Jason Beghe

{{Short description|American film and television actor (born 1960)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| image = Jason Beghe 2008 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Beghe in May 2008

| imagesize = 220px

| name = Jason Beghe

| birth_name = Jason Deneen Beghe

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|3|12}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| occupation = Actor

| known for = Playing Hank Voight in Chicago P.D.

| years_active = 1985–present

| spouse =

{{marriage|Angie Janu|2000|2020|reason=div}}

| children = 2

| father = Renato Beghe

| relatives = Charles S. Deneen (great-grandfather)
Bina Deneen (great-grandmother)

| alma_mater = Pomona College

| education = Collegiate School

}}

Jason Deneen Beghe ({{IPAc-en|b|ə|ˈ|ɡ|eɪ}}; born March 12, 1960) is an American actor. Since 2014, he has starred in the NBC TV series Chicago P.D. as Sergeant Hank Voight. He is also known for starring in the 1988 George A. Romero film Monkey Shines, playing Demi Moore's love interest in G.I. Jane, appearing as a police officer in the film Thelma & Louise, starring opposite Moira Kelly in the television series To Have & to Hold, and having recurring roles on Picket Fences, Melrose Place, Chicago Hope, American Dreams, Cane, and Californication.

Beghe is a former Scientologist. He began taking Scientology courses in 1994 and later appeared in a Church of Scientology advertising campaign and in promotional videos. Beghe left the church in 2007.

Early life

Beghe, who is of Italian, German, English, and French Canadian heritage, was born March 12, 1960, in New York City, the son of tax court judge Renato Beghe,{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/renato-w-beghe-tax-court-judge/2012/07/25/gJQAhk729W_story.html| title = Renato W. Beghe, tax court judge |newspaper=The Washington Post}} and has three siblings. He attended the Collegiate School, a private preparatory school for boys located in New York City.{{cite book | last =Heymann | first =Clemens David | title =American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy | publisher =Simon & Schuster | year =2007 | pages =[https://archive.org/details/americanlegacyst00heym/page/164 164–165] |isbn =978-0-7434-9738-1 | url =https://archive.org/details/americanlegacyst00heym/page/164 }} While there, he became best friends with John F. Kennedy Jr. and actor David Duchovny;{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/1997/05/07/1997-05-07_for_marla__home_is_where_the.html|title=For Marla, Home Is Where The Donald Ain't|work=New York Daily News|date=May 7, 1997|access-date=April 17, 2008|last=Rush|first=George, and Joanna Molloy with Baird Jones|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423035831/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/1997/05/07/1997-05-07_for_marla__home_is_where_the.html |archive-date=April 23, 2008}} another classmate was dancer Christopher d'Amboise.The Dutchman (Collegiate school yearbook), 1975 edition, p. 42 Kennedy and Beghe often spent time together outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in Central Park, while being monitored by Kennedy's Secret Service detail.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9907/22/jfk.growing.up.in.nyc/|title=JFK Jr. remembered as a regular New Yorker|publisher=Time Warner|work=CNN|access-date=April 17, 2008|date=July 22, 1999|last=Hinojosa|first=Maria }} Beghe later persuaded Duchovny to pursue work in acting.{{cite news | last =Jones | first =Alison | title =Interview David Duchovny: From TV hero to romantic lead; In making the leap from television to big screen, David Duchovny took some sound advice off an old pro as Alison Jones discovered | work =The Birmingham Post | page =4 | date =June 3, 2000 }}

File:Christopher d'Amboise & Jason Beghe in 9th grade, 1975.jpg (left) in 8th grade, 1975]]

He attended Pomona College, graduating in 1982.Pomona College Alumni Directory 2000 (Claremont: Office of Alumni Relations, 2000), p. 17.

