Jeff Clarke is a recurring character on Chicago Med as well as its sister show, Chicago Fire, and the actor has had recognizable roles in another popular TV series and a critically acclaimed movie. Chicago Med is the spin-off series of Chicago Fire and follows the emergency department of the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.
The series focuses on the doctors and nurses of the department who work to save their patients’ lives from various crimes, accidents, and tragedies that occur around the city. It’s the third show in the Dick Wolf-produced Chicago series after Chicago P.D. and the aforementioned Chicago Fire.
Chicago Med is a fairly standard procedural drama in the universe of Wolf’s TV shows. However, the show still has a strong following and finished its eighth season in 2023 after premiering in November 2015. Chicago Med has a large ensemble cast of characters who either work at the hospital or with one of the other emergency services depicted in the other series, or are civilians. Many characters appear in more than one of these shows and that includes Jeff Clarke, whom some fans will recognize for more than just his role on Chicago Med.
Jeff Hephner Played Jeff Clarke On Chicago Med
Jeff Hephner as Jeff Clarke with a band aid on in Chicago Med.
Jeff Clarke is played by Jeff Hephner on Chicago Med and Chicago Fire. The character was first introduced in Chicago Fire in season 2, episode 1 “A Problem House” and would appear in 20 episodes of the show. He was then brought back in Chicago Med in season 1, episode 18 “Timing” and stays a recurring character throughout season 2. Clarke is a medical student and former Marine veteran of the Iraq war who was originally a firefighter before injuring his back and turning to medicine. Clarke eventually moves to Hawaii after matching with a hospital there.
Clarke is a strong-willed and serious emergency worker and Hephner’s performance depicts a character who is patient and intelligent enough for emergency work while still having a hard edge developed fighting fires and fighting in a war. Hephner plays Clarke as strong and kind, qualities necessary to perform his job, but there is also a hint of weariness in the performance. It’s this exhaustion that makes Clarke's departure to Hawaii, after years of difficult and draining work, make sense. Hephner starred in 16 episodes of Chicago Med with his last episode being season 2, episode 22 "White Butterflies".
Hephner Played Matt Ramsey On The O.C.
Hephner as Matt Ramsey On The O.C.
Hephner also played the recurring character Matt Ramsey in the cast of The O.C. Matt is an associate with a company looking to take over the Newport Group. He is young and successful and isn't afraid to use some underhanded tactics to get what he wants, such as bribing board members. It’s a slightly more slimy character for Hephner compared to Clarke though they are both competent in their professional pursuits. Curiously, after Ramsey’s plans fall through, he gives up the game and leaves for Chicago, right where Hephner’s Clarke would be years later in Chicago Med.
Hephner Also Played A Doctor In Interstellar
Jeff Hephner talking to Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar.
Hephner has spent most of his career acting in television, but he did appear in Christopher Nolan's mind-bending movie Interstellar. The actor plays the doctor whom Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) wakes up to after saving his world. While Hephner's character goes unnamed, he has the critical role of expositing information in Nolan's film. This doctor character is very similar to Jeff Clarke from Chicago Med, so perhaps Nolan saw Hephner in an early season of Chicago Fire and kept him in mind for just such a role.
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