Summary

• Jason Beghe's character on Chicago P.D., Hank Voight, is known for his protective and sometimes overprotective nature towards victims.
• Speculation about Beghe having Parkinson's disease due to head movements is false — they're likely a result of a car accident he was in.
• Beghe's distinctive gravelly voice is a result of the same car accident.

There's a rumor swirling that Jason Beghe from Chicago P.D. has Parkinson's disease, which would explain some of his character's mannerisms, but there's simply no truth to it. Beghe has appeared in many movies and TV shows over his long career, but Chicago P.D. is probably his best-known series. He has starred in the main cast as Sergeant Hank Voight since the show premiered in 2014, and though the series is pitched as an ensemble, it's Voight who is often the main focus. The temperamental chief of the Chicago P.D. has appeared in many shows in Dick Wolf's TV universe.

As part of the Intelligence Unit, Voight is unafraid to use questionable methods to get criminals to talk, all in the name of being protective of victims. Voight's protectiveness often crosses into overprotectiveness, but that's part of what makes the character so compelling and classic Voight in Chicago P.D. is the one who's willing to get his hands dirty to get justice. With such a long tenure on the show, fans have noticed just about every habit of Jason Beghe's, and one of his affectations has led some to wonder if he has Parkinson's disease.

Jason Beghe's Head Movements On Chicago P.D. May Be The Result Of A Car Accident, Not Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease Causes Involuntary Tremors, Leading To The Rumor

The rumor about Jason Beghe comes from fans across the internet who suspect the actor has Parkinson's disease. Their reason is that Beghe often nods or shakes his head in scenes. Tremors affect 80% of people living with Parkinson's disease, and the involuntary shaking motion can be a telltale sign of the disease (via APDA). According to the fan site, One Chicago Center, Parkinson's disease is one of the top searches about the actor on Google, ranking higher than even queries about Beghe's distinctive, gravelly voice.

It's possible that Beghe's head shaking is due to some nerve damage and loss of head control from the accident.

While Beghe definitively does not have Parkinson's disease, the head shaking could be a result of a car accident the actor was involved in. This accident in 1999 broke Beghe's neck, back, ribs, and both his lungs (via The Daily Beast). He was even put into a coma for three and a half weeks. Lack of coordination can be a long-term physical effect that comes from a car crash (via Complete Care). It's possible that Beghe's head shaking is due to some nerve damage and loss of head control from the accident.

Beghe's Car Accident Is Also The Reason For His Gravelly Voice

The Intubation Tube Damaged Beghe's Already Deep Voice

While the effects of Beghe's car crash on his head shaking are only speculation, Beghe himself says that his distinctive chalky voice, the one he's now been speaking with for the majority of his career, is due to the accident. The actor tells DB about his voice,

"When puberty hit, I went down low and there was some gravel. But I was in a very serious car accident in '99—...When I would come out of the coma, since I was intubated from being on life support, I would pull the tube out and it made it even more f**ked up."

In his altered and confused state, Beghe ended up doing more damage to his throat, lowering his voice from an already low register to the one everyone knows Hank Voight for. The crash is now over two decades old and Beghe doesn't sweat it, nor the lasting effects too much, saying about his voice,

"It’s good for Voight—not so good when I have to play the sweet dad. But it’s good with my kids. They’re good kids, but when I say, Hey, it’s time to clean up, they do it."

His head shaking and rough voice are all part of Hank Voight's character on Chicago P.D. Jason Beghe has come to terms with these aspects of his life and if 11 seasons on the same show have anything to say about it, he obviously has no issues sharing them with the world.