Jeffrey Hephner is an American actor, best known for the role of Jeff Clarke, first on the NBC television series Chicago Fire and then on its sister show, Chicago Med. On film, he co-starred with Jennifer Garner in the action thriller film Peppermint (2018). He also appears in the 2016 National Geographic TV series MARS and the Apple TV+ original science fiction space drama series For All Mankind. In January 2019, he co-starred in the film An Acceptable Loss. In 2023, he began hosting the game show Switch on Game Show Network.
Hephner has appeared in over 50 other films and television shows, including as Morgan Stanley Buffkin in the CW series Easy Money (2008–2009), and as Ben Zajac in the Starz political drama Boss (2011–2012). In 2015, he starred as the title character in the short-lived TNT action drama Agent X.
Early life Hephner is the youngest of three children born to Tom and Patti Hephner. He grew up in the small town of Sand Creek, Michigan, in southern Michigan near Adrian. Hephner was athletic growing up, playing basketball and football, and he graduated from Sand Creek High School. Hephner was named to the all-state team for Class C-D for the 1993–1994 season.
He attended and played basketball for Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan for two years before transferring to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan for two years.
Career Hephner began his Hollywood career with small roles in two feature films, Tigerland (2000) and Maid in Manhattan (2002). After starring in the short-lived Fox series The Jury in 2004, in 2005, he guest-starred in the NBC series Law & Order: Criminal Intent in season 4: episode 21 titled "The Unblinking Eye". Hephner starred as author Pat Conroy in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie The Water Is Wide (2006), based on Conroy's book and a remake of the drama Conrack (1974).
He starred in The CW series Easy Money, which aired for four episodes in October 2008 before being cancelled. The other four episodes aired in mid-2009. Following the cancellation of Easy Money, Hephner guest-starred in Private Practice, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NCIS, Castle and had a recurring role in four episodes of the NBC medical drama Mercy. In 2010, Hephner replaced Ben Browder in a recurring role in the CW series Hellcats as football coach Red Raymond.
BuddyTV ranked Hephner #86 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011". In 2011, Hephner was cast in the NBC series The Playboy Club, but was replaced by Eddie Cibrian before filming began. From 2011 to 2012, Hephner played Ben Zajac in the Starz political drama series Boss. From 2013 to 2014, Hephner had a recurring role in the second season of the NBC drama Chicago Fire. In 2015, Hephner co-starred with Sharon Stone in the TNT series Agent X.
From 2016 to 2017, Hephner reprised his role as Jeff Clarke in Chicago Fire'''s medical spinoff Chicago Med, where Clarke returns to medical school. He appeared in the first season finale and recurred in the show until towards the end of the second season. In 2018, Hephner starred as Kurt Hurrelle in season two of Mars on NatGeo.
From 2021 to 2023 he had a recurring role as Kevin Whitman in the Starz series Power Book II: Ghost. Since 2023 Hephner has hosted the Game Show Network’s Switch. Personal life Hephner is married and has three children.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 Tigerland McManus 2002 So How Do You Feel About Your Watch Jason Short film Maid in Manhattan Harold the Room Service Waiter The Outlands Adam Short film 2003 Romantic Love Romek Skalski Short film2008 What Makes Alex Tick Rob Short film Shoot First and Pray You Live (Because Luck Has Nothing to Do with It) Red Pierre 2013 Free Ride Bossman 2014 Interstellar Doctor 2018 Peppermint Chris North 2019 An Acceptable Loss Adrian 2021 The Shuroo Process Adrian 2023 Oppenheimer Congressman
Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 The Jury Keenan O'Brien 10 episodes2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Michael Pike Episode: "The Unblinking Eye" Criminal Minds Boy in Image (Uncredited) Episode: "Extreme Aggressor" 2005–2006 The O.C. Matt Ramsey 13 episodes2006 The Wedding Album Jake TV movie Capitol Law Jason TV movie The Water Is Wide Pat Conroy TV movie2007 CSI: Miami Keith Reynolds Episode: "Bang, Bang, Your Debt" Without a Trace Roy Episode: "Run"2008 Nip/Tuck Kyle Ainge Episode: "Kyle Ainge" House Sean Episode: "Frozen" Cold Case David Nelson Episode: "The Road" 2008–2009 Easy Money Morgan Stanley Buffkin 8 episodes2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Wayne Smith Episode: "Death and the Maiden" Mercy Pete Boswick 4 episodes2010 NCIS Commander Peter Sheridan Episode: "Ignition" Private Practice Jerry Episode: "Shotgun" Ghost Whisperer Alex Episode: "Dead Eye" Drop Dead Diva Jack Bryant Episode: "Home Away from Home" The 19th Wife Hiram TV movie 2010–2011 Hellcats Red Raymond 13 episodes 2011 Castle Edmund / Zalman Drake Episode: "Poof! You're Dead" 2011–2012 Boss Ben Zajac / Alex Zajac 18 episodes 2012 CSI: NY Evan Westcott Episode: "Unspoken" 2013 King & Maxwell Brady Ritter 2 episodes 2013–2017 Chicago Fire Jeff Clarke 20 episodes 2014 Madam Secretary Isaac Bishop Episode: "Another Benghazi" 2015 Agent X John Case / Agent X 10 episodes 2016 Code Black Ed Harbert 5 episodes 2016–2017 Chicago Med Jeff Clarke 16 episodes2018Mars Kurt Hurrelle Season 2, 6 episodes Queen of the South Theo Carson Episode: "El Diablo" 2019 Love Takes Flight Charlie Allen TV movie (Hallmark Hall of Fame) 2019–2020 Almost Family Nick Cameron 5 episodes 2021 Our Kind of People Jack Harmon 3 episodes 2021–2022 For All Mankind Sam Cleveland Seasons 2–3, 4 episodes 2021–2023 Power Book II: Ghost Kevin Whitman 11 episodes 2023–present Switch Himself Host 2024 Eric Costello Miniseries
References
External links
Juba, Scott (January 27, 2006). "Interview: Jeff Hephner: The Water Is Wide in The O.C."; . The Trades''.