Acting career

Prior to his acting career, Beghe worked as a model in Europe.{{cite news | last =Sam | first ="TV Sam The Straight Answer Man" (column) | title =CBS 'Dramedy' Follows Couple With Conflicts | work =Winston-Salem Journal | page =16 | date =October 24, 1998 }} He had his feature film debut in the 1985 film Compromising Positions, starring Susan Sarandon, and in 1986 had his first recurring role on television on the HBO situation comedy series 1st & Ten.{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/contributor/165537|title=Jason Beghe|publisher= Yahoo! TV|access-date=April 18, 2008}} He starred alongside O. J. Simpson and Sam J. Jones in HBO's sequel to 1st & Ten titled Training Camp: The Bulls Are Back, and John Voorhees of The Seattle Times wrote: "The cast, which includes O.J. Simpson, Sam Jones and newcomer Jason Beghe, is first-rate."{{cite news | last =Voorhees | first =John | title =The 9.A.M. Ratings Race May Heat Up With Two New Shows | work =The Seattle Times | date =September 12, 1986 }}

In 1988, he starred in the film Monkey Shines: An Experiment In Fear, directed by George A. Romero.{{cite news | last =Ebert, Roger | author-link =Roger Ebert | title =Monkey Shines: An Experiment In Fear | work =Chicago Sun-Times | date =July 29, 1988 | url =http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19880729/REVIEWS/807290303/1023 | access-date =April 17, 2008}} He portrayed Allan Mann, a law student made quadriplegic when hit by a truck in the opening credits of the film.{{cite book | last =Norden | first =Martin F. | title =The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the Movies | publisher =Rutgers University Press | year =1994 | page =[https://archive.org/details/cinemaofisolatio00nord/page/298 298] | isbn =0-8135-2104-1 | url =https://archive.org/details/cinemaofisolatio00nord/page/298 }} The Philadelphia Inquirer gave a positive review of Beghe's performance in Monkey 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".{{cite news | title =A Quadriplegic's Trained Monkey Turns Violent | work =The Philadelphia Inquirer | date =July 29, 1988 }} David Foil of The Advocate described Beghe's performance as "remarkable simply for meeting the demands of the character".{{cite news | last =Foil | first =David | title =Monkey Shines *** An unnerving, provocative thriller | work =The Advocate | page =1-D | date =August 6, 1988 }}

Beghe played an ice hockey star in the Perry Mason TV film The Case of the All-Star Assassin, an NBC-TV telefeature broadcast November 19, 1989.{{cite book | last =Pitts | first =Michael R. | title =Famous Movie Detectives III | publisher =Scarecrow Press | date =December 15, 2004 | page =180 | isbn = 0-8108-3690-4}} In 1991, he played a State Trooper in the film Thelma & Louise (reuniting him with Sarandon, with whom he'd appeared in Compromising Positions),{{cite book | last =Scott | first =Ridley | author-link =Ridley Scott |author2=Laurence F. Knapp |author3=Andrea F. Kulas | title =Ridley Scott: Interviews | publisher =University Press of Mississippi | year =2005| pages =xxv | isbn = 1-57806-726-X}} and was Demi Moore's love interest in the 1997 film G.I. Jane.{{cite book | last =Mukherjee | first =Roopali | title =The Racial Order of Things: Cultural Imaginaries of the Post-soul Era | publisher =University of Minnesota Press | year =2006| page =123| isbn = 0-8166-4706-2}} He had recurring roles on Picket Fences and Melrose Place, and became a cast member of Chicago Hope in 1997, portraying electrician Danny Blaines opposite romantic interest Dr. Austin played by Christine Lahti.{{cite news | last =Perigard | first =Mark A. | title =Beghe hopeful about prime-time guest shot | work =The Boston Herald | page =52 | date =October 29, 1997 }} In a 1997 interview in The Boston Herald, Beghe spoke about his respect for his fellow cast members in Chicago 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." He commented on his character on Melrose Place, a closeted military officer who had feelings for Matt, played by Doug 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." In 1993, Beghe played Lt. Pat Rudledge in the television drama series Matlock.

