Most of us know Nick Gehlfuss as the hunky doctor on Chicago Med. But, there’s so much more to this tall, talented, and dedicated actor than meets the eye.
Not that anyone would know – he’s notoriously private about his personal life. In an effort to shed some light into this mysterious hunk’s world, we offer 10 things you did n’t know about Nick Gehlfuss.
1. He was surprised to learn that he isn’t squeamish
To prepare for the role of Dr. Will Halstead Gehlfuss shadowed real doctors in Cook County. It was through this experience he learned he wasn’t squeamish. Believe it or not, he had no idea until then.
2. His physique isn’t a result of hitting the gym
Gehlfuss believes that your body is your instrument. So to stay in shape, he whips out his bike and goes for a ride around Chicago.
He also loves healthy foods. One of his favorite places to eat in the city is Chicago Raw, a vegan restaurant that puts a gourmet twist on raw foods.
3. He got married to his girlfriend in complete secret
Gehlfuss didn’t let anyone (not even his castmates) know that he was getting married to his longtime girlfriend. The pair went to Ohio one weekend and had a quiet outdoor ceremony with close friends and family. He announced it the following Monday when they returned to Chicago.
4. He played the guitar to make the ends meet
Instead of following the stereotype of the struggling actor (waiting tables at a restaurant), Gehlfuss took his guitar and played four nights a week wherever he could to make extra cash.
To some, this is a hard life. But, it didn’t bother him one bit. No matter how much he made that night, he knew he was guaranteed a meal. Which, when you have no money, is always a nice bonus.
5. He didn’t have many friends growing up
Although he’s fairly good looking and athletic (he played soccer in high school), Gehlfuss never had a core group of friends. This is a little surprising considering he loved people so much, he would go up to strangers. Still, he believes his experiences and his outgoing personality were good teachers. It taught him how to connect with others, an invaluable skill in his industry.
6. Learning to act like a doctor was the hardest part of his gig on Chicago Med
Gehlfuss has been acting since he was a kid, the art is nothing new to him. However, learning to be a doctor has been his biggest acting challenge to date.
One of these difficulties involved the medical terminology. Those words are already hard enough to say in real life, imagine doing so while pretending you’re someone you’re not.
Playing a doctor isn’t as simple as donning scrubs and picking up a notepad. To ensure a convincing portrayal, he studied real physicians so thoroughly, he learned to use the cadences they use when they speak. He even studied the way they held their medical equipment. All in all, it’s safe to say that his hard work paid off, he is one of the favorites on the show.
7. He got married on Friday the 13th
To most of us, Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. Not so to Gehlfuss. It is the day he got married to the love of his life.
The day started off rainy but Gehlfuss took it in stride. In fact, he believed it was good luck. His intuition turned out to be right. When it was time to get married, the day was perfect.
Crazily enough, it was lucky he didn’t postpone because of the rain. The next day, the temperature dropped 20 degrees. The day after that, there was a blizzard. Maybe Friday the 13 isn’t so unlucky after all.
8. His mother and sister helped him perfect his role
Gehlfuss’ mom is a registered nurse working in the oncology department at Cleveland Clinic. His little sister works at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center as a nurse practitioner. So, when it comes to playing a doctor, the perfect resources are just a phone call away.
9. He got his first acting role when he was in the eighth grade
When he was in junior, Gehlfuss was an athlete. But, one of his teachers saw potential in him and asked him to audition for the school play. That’s how the role of Red Dog (the pirate from Treasure Island) became his first acting credit.
10. His wife was with him before the fame
When he first started out as an actor, he didn’t have much success. He was so broke that he ate spaghetti four times a week because a local restaurant had a $1.75 special.
After he met his now-wife, things began to change. She not only helped him emotionally, but she also gave him financial support as well. When he decided to move to LA, you guessed it, she was right by his side.
As you can see, Nick Gehlfuss is more than just a handsome face and a ripped physique. He is dedicated to his craft, supported by a loving wife, and is humble to boot. You can’t get more perfect than that. Wouldn’t you agree?
Follow Us
