In a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Justin Hartley hilariously recounted his first on-camera acting job, which turned out to be quite cringe-worthy. Hartley, who has been acting since childhood, shared the embarrassing experience with the audience and host Stephen Colbert.
The conversation began with Colbert asking Hartley about his early acting career, to which Hartley jokingly replied, “I thought I was acting, but it turns out I just sucked.” Hartley then revealed that his first foray into acting was in a school play called Frosty the Snowman, where he played the lead role of Frosty himself.
Amidst applause from the audience, Hartley shared how thrilled he was to have been cast as the lead. However, as the production progressed, he soon realized the limitations of his character. “Frosty doesn’t move, breathe, talk, or even sing the song,” Hartley explained with a smirk. The only time Frosty moved was when he came to life, and Hartley was supposed to dance happily off the stage. Realizing his lack of acting skills, Hartley self-deprecatingly admitted, “I’m the worst actor. That’s why I’m wearing the snowsuit like a dunce cap.”
Colbert moved on to discuss Hartley’s successful show This Is Us, which wrapped up its 2nd season in 2022. Hartley mentioned that while they don’t stay in touch as often as they would like, he and his co-stars try to celebrate each other’s achievements. In particular, Hartley proudly mentioned his friend Sterling K. Brown‘s Oscar nomination, showing a photo of himself and his co-stars celebrating with Brown.
Aside from acting, Hartley is known for his love of dogs. He introduced Paisley, his adorable canine companion, but mentioned that she was in Canada with his wife, as they preferred driving over flying. However, he hilariously mentioned that Paisley’s breath was a “Devastator,” a term that perfectly captured the dog’s less-than-pleasant exhales.
As the interview continued, Hartley was prompted to recall his first on-camera role. He remembered a beer commercial where he was ad-libbing for hours, attempting to pick up a woman at a bar. The clip of this cringe-worthy commercial was played, leaving both Hartley and Colbert amused. Hartley admitted that if it was a real-life situation, he would surely be seeing HR. Despite his efforts, though, the commercial ended up playing a silly jingle over his ad-libbed lines, leaving Hartley with no lines but still as the lead character. With a mix of disappointment and humor, Hartley recalled, “I made it! I’m on a commercial!”.
Wrapping up the interview, Hartley expressed his gratitude for being on the show and wished Colbert good luck with his upcoming show, Tracker, which premiered after the Super Bowl on CBS.
All in all, Justin Hartley‘s first on-camera acting job may have been cringe-worthy, but it showcased his ability to laugh at himself and entertained both the audience and talk show host Stephen Colbert. As he continues to charm viewers with his acting skills on This Is Us, Hartley’s humorous anecdotes and down-to-earth personality make him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
