“Chicago P.D.’s Jason Beghe Reflects on Elias Koteas’ ‘Incredibly Moving’ Comeback”

In the Season 11 finale of Chicago P.D., Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) faced intense challenges, including a poignant moment with his deceased friend Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas), who had been killed in the Season 5 finale.

In a gripping scene, Voight, bleeding out while trapped by a serial killer, sees Olinsky and is asked, “What’d you get into this time, Hank?” Reflecting on his situation, Voight muses, “I’m okay to go out like this.” However, Olinsky reassures him, “There’s more. You don’t get to die here.” Ultimately, Voight survives.

Beghe shared with TV Insider how meaningful this moment was for both him and Koteas: “Elias is very special to me. Having the chance to share this moment was beyond beautiful, fulfilling, and emotional. I don’t think there was a dry eye on set. I love that man deeply, and it was a treasure.”

Showrunner Gwen Sigan noted that this reunion had been a long time coming, highlighting that it originated from Beghe’s idea to bring Olinsky back. “For Jason, Elias lives in Voight’s mind; he’s part of who Voight is. Finally, the stories aligned, allowing us to make this happen. It was a special moment to have him back, and he looked just like he did before. The entire cast and crew were ecstatic.”

Beghe expressed a desire to see Koteas’ character return more frequently, suggesting a scenario where Voight could have quiet moments at his breakfast table, reminiscing about Al. “I envision Hank sitting with a coffee, talking to Al, who just listens. Voight might get up, realizing Olinsky isn’t there, but still having that conversation as if he is,” Beghe described. “It’s not about Voight being crazy; it’s just his way of processing.”