Why Chicago P.D. Fans May Recognize The Hunting Party Killer Roy Barber
Before playing a serial killer in The Hunting Party, actor Leif Gantvoort played another unique murderer in Chicago P.D.
In The Hunting Party, each episode centers around the crime-fighting team recapturing a new serial killer who has escaped The Pit, a black-ops government prison that was once home to the world's most dangerous killers.
Season 1, Episode 5, “Roy Barber,” focuses on the titular murderer Roy Barber (portrayed by Leif Gantvoort). He is infamously known as "The Couples Killer” for his pattern of specifically killing couples, a tactic fueled by his father murdering his mother and then killing himself when Roy was just 14 years old.
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If you recognize Barber, you aren't alone: Gantvoort has been in the acting industry for years, consistently taking on ambitious roles in both TV shows and movies. There is one character on his resume, though, that shares a lot of similarities with his new role in The Hunting Party. Read on to find out about his reoccurring role on NBC's Chicago P.D.
All about Leif Gantvoort’s role in Chicago P.D.
Gantvoort appeared in two episodes of Chicago P.D., specifically in Season 3, portraying the character Ryan Bergstrom. Similarly to his murderous character in The Hunting Party, Bergstrom was also out for blood, although his intentions didn’t start out that way.
Bergstrom initially started out on the right side of law and attempted to join the police academy. After failing the assessment multiple times, his chances of helping the world seemed bleak, until a man named Victor Cullen (Brian Christensen) offered him a top-secret CIA position.
Cullen used to be a respected CIA agent, but after a mental breakdown, he was taken off the force. In his deluded mind, though, he still believed he was a part of the Agency and hired Bergstrom under those false pretenses.
Bergstrom's job under Cullen was to murder people who (in Cullen's mind) threatened the safety of the nation, and with this order, he went on to kill three people. After Cullen’s death, Bergstrom was interrogated and claimed to be a CIA agent. This is when he learned that he wasn't actually employed by the Agency, and that he was going to be charged with homicide for his unsanctioned actions. He was ultimately imprisoned for his crimes.
Melissa Roxburgh on undertaking daring scenes in The Hunting Party
When it comes to The Hunting Party, the star-studded cast is participating in thrilling scenes unlike any they’ve ever handled before.
For instance, in Season 1, Episode 4, actress Melissa Roxburgh, who plays the confident FBI agent Rebecca “Bex” Henderson, had to act as if she was being killed and subsequently brought back to life, all of which occurred while she was held hostage by a terrifying killer.
She reflected in a recent interview on her character’s chilling scenes that put her acting skills to the ultimate test.
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“I mean, I've never died, so I don't really know how to play that, so that was challenging. Then also the duct tape over your mouth... it’s really hard to breathe,” she previously told NBC Insider. “Typically, there were a few moments of panic where I couldn't breathe when we were filming it.”
Will there be more hair-rising situations for Bex to go through?
Catch new episodes of The Hunting Party when they premiere on Monday on NBC at 10/9c. Episodes are available to stream on Peacock the next day.
