No, actors Jesse Lee Soffer and Nick Gehlfuss, who portray brothers Jay and Will Halstead in the One Chicago universe, are not related in real life.
The Real-Life Relationship of Jay and Will Halstead Actors
While Jay Halstead (portrayed by Jesse Lee Soffer) and Will Halstead (portrayed by Nick Gehlfuss) share a strong fraternal bond on screen, their real-life counterparts do not share any family ties. The actors, who have brought the complex Halstead brothers' dynamic to life across Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med, are not actually brothers or even distantly related outside of their professional connection.
Their paths only crossed professionally when they were cast in the popular One Chicago franchise. Before joining the shared television universe, Jesse Lee Soffer and Nick Gehlfuss were not acquainted. They were born in different states—Soffer in New York and Gehlfuss in Ohio—and pursued their acting careers independently before converging as the on-screen Halstead siblings.
To clarify, here's a quick overview of their real-life status:
| Aspect | Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead) | Nick Gehlfuss (Will Halstead) |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Life Relation | Not related to Nick Gehlfuss | Not related to Jesse Lee Soffer |
| Birth State | New York | Ohio |
| Prior Acquaintance | None before One Chicago casting | None before One Chicago casting |
| Family Connection | No shared family | No shared family |
Their convincing portrayal of brothers is a testament to their acting talent and the chemistry they developed on set, rather than any pre-existing familial bond.
