Laith Wallschleger’s performance as former NFL star Rob Gronkowski in the new FX series “American Sports Story” has gotten a lot of attention on social media. Wallschleger has served as Gronkowski’s body double for over a decade in commercials and other projects.
Even Gronkowski thought the portrayal was funny. He called into a sports radio show to talk about Wallschleger’s acting. While Gronkowski said the performance was “over the top,” he understood it fit the show’s style. As someone who knows Wallschleger well, Gronkowski could appreciate the humor.
Wallschleger and Gronkowski have a long working relationship. Wallschleger has stood in for Gronkowski in dozens of shoots when a body double was needed. The two have been friends for around 14 years. This made Wallschleger a natural choice for portraying Gronkowski in the series.
Gronkowski noted some differences between them, joking that Wallschleger is shorter and not as muscular. But he acknowledged Wallschleger “has the laugh down.” Their professional relationship has even led to unexpected consequences. Gronkowski said Wallschleger recently backed out of serving as his double for a commercial because of all the attention from his role in “American Sports Story.”
“American Sports Story” tells the story of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez. It examines his life and the events surrounding his criminal case and conviction for murder. Critics have said some characters are portrayed more as caricatures than fully developed people. But most agree Wallschleger’s brief performance as Gronkowski is an amusing highlight, showing his skill at capturing Gronkowski’s persona.
As buzz grows around “American Sports Story,” Wallschleger’s memorable role as Gronkowski demonstrates the interesting overlaps between sports and entertainment. It also reveals the unexpected places a long friendship in the business can lead.
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