Over the years, Chicago P.D. has delivered a steady stream of memorable villains, but one guest star’s performance as Sgt. Hank Voight’s nemesis went beyond on-screen intimidation. According to behind-the-scenes accounts, the actor was so convincing in the role — and so concerned about the reaction it might provoke — that they actually requested real security during production.
Voight, played by Jason Beghe, has faced numerous adversaries across the show’s twelve seasons, but few left the kind of impression this particular nemesis did. The storyline centered on a criminal who not only clashed with the Intelligence Unit professionally but also got under Voight’s skin on a deeply personal level. For the actor portraying the antagonist, the stakes were high: stepping into the shoes of a character willing to push Voight to his breaking point meant embodying a level of menace that fans might not easily separate from reality.
The request for security wasn’t rooted in any concrete threat on set. Instead, it reflected the performer’s awareness of just how passionate Chicago P.D.’s fanbase can be. Television history is filled with cases of actors who played villains so well that audiences blurred the lines between fiction and reality, often approaching them in public with hostility. For this particular guest star, who already had a recognizable career, the added layer of being “the one who went up against Voight” raised concerns about potential backlash.
Production insiders respected the request, ensuring that the actor felt comfortable both on set and in public during filming. The decision underscores how seriously Wolf Entertainment and NBC take the safety and well-being of their performers. While no incidents were reported, the move highlighted the intensity of fan engagement with the One Chicago universe — a testament to the franchise’s ability to craft storylines that feel urgent and authentic.
For Jason Beghe, whose portrayal of Voight often anchors the series’ most dramatic arcs, having a strong adversary is crucial to sustaining tension. This particular nemesis tested Voight’s moral boundaries and forced the character into choices that blurred the line between justice and revenge — a recurring theme in the show’s DNA. The guest star’s commitment to the role, combined with their caution off-screen, only amplified the realism of the storyline.
In retrospect, the anecdote adds another layer to the show’s legacy. Chicago P.D. has built a reputation not just for its procedural storytelling but also for its emotional intensity, and guest stars who step into high-profile antagonist roles often carry the weight of fan expectations. This case serves as a reminder that playing the “bad guy” can come with very real challenges, even when the danger exists only in perception.
As Chicago P.D. prepares to launch into its thirteenth season, the memory of Voight’s nemesis — and the unique behind-the-scenes request that came with it — continues to illustrate how much impact a single storyline can have, both on screen and off. For the actor involved, the experience was proof that embodying evil too convincingly can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword.
