The Chicago Med family is officially growing. Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Wire, The Old Man) has signed on for a recurring role in the NBC medical drama’s eleventh season, playing Sharon Goodwin’s (S. Epatha Merkerson) oldest son, David.
Akinnagbe will first appear in Episode 6. This marks the first time viewers will meet David, completing the introduction of Goodwin’s children—Michael (Hampton Fluker) and Tara (Nicolette Robinson) having previously appeared. Fans can also expect the return of Sharon’s ex-husband Bert (Gregory Alan Williams), who continues to battle Alzheimer’s.
Season 11 premiered this week and will hit its 200th episode milestone on October 8 at 8 p.m. ET with a special episode featuring the return of Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss).
Akinnagbe’s addition comes as the series continues to explore Goodwin’s life outside the hospital following the traumatic events of Season 10. Showrunner Allen MacDonald revealed that expanding Sharon’s family storyline has always been part of the plan, calling Merkerson the “queen bee” of the series and noting his excitement about diving deeper into her personal journey.
The Chicago Med cast also includes Steven Weber, Jessy Schram, Luke Mitchell, Sarah Ramos, Darren Barnet, and Oliver Platt.
Outside of the NBC hit, Akinnagbe will next be seen in Kathryn Bigelow’s upcoming Netflix feature A House of Dynamite, marking his second collaboration with the Oscar-winning director. He previously starred in Detroit and has an extensive résumé across film, television, and stage—including a Broadway run in Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill a Mockingbird opposite Jeff Daniels.