Growing up in Geauga County sparked a shining foundation for Nick Gehlfuss's rising acting career that has landed him a starring role in a new…
Growing up in Geauga County sparked a shining foundation for Nick Gehlfuss’s rising acting career that has landed him a starring role in a new NBC drama.
“Know what it is you want and make a plan for yourself to achieve it,” Nick said. “If at the end of the day, you can say to yourself, ‘I could have worked harder,’ then make sure you wake up the next morning and do so.”
Nick plays Dr. Will Halstead in NBC’s new show “Chicago Med,” the newest installment of the “Chicago” franchise from Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer Dick Wolf.
NBC bills “Chicago Med” as an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it together, tackling unique new cases inspired by topical events while forging fiery relationships in the pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room.
Born in Cleveland’s Little Italy, the Gehlfuss family moved to Chester Township when Nick was a child and he attended Lindsey Elementary School as well as West Geauga Middle and High School.
Nick acted in plays and musicals at Geauga Lyric Theatre, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre degree from Marietta College and Master of Fine Arts in Acting degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City.
“From the day Nicholas was born, he was always happy and smiling,” said Nick’s dad, Alan Gehlfuss. “He never had a shy bone in his body, therefore never worried about people judging him on his actions and appearance. From a young age, Nicholas was eager to stand in front of his family and friends singing favorite songs whenever asked.”
Nick added, “I loved having a big backyard and woods to escape the indoors and explore life around me, and I rode a bike just about everywhere.”
He caught the acting bug when he was in eighth grade “thanks to Sally Gerkhe,” Nick said.
“The second I stepped on stage as Red Dog in ‘Treasure It’sland,’ there was no turning back,” he said.
“I am beyond words excited and proud of him and am not surprised he is where he is,” said Nick’s fifth-grade music teacher, Megan Petronsky. “It is like knowing when any of my former students achieve success in their chosen field.”
A family friend now, Petronsky is a college guidance counselor at Orange High School and had Nick’s older sister, Jillian, and younger brother, Vincent, as students also.
“Nick’s X factor early on was more than his talents and acting, but his charismatic personality and quirky sense of humor,” Petronsky added. “I kind of always thought that he would go into some form of comedy and would be an amazing cast member of SNL. He obviously has a diverse set of talents.”
Nick performed in many Geauga Lyric Theatre productions.
“This local theater is quite the gem of the county, providing entertainment to the many families of neighboring communities,” said Nick’s mom, Sandy Gehlfuss.
Nick also played soccer, basketball, baseball and wrestled.
“However, the more his interest grew in acting, the less he focused on sports and devoted most of his time to high school drama and community theater,” said Nick’s dad, Alan Gehlfuss, adding this included being active in his youth group at St. Anselm Parish.
The “Chicago Med” star credited his environment, but said “my parents did the bulk of the work.”
“Over the years supporting Nicholas through many plays, musicals and guest appearances on weekly television shows, we have watched our son grow into a fine young actor,” Alan said. “We are extremely proud of his hard work, determination, along with good fortune, in gaining a starring role in Dick Wolf’s weekly trilogy, ‘Chicago Med.'”
His character on the show is the chief E.R. resident and brother of Det. Jay Halstead, of “Chicago P.D.”, and a product of a working-class family.
“So he’s had to dig deeper and work harder his entire life to get where he is today, which means he’s accrued a lot of debt to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor,” Nick said. “Will is the epitome of reliability and is always confident in a crisis, but his constant need for approval and desire to save everyone makes this man of science his own toughest critic.”
The show is filmed in the Windy City and has been picked up for 13 episodes.
“I love it,” Nick Gehlfuss said of filming in Chicago. “It’s a true city, something for everyone.”
He added, “My dream has been, and still is, to work with a high caliber of talent on quality material. It’s a dream to be on one show and with the Chicago franchise (‘Chicago Fire’ and ‘Chicago P.D.’) you’re really on three. I am a part of history in the making. Dick Wolf and his team are creating an environment that has never been done on television. The three shows crossover with one another so that they live, breathe and grow as one. Just like reality. Hence, the being a part of three shows.”
“Chicago Med” airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays after “The Voice” on NBC.
