Jason Beghe may now be best known as the gravel-voiced Sergeant Hank Voight on NBC’s long-running hit Chicago P.D., but years before commanding the Intelligence Unit, he was turning heads for a very different reason—his early career as a model. In an exclusive conversation, Beghe opened up about those shirtless ads from his past that still occasionally resurface, offering a candid and humorous perspective on a chapter of his life that feels worlds apart from the hardened character he portrays on screen today.
Beghe’s path to acting was far from straightforward. Before breaking into television and film, he spent time as a model, a career that led him to feature in several campaigns that emphasized his rugged good looks and athletic build. The shirtless shots, which once helped him book work, have since become a source of both nostalgia and amusement. “It’s funny to look back at those photos now,” Beghe admitted with a laugh. “Back then, it was just a job. You never think that decades later, people are going to bring them up.”
The actor, who has built his reputation on playing tough, morally complex characters, acknowledged the stark contrast between his earlier image-driven career and the gritty realism he embodies today. “I don’t think Voight would ever take his shirt off for a cologne ad,” he joked. “But hey, we all start somewhere.”
Beghe’s comments highlight a broader truth about the entertainment industry: careers are rarely linear, and many actors arrive at their breakthrough roles through unexpected detours. For Beghe, modeling provided an entry point into the business, but it was his dedication to craft that eventually solidified his place in Hollywood. After early appearances in films such as Thelma & Louise and Monkey Shines, he carved out a steady career before landing his defining role in Chicago P.D..
Now, more than a decade into playing Hank Voight, Beghe has become synonymous with the role. His commanding screen presence and trademark raspy delivery have helped anchor the series through cast changes and evolving storylines. For fans, it may be hard to imagine him as anything other than the no-nonsense leader of the Intelligence Unit. Yet those shirtless ads are a reminder of the versatility—and evolution—that define his journey.
Looking back, Beghe doesn’t shy away from embracing that past. Instead, he frames it as a stepping stone that ultimately led him to where he is today. “Everything you do along the way teaches you something,” he reflected. “Even if it’s just how to feel comfortable in front of a camera. You take those experiences with you, and they shape the actor you become.”
As Chicago P.D. heads into its next season, Beghe remains grateful for the unlikely path that brought him here. Shirtless modeling days included, his story underscores how resilience, reinvention, and a sense of humor can turn even the most unexpected beginnings into a celebrated career.
