Courtney B. Vance was probably as surprised as most fans to learn that Travis Kelce was joining Grotesqueness. But in his mind, it is a symbol of only one thing.
“It just lets you know the power of Ryan Murphy,” Vance, 64, tells PEOPLE of the mind behind the new FX thriller. “[He] he just got on the phone and said, ‘Come on down’.”
“It was a nice choice,” says Vance, admitting that “it could have been a lot different” given that the role marks Kelce’s scripted TV debut. “He was very warm, he’s very cool.”
Donna Kelce Says It’s Good That Son Travis Kelce Is ‘Rehearsed Hard’ Ahead Of His Acting Debut In Grotesqueness (Exclusive)
Vance, who plays Marshall Tryon, the comatose husband of Detective Lois Tryon Niecy Nash-Betts, d Grotesquenessechoes what his on-screen wife said about Kelce’s acting skills — and how prepared he was every day on set.
“He was very wonderful. [It was] no surprise, he was just ready. He was just good. And if he needed help, he was open.”
Courtney B. Vance at the New York premiere of FX’s “Grotesquerie” at Spring Studios on September 23, 2024 in New York City.
Arturo Holmes/Getty
Vance also jokes that Kelce, 34, “asked me if we wanted to return the favor and go on the football field,” but had a sarcastic response.
“‘I don’t know. Kelce, I thank you for the call. Let’s just cut these lines, okay?’ jokes Vance. “I turned him down. I was just a little too busy that day. Whatever. Taylor Swift, whatever.”
Ryan Murphy was ‘moved’ by Travis Kelce’s ‘Ambition’ before writing a role specifically for him in Grotesqueness
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Travis Kelce, Niecy Nash-Betts on the set of ‘Grotesquerie’.
Prashant Gupta/FX
Nash-Betts, 54, was equally complimentary of Kelce, who she told PEOPLE was “very professional” and “always came prepared” to the shoot.
“Travis was very open. He was very open when given a note or a suggestion. So amenable. ‘Tell me what I don’t know. Tell me what you think about it,'” she told PEOPLE. “I like that he didn’t come in trying to act like, ‘I know it all and I know it all.'”
She also said that “fans will find him very charming in this role.”
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Grotesqueness premieres Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT on FX and airs the following day on Hulu.
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