Beghe co-starred with Moira Kelly in the 1998 CBS television drama series To Have & to Hold, where he played police officer Sean McGrail.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9810/22/marvin.kitman/index.html|title='Trinity' shines through Irish stereotypes|publisher=Time Warner|work = CNN|access-date=April 17, 2008|last=Kitman|first=Marvin |author-link=Marvin Kitman|date=October 22, 1998}} Mike Duffy of the Detroit Free Press wrote: "There is an affectionate romantic sizzle between the ruggedly handsome Beghe and the dark-haired, unconventionally attractive Kelly."{{cite news | last =Duffy | first =Mike | title =She's A Lawyer, He's A Cop And The Plot Needs Work | work =Detroit Free Press | page =5E | date =September 30, 1998}} Kinney Littlefield of the Orange County Register said that "Beghe and Kelly have charm."{{cite news | last =Littlefield | first =Kinney | title = A season of dysfunction – Television: A few fresh shows stand out in a formulaic season with an unflattering perspective. | work =Orange County Register | page =F23 | date =September 20, 1998 }}

Beghe appeared in acting roles on Numb3rs, CSI: NY, Everwood, Criminal Minds, Veronica Mars, JAG and Cane.{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=447762 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420010828/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=447762 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 20, 2008 |title=High profile celebrity follower turns on Scientology |work=National Nine News |date=April 16, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/tv-star-jason-beghe-says-scientology-a-destructive-rip-off/story-e6frev00-1111116068639|title=TV star Jason Beghe says Scientology: a 'destructive, rip off' |work=news.com.au|publisher= The Daily Telegraph|access-date=April 15, 2008|date=April 15, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/04/csi-jason-beghe-scientology-tom-cruise.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420070655/http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/04/csi-jason-beghe-scientology-tom-cruise.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 20, 2008 |title=Stars Align Against Scientology? |publisher=Radar Magazine |work=Radar Online |access-date=April 15, 2008 |date=April 14, 2008 |last=Gray |first=Tyler }} Beghe portrayed exorcist Ray Purvis in the 2008 horror film One Missed Call.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/film/reviews/52712/one-missed-call-2008/|title=One Missed Call (2008)|work=PopMatters Film Review|publisher=Pop Matters|access-date=April 19, 2008|date=January 4, 2008|last=Fuchs|first=Cynthia }}{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117935747.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|title=One Missed Call Review |work=Variety|date=January 4, 2008|publisher=Reed Business Information|access-date=April 19, 2008|last=Harvey|first=Dennis}} In 2009, Beghe had a guest-starring role on the television show Californication.{{cite news|last=Ortega |first=Tony |title=Post-Xenu Beghe Reveals TV's First 'Mangina' |work=The Village Voice |publisher=Village Voice Media |date=October 2, 2009 |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/post-xenu_beghe.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004082018/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/post-xenu_beghe.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2009 }} He played the character novelist Richard Bates, a friend of character Hank Moody (played by David Duchovny). Beghe's role was made memorable by the fact that he was the first actor to display a mangina on television. "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 of TV Squad.{{cite news| last = Gallagher | first =Danny| title = Review: Californication – Comings and Goings | work =TV Squad | publisher = AOL Television| date =December 7, 2009 | url = http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/12/07/review-californication-comings-and-goings-recap/ | access-date = December 20, 2009}} Beghe was in the 2010 film The Next Three Days, directed by Paul Haggis and starring Elizabeth Banks, Russell Crowe, Brian Dennehy, and Olivia Wilde.

