5 Surprising Shows 'Chicago P.D.' Actors Have Been In

For five seasons, the cast of "Chicago P.D." has shared riveting stories of major crimes from inside the Chicago Police Department's elite Intelligence Unit. While many of the actors seem like they were made for careers in the criminal justice system, they didn't all get their start in police dramas. From high school series to sci-fi thrillers, the men and women of "Chicago P.D." have acting backgrounds that are as diverse as the crimes they solve as detectives on Wednesday nights on NBC.

Before the sixth season premiere on September 26 at 10/9c, take a look back on where your favorite "Chicago P.D." actors got their first big breaks:

Before starring as Sergeant Henry "Hank" Voight, the head of the Chicago P.D.'s Intelligence Unit, Jason Beghe had a recurring role on "Californication" as Richard Bates. Richard appears regularly in season five as the former professor and later husband of the show's female lead, Karen Van Der Beek. A writer who struggles with addiction, Richard breaks sobriety with Karen's on-again, off-again boyfriend and "Californication" protagonist, Hank Moody. Richard stumbles through his recovery and eventually leaves Karen, telling her, "Sobriety is not the answer for me. I need to be unleashed."

Jon Seda took up his "Chicago P.D." role as Antonio Dawson after spending two seasons on "Treme" as Nelson Hidalgo, a well-connected real estate developer who goes to New Orleans to help with post-Katrina relief efforts. Though the HBO series only made it to season four, Hidalgo was able to make an impact on the people of NOLA by the finale. In a closing scene, Hidalgo helps local chef Janette Desautel regain the rights to use her name on her restauarants after losing them to her investor in an earlier season.

Though Sophia Bush exited her role on "Chicago P.D." as Detective Erin Lindsay after season four, one of her most memorable performances was playing Brooke Davis on "One Tree Hill." A high school cheerleader turned fashion empire mogul, Brooke was an instant mainstay in the teen drama series known for her business acumen and snappy one-liners. She wasn't without her personal ups and downs, but after 187 episodes spanning more than nine years, Brooke ultimately found happiness at the end of "One Tree Hill."

Jesse Lee Soffer received three Emmy nominations for playing Will Munson on the soap opera "As The World Turns" before landing his role of Detective Jay Halstead on "Chicago P.D." A troubled teenager who had a stint at a mental facility, Will's life didn't get much easier throughout the series. From supporting his wife through a miscarriage to having his child kidnapped, Will experienced tons of drama. He eventually left the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, with his wife and daughter, but the character made a brief comeback in 2010.

Patrick John Flueger took on the "Chicago P.D." role of Officer Adam Ruzek after spending four seasons playing Shawn Farrell on the sci-fi show "The 4400." After returning to Earth with 4,399 other people who were mysteriously abducted, Shawn discovers he has the power to control the flow of life in living organisms. Though he mostly uses his energy to heal physical damage like broken bones and stab wounds, Shawn does have the ability to reverse it and drain the life from anyone who threatens him.

To see more "Chicago P.D.," stream here or on the Oxygen app.

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