Sterling K. Brown Says His “This Is Us” Role Has Inspired Fans to Adopt Children — and Quit Their Jobs!
"I never knew that it was going to have the impact that it did," the actor said of the hit drama on 'The Graham Norton Show'
This Is Us may have ended in 2022, but its impact on fans knows no limit.
While appearing on BBC’s The Graham Norton Show Friday, Sterling K. Brown recalled interactions he has had with fans of the NBC drama (which host Norton, 60, dubbed a “boohoo bonanza”) and revealed that he inspired some viewers to make life-altering decisions.
“People come up to me … usually if they're This Is Us fans, the first thing they want is a hug,” he told the host. “They'll talk about how the show changed their lives or just provided them with some form of catharsis as they were going through something.”
“It's really lovely,” Brown, 47, continued. “Like, I never knew that it was going to have the impact that it did. I knew it was a great story with a great group of people, but to see how it affected people in the world."
The actor went on to list some of the ways the show has touched viewers — which caused Norton’s jaw to drop in the process.
“I've had women come up to me with adopted babies saying, ‘I adopted this child because of you,’ ” he said.
The actor also said a fan once told him they quit their job because of him — or, more accurately, his This Is Us character, Randall Pearson.
“He said, like, ‘I was already on the fence and because Randall had the the courage to do it then I had the courage to do it too,” Brown said.
“I said, ‘I never told you to do that,’ ” he then joked.
Reflecting on the show’s six-season run from 2016 to 2022, Brown added, “At a time in the U.S., where things are so divided, it felt like people were able to come together and be like, ‘You know what? I love my family.’ ”
“And this show was all about family, so at least it brought people together for like a little bit,” he continued.
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Since the hit NBC drama, which also starred Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Chrissy Metz and Justin Hartley, ended two years ago, Brown has starred in several projects, including American Fiction — which just earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
After receiving the nod — his first career Oscar nomination — Brown shared his gratitude on Instagram, and his This Is Us costars celebrated the news in his comments section.
“No one more deserving SKB,” said Moore, 39, who starred as Brown’s adoptive mother on the series, while Metz, 43, his on-screen adoptive sister, added, “C’mon!!!!!🎉❤️🙏🎉❤️🙏”
Stars Jon Huertas, Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Sullivan also showed Brown some love in the comments section, with the last writing, “SKB! Win em all! Congratulations buddy.”
Related: Chrissy Metz Teases Possible Future 'This Is Us' Movie Reunion: 'Everybody Wants to See It'
This Is Us is streaming in full on Hulu. The Graham Norton Show, meanwhile, airs on Fridays on BBC.
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