Since 2014, Beghe has starred on Chicago P.D.; the show is a spin-off of Chicago Fire, on which Beghe played a recurring role. Chicago P.D. follows the detectives of the Chicago Police Department's Intelligence Unit that combats the city's major offenses, including organized crime, drug trafficking, and high-profile murders.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/19/chicago-fire-chicago-p-d-grimm-renewed-by-nbc/246434/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320015900/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/19/chicago-fire-chicago-p-d-grimm-renewed-by-nbc/246434/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2014 |title='Chicago Fire', 'Chicago P.D.' & 'Grimm' Renewed; NBC Confirms Renewals of 'Parks & Recreation' & 'Celebrity Apprentice' |publisher=TV by the Numbers |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=July 30, 2014}} Beghe plays the role of Sgt. Hank Voight, a "tough cop" who heads the Intelligence Unit.{{cite web|url=https://www.wect.com/story/32064551/first-at-four-chicago-pd-star-shares-scoop-on-season-finale|title=First at Four: 'Chicago P.D.' star shares scoop on season finale|website=wect.com|date=May 25, 2016 }} On November 21, 2017, Deadline Hollywood reported that Beghe was investigated for behavior that was considered overly aggressive and possibly sexual harassment while filming Chicago 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,{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/chicago-pd-star-jason-beghe-apologizes-anger-issues-set-behavior/|title='Chicago PD' Star Jason Beghe Apologizes for 'Anger Issues' and On-Set Behavior|date=November 22, 2017}} admitted to engaging in aggressive behavior on set, and apologized.{{cite web|last=Patten |first=Dominic |url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/jason-beghe-chicago-pd-sophia-bush-sexual-harassment-allegations-nbc-investigation-1202213264/ |title='Chicago P.D.' Star Jason Beghe Investigated Over Sexual Harassment Claims |date=November 22, 2017 |publisher=Deadline |access-date=November 22, 2017}}

Scientology

=Involvement in Scientology=

In 1994, while taking an acting class taught by Scientologist Milton Katselas, Beghe decided to take some Scientology courses.{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0815,celebrity%20denounces%20scientology,411801,2.html/full |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420044729/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0815%2Ccelebrity%20denounces%20scientology%2C411801%2C2.html/full |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 20, 2008 |title=Scientology's First Celebrity Defector Reveals Church Secrets: 'I was Miscavige's favorite boy,' says veteran TV actor Jason Beghe |work=Village Voice |date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |last=Ortega |first=Tony }} Fellow acting student Bodhi Elfman gave him a book about Scientology. In 1999, Beghe helped promote a "What is Scientology?" exhibition as part of a Church of Scientology television advertising campaign in the United Kingdom.{{cite news | last =Burrell | first =Ian | title =Cult to launch TV ad blitz on UK; The controversial Church of Scientology, which wants to be made a charity, is using celebrities to promote itself in a landmark campaign | work =The Independent on Sunday | page =11 | date =July 11, 1999 }} He appeared in Scientology promotional videos in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=25711|title=Ex-Scientologist Beghe Denounces The Religion|work= San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=April 17, 2008|date=April 15, 2008}} Beghe estimated that he gave the Church of Scientology US$1 million over a 12-year period.

In 2007, Beghe decided to leave Scientology.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351287,00.html|title=Star Exits Scientology|work=Fox News|publisher=Fox News Network, LLC.|access-date=April 15, 2008|date=April 14, 2008|last=Friedman|first=Roger}} One of the first people he went to see after his departure was his friend David Duchovny.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352069,00.html|title=Jason Beghe: Scientology a 'Con'|work=Fox News|publisher=Fox News Network, LLC|date=April 22, 2008|last=Friedman|first=Roger}} During the years of his involvement in Scientology, his relationship with Duchovny had suffered; Duchovny was referred to as a "Suppressive Person", a term used by Scientologists for those believed to be working against the Church of Scientology.{{cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/06/02/news_pf/TampaBay/The_CEO_and_his_churc.shtml

|title=The CEO and his church

|work=St. Petersburg Times

|access-date=May 23, 2008 |date=June 2, 2002 |last=O'Neil

|first=Deborah; Jeff Harrington

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210034937/http://www.sptimes.com/2002/06/02/news_pf/TampaBay/The_CEO_and_his_churc.shtml

