When not filming, some members of the Chicago Police Department cast replace their tough cop persona with that of a loving parent when they go home to their kids.
Jason Beghe, for example, has played Sergeant Hank Voight on the Chicago Police Department since the show’s inception in 2014, becoming as much of a father figure to his colleagues on set as he is to his sons Bix and Beau Bear.
The veteran actor admitted that he takes the same approach to his younger castmates as he does to raising his son.
“Like my kids, they’re better than me,” he said on a 2021 episode of the podcast “Better Together w/ Anne and Heather.” “I think a good approach that has worked for me is not, ‘What can I teach them?’ but, ‘What can I learn from them?'”
When it comes to her sons, who are now adults, Beghe couldn’t be more proud. “I’m very happy with who they are as people,” he said. “They’re good people, empathetic and respectful. I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop.”
Beggie isn’t the only parent to appear on the show. Here’s everything you need to know about the kids in the Chicago Police Department cast.
Jason Beghe’s two children
Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photobank (via Getty)
On screen, Chicago Police Department Sergeant Hank Voight, played by Jason Beghe, is the father of murdered son Justin and grandfather of grandson Daniel.
In real life, Beghe started a family by welcoming son Bix with ex-wife Angie Janu, followed by son Beau Bear.
While appearing on the NBC procedural, the actor spent time filming in Chicago and had to be away from his children, which he admitted was difficult.
“Sometimes[as an actor]you have to step away, and…the best thing you can give your kids is yourself,” he said on the podcast “Better Together.” “I wish we could have been together more, like we missed living together every day. But the time we spent together became even more precious.”
Beghe later revealed that she is “honored” that her second son recently decided to move to Chicago to be with her.
“He moved here and is finishing eighth grade here and we are applying to schools,” he said in 2021. “I’m very confident that he made the right choice, and it’s definitely the right choice for me…I’m happy.”
Marina Squerciati’s two children
Marina Squerciati/Instagram
Chicago PD original cast member Marina Squerciati has played Kim Burgess since 2014, eventually becoming her on-screen adoptive mother in Season 8 of Makayla, where her biological parents were killed.
Off-screen, Squerciati is also the mother of a girl. She gave birth to a daughter with husband Eli Kay Oliphant in 2017, followed by their second child in 2024.
The couple keeps their child’s life private, not disclosing his name. In particular, Squerciati surprised fans with the news that she gave birth to her second child on New Year’s Eve 2024.
“2024 was literally a big year for me,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her bump. “P.S. This was the real reason I wasn’t on the first two episodes of #ChicagoPD. I was having a baby.”
one child, LaRoyce Hawkins;
LaRoyce Hawkins/Instagram
LaRoyce Hawkins has been an integral part of the series since the series began, playing Chicago Police Department officer Kevin Atwater. He became a father himself in 2017 with the birth of his son Roman, and many of his castmates were present for the big moment.
“I remember when we found out, we were working,” Hawkins said in a 2019 interview. “I was like, ‘Oh, the baby’s coming,’ and I couldn’t do anything until I finished work!”
The actor admitted that becoming a father helped him fulfill his iconic role. “Having my son has made my approach to Atwater even stronger,” he said. “Now I really understand my mission on this show.”
Hawkins continued, “[My son’s]joy is probably the most important thing to me. Being able to tell these stories more authentically has made me a really strong artist.”
Becoming a father also changed him on a personal level. “I knew there were going to be some things I would have to change about myself and some growth I would have to accept,” he said in a 2024 Men’s Health clip. “I can’t teach him anything I haven’t experienced or accepted myself.”
Hawkins added, “I see a lot of myself in him, so when I tighten up and level up, I know it’s not just for me and my career. I know it’s for my legacy through my son.”
Jon Seda’s four children
Jon Seda/Instagram
Jon Seda starred as Antonio Dawson on Chicago PD from season 1 to season 6. In real life, he is a devoted husband to his wife of 25 years, Lisa Gomez, and father of four children: daughters Jesse, Hailey, and Madison and son Jonathan.
Seda once told the Chicago Tribune that becoming a father changed the entire trajectory of his life.
When he first started finding professional success, “a whole new world opened up to me.” The Selena alum explained that he felt himself heading into a negative pattern, but everything changed with the birth of his son Jonathan.
“I told him before he could walk that I would whisper in his ear, ‘You saved daddy’s life,'” he recalled to the outlet in 2000. “He didn’t understand, but one day you will understand. He put me on the right path.”
Recently, Seda’s son has also followed in his footsteps as an actor. The two have also worked together on TV shows such as “Chicago Fire” and “La Brea.”
“I try my best to follow my dad’s example because people always come up to me and say how great it is to work with my dad, so maybe someday people will say the same about me,” Jonathan told Entertainment Tonight in 2022.
She continued, “Even though we weren’t on the same set, he always took the time to check on me and I was happy to have the opportunity to spend that time with him. There’s nothing wrong with learning from the best!”
