A Bittersweet Goodbye to a Career-Defining Role
Three years after the series finale of This Is Us, Justin Hartley remains emotionally tethered to the role of Kevin Pearson—a character that helped him redefine his career and deepen his craft. In a new in-depth interview with Variety, Hartley opened up about his final days on set, the lessons he learned from the role, and how Kevin’s journey mirrors his own.
“Kevin was a man who seemed to have everything, but struggled to find meaning,” Hartley reflected. “He was charming, yes, but deeply flawed. Playing him forced me to examine parts of myself I hadn’t really explored before.”
A Role That Changed Everything
When Hartley was first cast in This Is Us, he was best known for soap operas and genre dramas. But Kevin’s arc—from troubled actor to devoted father and reformed son—offered Hartley the kind of emotionally rich material that transformed public perception. Over the show’s six seasons, he delivered scenes of heartbreak, addiction recovery, fatherhood, and reconciliation that resonated with millions.
Critics were initially skeptical, but Hartley’s performance earned consistent praise. By the time the show concluded, Kevin had become one of its most complex and beloved characters.
“There was something deeply vulnerable about Kevin,” Hartley said. “People saw parts of themselves in him—whether it was regret, ambition, or the search for identity.”
Saying Goodbye
Hartley described the final days of filming as a mix of “family reunion and funeral.” The cast shared handwritten notes, spontaneous hugs, and quiet tears during the last table read. Hartley recalled one particularly emotional moment when Mandy Moore, who played his mother, whispered to him: “You gave him a soul.”
He continues to keep in touch with co-stars Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Susan Kelechi Watson, often citing the cast as “chosen family.”
Kevin’s Legacy in Hartley’s Work
Even as Hartley explores new genres—political thrillers, true crime docuseries, and independent dramas—he says Kevin Pearson is always present in his creative choices.
“Kevin reminded me that stories don’t need to be flashy to matter. They just need to be honest,” he said. “That’s the standard I hold myself to now.”
As for whether he’d ever return to the role in a reboot or sequel, Hartley remains open: “If there’s ever a story worth telling, I’d be honored to walk in Kevin’s shoes again.”
With new projects ahead and deeper ambitions behind the camera, Hartley’s tribute to This Is Us isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a guiding light for the kind of stories he still wants to tell.
