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Justin Hartley says his ‘This Is Us’ character was misunderstood

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Justin Hartley just flipped through the Pearson family scrapbook in his mind.

Harley reflected on played Kevin Pearson on the NBC family drama This Is Us, which aired for six seasons from 2016 to 2022, during Friday’s edition of Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? on Max.

“When you take on characters, a lot of times they become your children and your friends, part of you. And so you sort of feel that,” Hartley said. “It was just like, the guy can’t get out of his own way, but he’s not a bad guy, but everyone thinks he’s kind of an a–hole, you know what I mean? But he’s really not.”

‘This Is Us’ star Justin Hartley portrays Kevin Pearson.

Ron Batzdorff/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty


The actor defended his character, saying, “He’s misunderstood, but maybe kind of an a–hole, you know. So, so you just, you you sit there and you go, Man, I wish I could help this guy, but you just can’t.”

This Is Us depicted Kevin as an often arrogant and selfish teenager — a jock who relentlessly bullies his adopted, more thoughtful and studious brother Randall, the adult version of whom was played by Sterling K. Brown. Adult Kevin, who had become a famous TV actor, was a somewhat better person, but he often struggled emotionally.

The time-jumping, tear-inducing series costarred Chrissy Metz as the adult version of Kate, the third member of the “Big Three.” Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia portrayed their parents, Rebecca and Jack.

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Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, and Sterling K. Brown on ‘This Is Us’.

Ron Batzdorff/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty


Hartley said that there was some of him in Kevin.

“I think later on, as he as we saw him grow up and mature, I think we have more — I have more in common with him in that sort of iteration of Kevin,” he explained, “but I do love him, and I do hold him with me every day.”

Now starring in the second season of the CBS crime drama Tracker, Hartley said that Kevin, whom he loved immediately, brought tears to his eyes.

“I’m a parent and when you see your kids either getting picked on or lonely or upset or needing something,” Hartley said, “especially when… you know what it is that they need, and you can’t give it to them. There’s no way that you can help them, really, except to just tell them that you understand what they’re going through. And you can just put your hand on the shoulder. You can hug them. But you can’t take the pain away.”

Anyone else need a tissue?

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