Prior to his acting career, Beghe worked as a model in Europe.[10] He had his feature film debut in the 1985 filmCompromising Positions, starring Susan Sarandon, and in 1986 had his first recurring role on television on the HBO situation comedy series 1st & Ten.[1] 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."[11]
In 1988, he starred in the film Monkey Shines: An Experiment In Fear, directed by George A. Romero.[12] He portrayed Allan Mann, a law student made quadriplegic when hit by a truck in the opening credits of the film.[13]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".[14] David Foil of The Advocate described Beghe's performance as "remarkable simply for meeting the demands of the character".[15]
Beghe played an ice hockey star in the Perry MasonTV filmThe Case of the All-Star Assassin, an NBC-TV telefeature broadcast November 19, 1989.[16] In 1991, he played a State Trooper in the film Thelma & Louise (reuniting him with Sarandon, with whom he'd appeared in Compromising Positions),[17] and was Demi Moore's love interest in the 1997 filmG.I. Jane.[18] 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.[19] 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."[19] 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."[19] 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.[20] Mike Duffy of the Detroit Free Press wrote: "There is an affectionate romantic sizzle between the ruggedly handsome Beghe ("G.I. Jane") and the dark-haired, unconventionally attractive Kelly ("Little Odessa")."[21] Kinney Littlefield of the Orange County Register said that "Beghe and Kelly have charm."[22]
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.[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 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,[32] admitted to engaging in aggressive behavior on set, and apologized.[33]
Scientology
Involvement in Scientology
In 1994, while taking an acting class taught by Scientologist Milton Katselas, Beghe decided to take some Scientology courses.[34][35] Fellow acting student Bodhi 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 Scientology US$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 friend David 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]
Criticism of Scientology
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 critic Mark 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 of The Guardian has called Beghe a Scientology 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 told The Village Voice that these confidential files are kept on actor Tom Cruise and other celebrity Scientologists.[45]
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.[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 Europe where he spoke with government officials in Hamburg, Germany, 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 in Berlin.[49]
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."[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]
Beghe's sister, Francesca Beghe, is a singer-songwriter who released a self-titled album in 1991 with SBK Records.[3] His great-grandfather was Charles S. Deneen, a two-term governor of Illinois and one-term U.S. Senator in the late 1920s.[53]
Beghe is known for his signature "gravelly" voice owing to a car accident in 1999.[55] He said, "I was intubated, 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 in Nichols Canyon, Los Angeles, California.[58][59] In December 2017, Beghe filed for divorce,[57] which was granted in September 2020.[60]
^Jones, Alison (June 3, 2000). "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". The Birmingham Post. p. 4.
^Pomona College Alumni Directory 2000 (Claremont: Office of Alumni Relations, 2000), p. 17.
^Sam, "TV Sam The Straight Answer Man" (column) (October 24, 1998). "CBS 'Dramedy' Follows Couple With Conflicts". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 16.
^Voorhees, John (September 12, 1986). "The 9.A.M. Ratings Race May Heat Up With Two New Shows". The Seattle Times.
^Foil, David (August 6, 1988). "Monkey Shines *** An unnerving, provocative thriller". The Advocate. p. 1-D.
^Pitts, Michael R. (December 15, 2004). Famous Movie Detectives III. Scarecrow Press. p. 180. ISBN0-8108-3690-4.
^Scott, Ridley; Laurence F. Knapp; Andrea F. Kulas (2005). Ridley Scott: Interviews. University Press of Mississippi. pp. xxv. ISBN1-57806-726-X.
^Mukherjee, Roopali (2006). The Racial Order of Things: Cultural Imaginaries of the Post-soul Era. University of Minnesota Press. p. 123. ISBN0-8166-4706-2.
^ abcPerigard, Mark A. (October 29, 1997). "Beghe hopeful about prime-time guest shot". The Boston Herald. p. 52.
^Duffy, Mike (September 30, 1998). "She's A Lawyer, He's A Cop And The Plot Needs Work". Detroit Free Press. p. 5E.
^Littlefield, Kinney (September 20, 1998). "A season of dysfunction – Television: A few fresh shows stand out in a formulaic season with an unflattering perspective". Orange County Register. p. F23.
^Burrell, Ian (July 11, 1999). "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". The Independent on Sunday. p. 11.