Jason Beghe is a renowned American actor from New York City, renowned for his distinctive "gravelly" voice, which is a result of a car accident in 1999 and subsequent intubation. Born to a family with a history in politics, Beghe's father was Judge Renato Beghe, who served as the Senior Judge of the United States Tax Court from 2003 until his death in 2012. Beghe is the great-grandson of politician Charles S. Deneen, who served two terms as the Governor of Illinois.
Beghe attended the prestigious Collegiate School, a private preparatory school for boys in New York City, where he befriended actors David Duchovny and John F. Kennedy Jr. He received his college education at Pomona College, graduating in 1982. Following his graduation, Beghe worked as a model in Europe before pursuing an acting career in the mid-1980s.
Beghe's early film roles include "Compromising Positions" (1985) and "Monkey Shines" (1988),where he portrayed a quadriplegic law student. He also appeared in the military-themed action drama "G.I. Jane" (1997) as Lieutenant Commander Royce Harper. His notable television roles include a recurring role in the police procedural series "Chicago P.D." (2014-),where he portrayed the police sergeant Henry "Hank" Voight, known for his ruthlessness and moral ambiguity.
Beghe's extensive television credits include guest-star roles in popular series such as "Jake and the Fatman", "Matlock", and "The X-Files". He had recurring roles in "Chicago Hope" (1994-2000) and "To Have & to Hold" (1998). In the 2000s, Beghe continued to appear frequently in guest-star roles in television, often cast in police procedural or mystery series.
In 2012, Beghe started appearing as "shady" cop Hank Voight in the procedural drama "Chicago Fire". Two years later, the character became the main character of the spin-off series "Chicago P.D.", which further fleshed out his personality and past history. Beghe has portrayed the popular character in over 200 episodes. By 2024, Beghe was 64 years-old and had no plans to retire from the spotlight.