|archive-date=February 10, 2009 }}

=Criticism of Scientology=

Beghe began to publicly criticize the Church of Scientology in April 2008. He participated in an interview about his experiences as a Scientologist; a clip of that interview was published online by Scientology critic Mark Bunker{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHb0BZyF5Ok|title=Scientology: Jason Beghe Interview

|work=Mark Bunker|access-date=April 10, 2019|date=April 10, 2019}} in mid-April 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351426,00.html|title=Actor: Scientology Is 'Brainwashing'|work=Fox News|date=April 16, 2008|publisher=Fox News|access-date=April 16, 2008|last=Friedman|first=Roger}} In the video, Beghe asserted that Scientology was "very dangerous for your spiritual, psychological, mental, emotional health and evolution".{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10504428|title='Sex and the City' star's cancer battle, Mills follows McCartney|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=April 17, 2008|date=April 16, 2008}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/253483/hollywood-scientologist-slams-church.html|title=Hollywood Scientologist slams church|work=Marie Claire|publisher=Marie Claire UK|access-date=April 23, 2008|date=April 23, 2008|archive-date=April 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402193724/http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/253483/hollywood-scientologist-slams-church.html|url-status=dead}} Marina Hyde of The Guardian has called Beghe a Scientology celebrity whistleblower.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/lostinshowbiz/2008/04/lifting_the_lid_on_scientology.html|title=Lifting the lid on Scientology's celebrities|work=The Guardian|date=April 18, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2008|last=Hyde|first=Marina }}

File:Scientology - Jason Beghe Interview Tease.ogv's interview of Beghe
(April 14, 2008)]]

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0817,ortega,426289,2.html |title=Former Scientologist Actor Wants his Confessional Files Back |work=The Village Voice |publisher=Village Voice Media Holdings, LLC |date=April 29, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2008 |last=Ortega |first=Tony |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501130135/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0817%2Cortega%2C426289%2C2.html |archive-date=May 1, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353041,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502142401/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353041,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2008|title=Beghe Begging for His Scientology Records: Jason Beghe Begs for Records|work=Fox News|publisher=Fox News Network, LLC|date=April 29, 2008|access-date=April 29, 2008|last=Friedman|first=Roger}} Beghe told The Village Voice that these confidential files are kept on actor Tom Cruise and other celebrity Scientologists.

Beghe has asserted that Scientology's practice of disconnection was still in place as of 2008. In an interview with Tony Ortega of The Village Voice, Beghe stated that the expulsion of his four-year-old son from a Scientology school was an example of disconnection.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/05/jason_beghe_to.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517112524/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/05/jason_beghe_to.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |work=Runnin' Scared |title=Jason Beghe to Scientology Mouthpiece Tommy Davis: 'You're Losing Your Soul' |publisher=The Village Voice |access-date=May 15, 2008 |last=Ortega |first=Tony }} 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."

File:2008 05 29 New York - Anonymous protest Jason Beghe 02.jpg

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-05-27/news/jason-beghe-turned-away-at-ny-scientology-building/|title=Jason Beghe Turned Away at NY Scientology Building|work=The Village Voice|publisher=Village Voice Media Holdings, LLC|access-date=May 31, 2008|date=May 30, 2008|last=Ortega|first=Tony}} In September 2008, Beghe traveled to Germany where he spoke with government officials in Hamburg, about his experiences as a Scientologist.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/09/jason_beghe_is.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918112226/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/09/jason_beghe_is.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |title=Jason Beghe Is Still Denouncing Scientology – This Time in Germany |work=Runnin' Scared |publisher=Village Voice |date=September 16, 2008 |first=Tony |last=Ortega }} 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 in Berlin.

File:2008 09 Jason Beghe speaks at Hamburg conference on Scientology 05.jpg, Germany
(September 4, 2008)]]

Beghe was a guest in May 2009 on the BBC World Service radio program World: 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."{{cite news | last =Atkins | first =Ross | title =What is scientology? | work =World: Have Your Say | publisher =BBC World Service | date =May 26, 2009 }} 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..."

