |
| 1992–1993 | Picket Fences | A.D.A. Petrovic | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | In the Heat of the Night | Mark Meyers | Episode: "Private Sessions" |
| L.A. Law | Detective Greg Riley | Episode: "Cold Shower" | |
| Full Eclipse | Doug Crane | Television film | |
| 1993–1995 | Matlock | Thomas Crighton/Lt. Pat Rutledge | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Treasure Island: The Adventure Begins | Robbie | Television film |
| The X-Files | Larry Moore | Episode: "Darkness Falls" | |
| Melrose Place | Lt. Jeffrey Lindley | 8 episodes | |
| 1995 | Courthouse | Russell Snow | Episode: "Order on the Court" |
| NYPD Blue | Julian Kerbis | Episode: "One Big Happy Family" | |
| 1996 | Public Morals | Boyfriend | Episode: "The Yellow Cover" |
| Good Company | Ron Nash | 6 episodes | |
| Suddenly | Joe Mulvey | Television film | |
| 1997 | Promised Land | Jeff | Episode: "Independence Day" |
| George and Leo | Ron | 2 episodes | |
| 1997–1998 | Chicago Hope | Danny Blaines | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear | Matt | Television film |
| Cab to Canada | Mike Donahue | Television film | |
| To Have & to Hold | Sean McGrail | 13 episodes | |
| 1999–2000 | Family Law | Don | 4 episodes |
| 2000 | Runaway Virus | Daniel Rothman | Television film |
| Dharma & Greg | Scott Kelley | Episode: "The Spy Who Said He Loved Me" | |
| Resurrection Blvd. | Eric Carter | 2 episodes | |
| When Andrew Came Home | Eddie | Television film | |
| 2001 | The Beast | Bill Hanson | Episode: "The Damage Done" |
| Kristin | Peter Medavoy | Episode: "The Rival" | |
| Three Blind Mice | Carter Simmons | Television film | |
| 2002 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Russ Bradley | Episode: "Burden of Proof" |
| Judging Amy | Tim Powell | Episode: "Lost and Found" | |
| 2003 | The District | Donnelly/Officer Terry | 2 episodes |
| The Lyon's Den | FBI Agent Vince Ryan | Episode: "Ex" | |
| 2004 | Pilot Season | Henry R. Duke | Television miniseries |
| JAG | Sgt. Maj. Thomas Elgart Ret. | Episode: "Corporate Raiders" | |
| American Dreams | Gunnery Sergeant Finch | 11 episodes | |
| 2004–2005 | Everwood | John Hayes | 6 episodes |
| 2005 | The Inside | Special Agent Randall Day | Episode: "Gem" |
| 2006 | Huff | Darren Hadlick | 2 episodes |
| CSI: NY | Jack Butler | Episode: "Stealing Home" | |
| Veronica Mars | Cormac Fitzpatrick | 2 episodes | |
| Criminal Minds | Sheriff Yates | Episode: "North Mammon" | |
| 2007 | Numb3rs | Reid Sarasin | Episode: "Finders Keepers" |
| Cane | Vince Grasso | 8 episodes | |
| 2008 | Ghost Whisperer | Kevin Keller | Episode: "Bloodline" |
| Eli Stone | Rick O'Malley | Episode: "The Humanitarian" | |
| Runaway | Episode: "Father Figure" | ||
| 2009 | Life | John Flowers | Episode: "3 Women" |
| Lie to Me | Captain Hoopes | Episode: "Undercover" | |
| 2009–2013 | Californication | Richard Bates | 13 episodes |
| 2010 | Hawthorne | Richard Maxwell | Episode: "Hidden Truths" |
| Tall Justice | Moretti | Short | |
| Medium | Frank Davenport | Episode: "Smoke Damage" | |
| 2010–2011 | Castle | Mike Royce | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Big Tweet | Jimmy Rossi | Short |
| Needs | Head Mobster | Short | |
| NCIS | Blake Martin | Episode: "Kill Screen" | |
| Law & Order: Los Angeles | Raymond Garson | Episode: "Silver Lake" | |
| Prime Suspect | Detective Jake Keating | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Henry | Will | Short | |
| 2012–present | Chicago Fire | Det./Sgt. Hank Voight | Recurring role, 20 episodes |
| 2012 | Body of Proof | Harvey Brand | Episode: "Occupational Hazards" |
| The Finder | Col. Chuck Bradshaw | Episode: "Little Green Men" | |
| Last Resort | Wes | 2 episodes | |
| 2013 | Phantom | Dr. Semak | |
| Dice City | Detective Branson | Television film | |
| 2014 | Wild Card | Donatello | Episode: "The Pilot" |
| 2014–present | Chicago P.D. | Sergeant Hank Voight | Lead role: 161 episodes Also serves as executive producer as of season 10 |
| 2014–2016 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Guest: 3 episodes | |
| 2015 | BoJack Horseman | Jogger | 2 episodes |
| 2015–present | Chicago Med | Sergeant Hank Voight | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Chicago Justice | 3 episodes |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Beghe, 60, and Janu were "restored to the status of single persons" on Sept. 28.
