At Televerse, The Buzz reunited with Tom Pelphrey and Justin Hartley, two actors whose careers both began in the world of daytime television before taking them to major roles in primetime.
Pelphrey, who starred as Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light, reflected on the long journey from Springfield to his current run of acclaimed primetime work. Speaking about the recognition and accolades that have followed his career, Pelphrey kept his perspective simple: gratitude.
He also looked back fondly on his Guiding Light years and the influence of Kim Zimmer, whom he affectionately described as his “Mama Bear.”
For me, the conversation was also a reunion. We had not seen each other in 15 years, making the interview an especially personal moment. Pelphrey’s journey from daytime television to becoming one of primetime’s most respected performers has been one I’ve been following closely.
Then came another reunion.
I caught up with Justin Hartley, whose career took him from Passions to This Is Us and eventually to his starring role as Colter Shaw on CBS’s Tracker.
Hartley also discussed reuniting with Ken Olin, his This Is Us collaborator, on upcoming projects. He joked that he “can’t get rid of that guy,” while making it clear that their creative partnership remains strong.
The conversation took a more personal turn when I reflected on how a storyline from This Is Us involving Sterling K. Brown’s Randall resonated with my own experience of losing my grandmother. I explained how seeing those emotions portrayed on screen helped me process feelings I had not yet fully released.
Hartley responded by discussing what made This Is Us such a special experience for its cast: the opportunity to watch storylines involving characters they weren’t necessarily part of and experience the series as fans.
The interview then shifted to Tracker, which is heading into its fourth season. Hartley teased that viewers can expect some new complications in Colter Shaw’s life while the series maintains the elements that have made it successful.
Season 4 of Tracker premieres October 4.
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