In September 2010, Beghe took part in a BBC News Panorama documentary, The Secrets of Scientology, in which he spoke about his decision to leave the organization.{{cite news |last=Sweeney|first=John|author-link=John Sweeney (journalist)| title =The Secrets of Scientology|title-link=The Secrets of Scientology | work = Panorama | publisher = BBC | date = September 28, 2010}} Beghe also appeared in the 2015 HBO documentary Going Clear, based upon the book of the same name by Lawrence Wright.{{cite news|last=Felperin |first=Leslie| title='Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief': Sundance Review| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/going-clear-scientology-prison-belief-767023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 25, 2015 }}

Personal life

Beghe's sister, Francesca Beghe, is a singer-songwriter who released a self-titled album in 1991 with SBK Records.{{cite news | last =Italie | first =Hillel (Associated Press) | title ='Tough' New Yorker On Cusp Of Success | work =Times Union | page =D4 | date =September 7, 1991 }} His great-grandfather was Charles S. Deneen, a two-term governor of Illinois and one-term U.S. Senator in the late 1920s.{{cite news|last=Wagner |first=Curt| title=Chicago P.D. cast members feel at home'| url=http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2014-01-08/entertainment/46073537_1_chicago-fire-antonio-dawson-dick-wolf |work=Redeye |date=January 8, 2014 }}

Beghe and David Duchovny are close friends; he was best man at Duchovny's wedding to actress Téa Leoni in 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20122178,00.html|work=People|date=May 19, 1997|volume= 47|issue=19|title=Altared State: David Duchovny and Téa Leoni Tie the Knot|first=Tom|last=Gliatto|access-date= August 10, 2014}}

Beghe is known for his signature "gravelly" voice owing to a car accident in 1999. He said, "I was intubated, and I kept pulling this tube out of my throat."{{cite news |last=Widener |first=Scott |date=April 23, 2014 |title=Jason Beghe turned a tough break into a tough role as 'Chicago P.D.'s' rogue officer Hank Voight |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jason-beghe-tough-break-led-memorable-voice-article-1.1765027 |access-date=February 24, 2015 |work=New York Daily News}}

Beghe married Angie Janu in 2000.{{cite news| last =Lynch | first =Lorrie | title =Who's News | work =USA Weekend | publisher =Gannett Company | date =October 29, 2000 }} The couple have two children.{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/chicago-p-star-jason-beghe-files-divorce-article-1.3724974|title='Chicago P.D.' star Jason Beghe files for divorce|first=KATE|last=FELDMAN|website=nydailynews.com|date=December 29, 2017 }} He lives in Nichols Canyon, Los Angeles, California.{{cite news | last =Ryon | first =Ruth | title =After the Split, Still Neighborly in Brentwood | work =Los Angeles Times | page =E.1 | date =December 28, 2000 }}{{cite news | last =Ryon | first =Ruth (Los Angeles Times) | title =Eagles' Frey Lands In $10.5 Million Nest | work =The Orlando Sentinel | page =J20 | date =March 3, 2002 }} In December 2017, Beghe filed for divorce, which was granted in September 2020.{{cite magazine|last=Merrett|first=Robyn|title= Chicago P.D.'s Jason Beghe and Ex Angie Janu Agree to Joint Custody of Sons in New Divorce Judgement|url=https://people.com/tv/jason-beghe-and-ex-angie-janu-finalize-divorce/|date=October 9, 2020|access-date=October 31, 2022|magazine=People|quote=Beghe, 60, and Janu were "restored to the status of single persons" on Sept. 28.}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Film

! Role

! Notes

1985

| Compromising Positions

| Cupcake

| Feature film debut

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

|

rowspan="2" | 2010

| The Next Three Days

| Detective Quinn

|

Tall Justice

| Moretti

|

2011

| X-Men: First Class

| XO

|

2012

| Atlas Shrugged: Part II

| Henry Rearden

|

rowspan="2" | 2013

| Superman: Unbound

| Terrorist Leader

| Voice

Phantom

| Dr. Semak

|

2015

| Safelight

| Eric

|

2018

| Dawgtown

| Mauler

| Voice

=Television=

class="wikitable"
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 23 episodes

1987

| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

| Glen

| Episode: "Here's Why Henry David Thoreau Chose the Pond"

rowspan="4" |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

rowspan="4" |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

rowspan="2"|1992

| Homefront

| Paul

| Episode: "Bad Connection"

Intruders

| Ray Brooks

| 2 episodes

1992–1993

| Picket Fences

| A.D.A. Petrovic

| 5 episodes

rowspan="3" |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

rowspan="3" |1994

| Treasure Island: The Adventure Begins

| Robbie

| Television film

The X-Files

| Larry Moore

| Episode: "Darkness Falls"

Melrose Place

| Lt. Jeffrey Lindley

| 8 episodes

rowspan="2" |1995

| Courthouse

| Russell Snow

| Episode: "Order on the Court"

NYPD Blue

| Julian Kerbis

| Episode: "One Big Happy Family"

rowspan="3" |1996

| Public Morals

| Boyfriend

| Episode: "The Yellow Cover"

Good Company

| Ron Nash

| 6 episodes

Suddenly

| Joe Mulvey

| Television film

rowspan="2" |1997

| Promised Land

| Jeff

| Episode: "Independence Day"

George and Leo

| Ron

| 2 episodes

1997–1998

| Chicago Hope

| Danny Blaines

| 4 episodes

rowspan="3"|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

rowspan="4"|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

rowspan="3"|2001

| The Beast

| Bill Hanson

| Episode: "The Damage Done"

Kristin

| Peter Medavoy

| Episode: "The Rival"

Three Blind Mice

| Carter Simmons

| Television film

rowspan="2" |2002

| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

| Russ Bradley

| Episode: "Burden of Proof"

Judging Amy

| Tim Powell

| Episode: "Lost and Found"

rowspan="2"|2003

| The District

| Donnelly/Officer Terry

| 2 episodes

The Lyon's Den

| FBI Agent Vince Ryan

| Episode: "Ex"

rowspan="3"|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"

rowspan="4" |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"

rowspan="2" |2007

| Numb3rs

| Reid Sarasin

| Episode: "Finders Keepers"

Cane

| Vince Grasso

| 8 episodes

rowspan="3" |2008

| Ghost Whisperer

| Kevin Keller

| Episode: "Bloodline"

Eli Stone

| Rick O'Malley

| Episode: "The Humanitarian"

Runaway

|

| Episode: "Father Figure"

rowspan="2" |2009

| Life

| John Flowers

| Episode: "3 Women"

Lie to Me

| Captain Hoopes

| Episode: "Undercover"

2009–2013

| Californication

| Richard Bates

| 13 episodes

rowspan="3" |2010

|Hawthorne

| Richard Maxwell

| Episode: "Hidden Truths"

Tall Justice

| Moretti

| Short

Medium

| Frank Davenport

| Episode: "Smoke Damage"

2010–2011

| Castle

| Mike Royce

| 2 episodes

rowspan="6" |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

rowspan="3" |2012

| Body of Proof

| Harvey Brand

| Episode: "Occupational Hazards"

The Finder

| Col. Chuck Bradshaw

| Episode: "Little Green Men"

Last Resort

| Wes

| 2 episodes

rowspan="2" |2013

| Phantom

| Dr. Semak

|

Dice City

| Detective Branson

| Television film

2014

| Wild Card

| Donatello

| Episode: "The Pilot"

2014–present

| Chicago P.D.

| rowspan=2|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

| rowspan=2|Sergeant Hank Voight

| Recurring role

2017

| Chicago Justice

| 3 episodes

{{Portal bar|Biography|Film|Television}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}